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July 27, 2010 C-1981-041/Roadside Portals MPB <br />This Phase II and III bond release inspection was conducted pursuant to SCC's Bond Release Application (SL-6) <br />submitted May 19, 2010. Since the approved postmining land use of the release area is industrial /commercial they <br />applicable bond release criteria were evaluated pursuant to the requirements of Rule 4.15.10. The primary criteria"' <br />for this bond release are 1) Establishment of an industrial use of the site and evidence that the industrial use is <br />being implemented, and 2) Adequate revegetation in non-active use areas to control erosion. The conveyor <br />corridor is within an area where the pre-mining land use was industrial or commercial and the approved post- <br />mining land use is industrial/commercial. Thus in accordance with 4.15.10(3) the vegetation requirement of <br />4.15.10(2) may be waived if requested in writing by the landowner and if the Division determines that <br />revegetation is not necessary to control erosion. Although the premining and postmining land uses were both <br />industrial, the revegetation requirement was not waived. <br />During the inspection, participants walked through the entire 14.8 acres requested for full bond liability release at <br />the South Portal to allow for visual assessment of compliance with the pertinent requirements described above. <br />The DRMS also inspected the area qualitatively for revegetation success, erosional features and bare areas, <br />functioning of the reclaimed land to serve the post-mining land use, and completion of all reclamation obligations. <br />The bond release application included an exhibit "Bond Exhibit SL-6" which shows the areas nominated for bond <br />release. This figure is included with this inspection report as Attachment 1. <br />TOPSOIL - Rule 4.06 Removal 4.06.2; Substitute Materials 4.06.4(4); Storage and Protection 4.06.3; <br />Redistribution 4.06.4: <br />Within PR-3, SCC identified a material deficit for construction of Access Road 1 A and elimination of the highwall <br />at the South Portal area. Material to compensate for the projected deficit was obtained from a low hill located <br />within the Unit Train Loadout (UTL) disturbed area. Borrow of the material from the UTL site removed the crown <br />of the hill, lowering the hill by approximately 10 feet. This minor reduction in the elevation of the hill is depicted <br />on revised Exhibit 11 C (Unit Train Loadout Facility Post Mining Topography). The modification did not <br />significantly change the nature of the postmining landscape, and the amended topography still achieves AOC in <br />the UTL area. <br />Since mining at the South Portal area began prior to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, no topsoil <br />was salvaged in construction of the mine benches or facilities areas. Portions of areas which were disturbed prior <br />to the passage of the Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and the Federal interim rules which took effect on <br />May 5, 1978 were not subject to specific topsoil salvage reclamation requirements. Disturbed areas at the South <br />Portal and vicinity where no topsoil was salvaged were surfaced with at least 6 inches of the best available <br />material on site following removal of coaly material and placement of additional fill as needed. The borrow <br />material from the UTL was used for fill and surface material at the South Portal disturbed areas including the <br />highwall backfill and road fill slope areas. The non-active use portions of the commercial/industrial postmining <br />land use area were covered with a suitable amount of plant growth material and amended as necessary. Following <br />placement of the suitable material the graded surface was significantly roughened to relieve compaction and limit <br />surface slippage. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 1 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 <br />Page 4 of 13