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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866 -3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832 -8106 <br />COLORADO <br />Q I V I S I O N O F <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />September 11, 2012 John W. Hickenlooper <br />Governor <br />Roy Karo Mike King <br />Seneca Coal Company, LLC Executive Director <br />P.O. Box 670 Loretta E. Pineda <br />Hayden, CO 81639 Director <br />Re: Yoast Mine (Permit No. C -1994 -082) <br />Bond Release No. 4 (SL -4) <br />Phase I Bond Release Request on Roads, Ponds, and Topsoil Stockpile Areas <br />Dear Mr. Karo: <br />The Division has reviewed your bond release application and has the following questions and comments. <br />1. SCC has requested Phase I bond release on the Yoast Access Road corridor from Routt County Road <br />(RCR) 27 to the point where LU -3A begins within the Yoast Mine pennit boundary. Appendix 20 -1.1 of <br />the Yoast Mine pennit application package includes landowner letters for retention of penmanent <br />structures, including portions of Road A. It appears that Appendix 20 -1.1 does not include an updated <br />letter from the Hallenbecks (current letter addresses only the deadhead route reclamation adjacent to RCR <br />27, no mention of Road A). In order to approve a Phase I bond release of the road in its current <br />configuration, landowner consent to the pennanent road must be provided. Please provide, in the form of <br />a minor revision to the pennit application package, an updated consent document from the Hallenbecks for <br />permanent retention of Road A. <br />2. SCC has requested Phase I bond release on Topsoil Stockpiles A and C. According to the 2011 Annual <br />Reclamation Report for the Yoast Mine, there is still topsoil stored in these stockpiles. Since the Yoast <br />Access Road and Pond 010 are permanent features, the topsoil in these stockpiles will not be needed for <br />reclamation. Approved Exhibit 20 -2, Post - Mining Topography Map, shows the current configuration of <br />these stockpiles, but they have not been addressed in the topsoil redistribution plan in the approved permit <br />application package. Please provide an updated page 23 of Tab 21 (as a minor revision) that indicates that <br />the topsoil in these stockpiles was not needed for reclamation and that the stockpiles will be retained in <br />their current configuration. Although not requested with this bond release application, Topsoil Stockpile <br />B should also be addressed in the minor revision so that it is not an issue when SCC requests bond release <br />in the future. <br />If you have any questions, please contact me. <br />Sincerely, <br />Susan L. Burgmaier <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines <br />