2012-07-25_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981019

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Based upon the results of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 vegetation sampling, the Division finds that Colowyo has achieved adequate cover on the SL-05 reclamation blocks listed above. During the August 24, 2010 Bond Release inspection, the Division identified several areas that required weed control. On June 7, 2011, Colowyo provided documentation and a map showing the location of weed control efforts. The June 7, 2011 submittal also documented removal of snow fencing and opening up shrub exclosure fencing. This documentation is acceptable to the Division and addresses items 4, 5, and 6 described previously in section IV of this document. Post-Mining Land Use The post-mining land-use at the Colowyo mine is rangeland and wildlife habitat. The Phase III Bond Release areas of the East Pit, and West Pit were walked during the inspection. Few bare spots and no problem areas were observed. While Colowyo has not used the reclaimed lands for domestic livestock grazing, there is a large, resident elk herd that uses the reclaimed lands extensively. There are also several smaller herds of deer and pronghorn that use the reclaimed East Pit and West Pit. The wildlife use includes grazing (including winter grazing) and calving areas. Wildlife One Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek was located within the bond release area. This lek is identified on permit map 15 as ST-6, and is located in T3N, R93W, SW ¼ Section 2. Exclusion Areas Based on the bond release inspection of the Colowyo Mine, the Division is proposing to exclude 7.8 acres from SL-05. These 7.8 acres are comprised of 2.6 acres of the Streeter Gulch Ditch, 2.1 acres of Gulch A Ditch, and 3.1 acres associated with topsoil stockpile 15G (Parcel EP015), drainages and topsoil stockpile. These excluded areas reduce the acreage requested for Phase III bond release from 987.32 acres to 979.52 acres. Sealing Boreholes Two piezometers were identified on the requested bond release area: Streeter Fill Piezometer and the Streeter Well. Colowyo provided documentation on June 21, 2011, that the Streeter Fill Piezometer and the Streeter well were sealed in accordance with Rule 4.07(1). Colowyo was unable to cut the casing and mark the holes due to inaccessibility, but the boreholes were sealed appropriately with bentonite. This abandonment of the boreholes is acceptable to the Division. Permanent Structures Item No. 3 identified previously in section IV (page 6) of this document, required Colowyo to provide documentation that the transmission line crossing the proposed Phase III release area is Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance 25 July 2012 Partial Phase III Bond Release Sl-05 Page 12