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The bond amount was reduced the maximum amount allowable: to $65, 915. The reclamation cost <br />estimate for the remaining work was calculated to be $55, 226. <br />The Review Process — Permit Renewal No. 4 (RN -04) <br />The Division sent out a notice of expiration of the Hamilton Mine permit on May 16, 2011 to Honeywood <br />Coal Company (mine operator) and J. E. Stover and Associates (consultant to the operator), 270 days prior <br />to the permit expiration. The Division received all the materials to deem the renewal application (RN4) <br />complete on July 5, 2011. Acknowledgement of the complete application was sent to the operator and <br />consultant on July 11, 2011. Publication of the proposed permit renewal was made August 4, 11, 18, and <br />25, 2011, in the San Miguel Basin Forum. Staff comments generated in regard to adequacy issues <br />identified during the review of the proposed revision (ownership and control information) were conveyed <br />to Honeywood Coal Company and J.E. Stover and Associates in a letter dated January 19, 2012. Revised <br />ownership and control information for the permit application package was received by the Division on <br />February 24, 2012. Applicant Violator System (AVS) checks were conducted on January 19, 2012, <br />February 28, 2012, March 23, 2012 and March 27, 2012 and no violations were found. No public <br />comments concerning the permit renewal were received. The Division is proposing to approve the <br />application for RN -04. <br />Description of the Environment <br />Introduction <br />The Hamilton Mine permit area encompasses 757 acres, 111.2 acres of which have been disturbed. The <br />area is situated atop a gently north- sloping mesa overlooking Naturita Creek and the San Miguel River. <br />The mesa is part of an extensive flat -land area which extends southeast to the San Juan Mountains. The <br />area was formed from the resistant, Cretaceous -age Dakota Sandstone and Burro Canyon Formation. The <br />Dakota Sandstone is the bedrock of the mine area and contains the coal that was mined. The mesa mined <br />is bounded on the west by Bramiers Draw and on the east by Long Draw. The northernmost permit <br />boundary is approximately one mile south of Naturita Canyon. The southern permit area boundary is 1.5 <br />miles south of and parallel to the northern permit area boundary. <br />The mine is located within the southeast portion of the Colorado Plateau. The region is characterized by <br />broad, fairly smooth surfaced plateaus and mesas with gently dipping slopes dissected by steep canyons. <br />Surface elevations at the Hamilton Mine range from a high of 6,050 feet (MSL) in the southern part of the <br />permit area to a low of 5,800 feet in the northern parts of the permit area. Total topographic relief is thus <br />about 250 feet. <br />Climate <br />The regional climate of the Hamilton Mine area is typical of intermountain regions. It is characterized by <br />cold winters, hot summers, low rainfall, and short growing seasons. The Hamilton Mine receives <br />approximately twelve inches of precipitation in an average year. The majority of the precipitation falls <br />between October and May. <br />April 3, 2012 <br />RN4 <br />4 <br />