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Reclamation Success <br />In summary, vegetation establishment is satisfactory to control erosion, and meets the criterion of <br />4.15.10(2) for the industrial/commercial postmining land use. In the non-active use areas a <br />satisfactory ground cover of living plants has been established to control erosion. The other <br />important evaluation criterion for reclamation success and bond release was the establishment of <br />the industrial/commercial postmine land use. The site is now actively used by Providence Place, <br />Inc. for the Kokopelli Produce operation and will continue to be actively used by PPI following <br />final bond release. This was evident during the inspection as packing and shipping operations <br />were observed, and the retail fruit stand was open for business (see Photograph Numbers 9 and <br />10). The industrial/commercial postmine land use has been established and is being <br />implemented at the former South Portal mine facilities area for which bond release is being <br />requested. Nothing was identified during this inspection that would preclude full bond release <br />for the approximate 14.8 reclaimed acres located east of Interstate -70 and the Colorado River, <br />which was formerly used by the Roadside Mine for the South Portal and mine buildings <br />including the shop, warehouse, office and parking area. <br />Summary and Conclusions <br />The Division has completed its review and evaluation of the Phase II and III bond release request <br />submitted by SCC for the Roadside Portals Mine, South Portals area. Based upon a review of the <br />mine permit, the applicant's bond release application, and site inspections, the Division finds that <br />Snowcap Coal Company, Inc. has successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation <br />operations at the South Portals in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, and has met all <br />requirements of the Act and Rules. The entire 14.8 reclaimed acres in the South Portals area for <br />which full bond liability release was requested is stable and in good condition. There were no <br />signs of serious erosion or instability and there is good vegetative cover in the non-active use <br />areas. The 14.8 acre reclaimed area will support the approved postmine industrial/commercial <br />land use and all reclamation obligations have been completed within the bond release request <br />area. <br />Because of this site's industrial/commercial postmining land use, the requirements of Rule 4.15. 10 apply. <br />Rule 4.15.10(2) applies to the non-active use areas and requires the ground cover of living plants to be <br />sufficient to control erosion for areas to be developed for industrial use less than 2 years after regrading <br />has been completed prior to releasing final bond. The Division finds that ground cover is sufficient to <br />control erosion :in all of the non-active use areas. Further, the Division finds that all applicable <br />criteria have been met for final bond release based on the full implementation of the <br />industrial/commercial land use as approved. <br />Page 11