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Summing the above expenses and the salaries provides a total <br /> administration cost of this project (through the end of 1998) of approximately <br /> $353,000, which is, so far, within the range of administrative costs normally <br /> expected for such a project. If the project goes for two more years, it is <br /> anticipated that the administrative costs would go to approximately $510,000. <br /> The pertinent points regarding administrative costs are: <br /> 1) the costs are, so far, within normal administrative costs for such projects; <br /> 2) administrative costs are a significant part of all budgets; <br /> 3) none of these administrative costs are being charged against the $3 <br /> million bond; and, <br /> 4) the real cost of this reclamation project is significantly greater than $3 <br /> million. <br /> The DMG letter of January 15, 1999 also indicated that administration is <br /> not being charged to the bond monies because the involved agencies <br /> "determined that the public interest in accomplishing appropriate reclamation <br /> within Coal Basin is best served at this time by expending the funds derived <br /> from the bond and from bankruptcy proceedings directly on reclamation <br /> construction, rather than on administrative costs". I agree with that <br /> determination. <br /> Other Unreconciled Administrative Costs: <br /> • The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) has incurred administrative <br /> expenses for this project. I suspect that the expenses are significant, <br /> however, I did not make inquiries in that regard because I expected that <br /> such inquiries might encounter too much bureaucracy. <br /> • The Mined Land Reclamation Board has incurred administrative costs, <br /> mainly through the use of various Assistant Attorney Generals through <br /> the years. I neglected to extend my inquiries in that direction also for the <br /> same reason. <br /> 5 <br />