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At the final Phase II and III bond release inspection, the Division inspected the South Portal area <br />qualitatively for revegetation success, erosional features and bare areas, functioning of the <br />reclaimed land to serve the post-mining land use, and completion of all reclamation obligations. <br />The bond release application included an exhibit "Phase II & III Bond Exhibit (SL-6) South <br />Portal - Industrial" which shows the 14.8 acre area nominated for bond release. This figure is <br />included with this Findings document as Attachment 1. Bond release inspection photographs are <br />provided as Attachment 2. <br />The total permit area at the Roadside Mine encompasses 3,016 acres. The primary focus of this <br />inspection was a full bond liability release request (Phase II and III) of 14.8 reclaimed acres <br />located within the permit boundary east of the Colorado River and Interstate-70. The area for <br />which this bond release applies is referred to as the South Portal. An aerial overview of the <br />entire bond release area is shown Photograph No. 1 attached at the end of this report. <br />Reclamation has been entirely completed at the South Portal. The reclamation was performed as <br />follows: <br />From 2000 - 2001, the portals were sealed and a major portion of the facilities/structures were <br />demolished and removed. The reclamation costs associated with the portal sealing were removed <br />from the permit in August 2003 with the Division's approval of Phase I Bond Release <br />Application No. 2 (SL-2). From August 2007 through February 2008, the Portals were backfilled <br />and regraded to a 2:1 slope. Backfilling and regrading was completed as per approved final <br />contours, refer to Exhibit 6C of the PAP. Drainages were constructed as per approved <br />postmining topography as shown on Exhibit 6C and Appendix 14-6 of the PAP. Structures and <br />miscellaneous materials, except those retained by approval of Permit Revision No. 3, were <br />demolished and removed. Coaly material was excavated from the lower parking area and the <br />RSP and hauled to CRDA #1. The entire South Portal area was released from Phase I bond <br />liability in January 2009 with Division approval of Phase I Bond Release Application No. 4 (SL- <br />4). The proposed decision for SL-04 was issued on December 5, 2008. In February and March <br />of 2008, areas that were backfilled and regraded from August 2007 through February 2008 were <br />hydroseeded with seed mix shown on Table 14-8, Upland Components of the PAP. <br />As previously described, PR-3 was approved in July 2007 to change the postmining land use of <br />portions of the South Portal facilities area to an alternative, commercial postmining land use. <br />Post mining land uses are discussed in Tab 15 of the PAP and are shown on Exhibit 63. The <br />South Portal area is now used by a commercial fruit growing company Providence Place, Inc. <br />(PPI), which recently purchased the property from SCC. The fruit operation at the site <br />"Kokopelli Produce" makes use of existing facilities for a retail sales office, produce storage, <br />equipment and supply storage, and parking. Brant Harrison landowner and operator of the <br />Kokopelli fruit stand has planted peach and cherry trees for self picking at the large lay down <br />area located to the east of the fruit stand and warehouse as an added feature and attraction for the <br />Kokopelli fruit operation (see attached Photograph No. 2). Various aspects of the South Portal <br />area reclamation plan were changed with PR-3 to accommodate the alternative land use. <br />Specified existing buildings on the mine bench and lower parking area were retained as <br />permanent for the alternative use, and a new road was constructed to access the mine bench. <br />Construction of the new access road (Access Road #1A) to the mine bench and reclamation of <br />the existing access road covered the visible coal material exposed along the outslope of the <br />Page 8