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October 20, 2009 <br /> Seneca Coal Company, LLC (SCC) <br /> P.O Box 670 <br /> Hayden, CO 81639 <br /> Yoast Mine (Permit No. C-1994-082) <br /> Phase I bond release inspection <br /> July.15-16, 2009 <br /> Participants: <br /> Roy Karo, SCC <br /> Ryan Costa, SCC Intern <br /> Scott Belden, Powder River Coal, LLC <br /> Larry Kunckle (representing John Patrick, landowner) <br /> Sandy Brown, Colorado Division of Reclamation,Mining, and Safety (DRMS) <br /> Marcia Talvitie, DRMS <br /> Dan Mathews,DRMS <br /> Jennifer Maiolo,USDI/Bureau of Land Management (Little Snake Field Office) <br /> Erin Parks,USDIBLM (Little Snake Field Office) <br /> Mark Lowery,USDIBLM (Little Snake Field Office) <br /> Howard Strand, USDI/Office of Surface Mining (OSM) <br /> I participated in a Phase I bond release inspection for 515.8 reclaimed acres of the total 1,019 <br /> acres of disturbance within the Yoast permit area. Federal coal was mined at the Yoast Mine, <br /> and OSM is a co-payee on the reclamation surety bond. DRMS administers the bond release <br /> process in part through the State-Federal Cooperative Agreement found at 30 CFR, Part 906.30. <br /> Weather conditions were hot and dry, and ground conditions were dry throughout the mine. <br /> The application and subsequent correspondence in the record document that SCC provided <br /> notifications of the bond release inspection as required by Colorado Rule 3, Performance Bond <br /> Requirements. These notifications included the surface and mineral owners of the permit area <br /> proposed for release, surface landowners adjacent to the permit area, local, State, and Federal <br /> governmental agencies, utility companies, and the public at large. The BLM, OSM, company <br /> representatives, and a representative of the landowner chose to participate in the inspection. <br /> DRMS did not receive any comments concerning the proposed bond release other than those <br /> received from the landowner. <br /> Prior to the inspection I reviewed DRMS inspection reports, and the bond release application <br /> dated August 31, 2007. Mr. Mathews began the inspection on the morning of July 15"' with a <br /> brief overview meeting at the mine office by orienting the participants to the inspection protocol <br /> including the requirements of Colorado Rule 3, Performance Bond Requirements, and the <br /> Colorado Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues dated April 18, 1995. <br /> Mr. Mathews also explained the methodology used to inspect the areas proposed for release. <br /> The proposed release includes all the areas affected by coal removal and subsequent reclamation <br /> (approximating 515.8 disturbed and reclaimed acres) on the Yoast Mine permit area. During the <br />