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July 30, 2012 C- 1992 - 080 /Carbon Junction Mine MLT <br />reclaimed portion of the Ewing Mesa Pit No. 1 gravel permit. Mr. Savage asserted that wells <br />related to the coal permit (82 -4 and 95 -1) became the responsibility of the gravel permit <br />operator to reclaim if they were located within the gravel permit area. The Division will be <br />reviewing the history of the Carbon Junction permit to determine which operator bears <br />responsibility for sealing of the wells. <br />Ms. Ray and Mr. Savage had not previously been aware of the presence of Well 82 -5 and <br />what is perhaps an unfinished boring located at the eastern terminus of the 82 -5 access road <br />(Photo 3). They stated that they would have their reclamation contractor seal these two <br />features. <br />We also walked the extent of the linear feature that effectively diverts the flow of the upper <br />Carbon Junction drainage away from the broad, grass- covered channel at the toe of the slope. <br />Mr. Savage asserted that the feature is not a berm; it is rather the remnant of a roadbed that <br />existed along the southern side of the drainage, and was eroded in a sizable precipitation <br />event in 1995. The upstream end of this feature clearly prevents flow from entering the <br />intended channel, pinching the flow into an eroded channel against the southern hillside. The <br />Division believes the flow would be better directed into the stable re- constructed channel. <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br />The Division approved an alternative Post - Mining Land Use (PMLU), a combination of <br />commercial, recreation, and residential, with TR -5 in 1996. Ms. Ray explained that Oakridge <br />subdivided their properties on Ewing Mesa, including the coal permit area, into 35 -acre <br />parcels in 2008. To date, no development has commenced on any of the parcels. Ms. Brown <br />explained that for other Colorado mines where an alternative PMLU was approved, permits <br />and other government approvals were issued and the properties have been developed and <br />serving the intended use before the Division granted final bond release. These permits have <br />also contained a backup reclamation plan, in case the development commitments could not <br />be met. Ms. Brown suggested that Oakridge may want to revise the permit to incorporate a <br />backup post- mining land use, such as pastureland or rangeland with the appropriate <br />reclamation success standards. Substantial reclamation of the site was accomplished in 2006 <br />and Oakridge could be eligible for final bond release in 2016 if a pastureland or rangeland <br />land use is approved. <br />The site of former Sediment Pond 1 and Topsoil Stockpile #8, which was reclaimed in the <br />winter of 2008/2009, is well vegetated. Ditches carrying flow to Pond 1 were reclaimed at <br />the same time, except those portions of the ditch that fell within the Ewing Mesa Pit No. 1 <br />boundary. <br />• The former equipment storage area, east of Topsoil Stockpile #7, is well vegetated (Photo 4) <br />What appeared to be two gravel test pits, dug with a backhoe, were discovered in the coal <br />permit area, to the east of Topsoil Stockpile 97. <br />ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS /COMPLIANCE <br />No enforcement actions were issued as a result of this inspection, and none are pending. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 Page 3 of 6 <br />