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III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />The following discussion of observations and findings focuses on the results of backfilling and grading <br />work and drainage reestablishment in the original permit area. The original permit area includes the A, <br />B, C and D Pits. As discussed previously, the South Extension area of the Seneca II-W Mine is <br />excluded from this bond release decision. <br />The evaluation of the bond release application included the bond release inspection, an office review of <br />the permit requirements, regulatory criteria and review of past inspection reports. The bond release <br />inspection was conducted October 14-16, 2009. Several items including: The Post-Mining <br />Topography, Cross-Sections of Backfilled and Graded Areas, and As-Built Drainage Profiles that <br />were included in the bond release application were reviewed by the Division in the office during the <br />technical evaluation of the bond release application before, during and after the inspection. <br />During the Phase I bond release inspection, participants walked through most of the original permit <br />area to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent requirements as described above in <br />Section II of this document. An inclinometer was used to field check gradients at major drainage <br />channels. The October 14-16, 2009 inspection report details the findings from the inspection. A <br />summary of the important findings are discussed below and the details are further discussed in the <br />inspection report. <br />Backfdling & Grading <br />Backfilling and grading work was conducted concurrently with mining at the Seneca II-W Mine. <br />Observations were made during the Phase I bond release inspection with regard to approximate <br />original contour and erosional stability of the reclaimed landscape. A copy of the 2008 Rill and <br />Gully Survey was used in the field to evaluate hillslope and drainage channel problem areas. <br />Based on observations made during and prior to the SL-2 inspection, the Division's conclusion is that <br />reclaimed areas within the original permit area have been restored to the approximate original <br />contour of the pre-mining landscape. The present surface configuration achieved by backfill and <br />grading of the mined areas closely resembles the general surface configuration of the land prior to <br />mining. Highwalls have been eliminated, and reclaimed areas blend in well with the adjacent <br />undisturbed slopes. Comparison of surveyed "original ground" and "reclaimed" cross-sections (NI, <br />N2, and S 1 through S6) depicted on Exhibit C of the SL-2 application supports the conclusion that <br />the general configuration of the original landscape has been approximated. The following paragraphs <br />highlight specific landscape features that were assessed during the bond release inspection. <br />There are a couple areas along the final highwalls where there has been relatively minor settling and <br />slumping. In the final B-pit, there has been some settling and small slumps along the reclaimed <br />highwall north of Channel 006-NE1, upstream of the oil well road. Several locations have been <br />repaired in recent years and now appear to be stable. A similar situation exists in the D-Pit area along <br />the western third of the reclaimed highwall slope, north of Channel 005-E1. Cracks and minor scarps <br />with up to 1' of displacement were graded over in the summer of 2009. Continued monitoring of <br />these areas will be warranted. <br />10