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Introduction <br />This document is the proposed decision of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br />Safety (the Division) for Surety Increase No. 1 (SI -1) at the Yoast Mine, Division file number C- <br />1994 -082. The package contains three parts. These include: 1) procedures and summary of the <br />bond increase process; 2) observations and findings of the Division regarding compliance with the <br />performance bond requirements of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act (Act) <br />and regulations promulgated thereunder; and 4) the Division's proposed decision on the surety <br />increase. <br />Detailed information about the review process can be found in the Act and the Regulations of the <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining (Rules). All Rules referenced within <br />this document are contained within the Regulations. Detailed information about the mining and <br />reclamation operations can be found in the permit application on file at the Division offices, located <br />at 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, in Denver, Colorado. <br />The Yoast Mine is a surface mine which was permitted and operated by Seneca Coal Company, <br />LLC (SCC). The ownership of the land is Federal, state and private, and the coal ownership was <br />Federal and private. During the life of mine operations, Seneca Coal Company disturbed a total of <br />848.6 acres. Mining operations took place in three major areas of the Yoast Mine — the North Pit, <br />the Neck Pit, and the South Pit; coal production ceased entirely in February 2006. In addition to the <br />pit areas, there is a three mile long access road corridor linking the mining area to Routt County <br />Road 27. <br />The Division has previously approved three bond release applications at the Yoast Mine, as noted <br />on Table 1 of this document. SL -1, approved on March 6, 2007, released $11,862.00 of Phase I <br />liability on 173.02 acres in the North Pit. SL -2, approved June 15, 2010, released $790,205.00 <br />of Phase I liability on 456.7 acres in the South Pit and Neck Pit areas. SL -3, approved on <br />January 18, 2012, released $1,693,918.00 of Phase II liability on 592 acres in the North and <br />South Pit areas. The Division proposed a decision to partially approve SL -4 on November 9, <br />2012. SL -4 will release Phase I liability on 115.5 acres on portions of the Yoast Access Road, <br />Pond 010, several light use roads, and facilities areas, totaling $452,336.00. In total, including <br />this SI -1 proposed decision, the Division will have released Phase I liability on 712.52 acres, <br />leaving 136.08 acres under full liability. The Division has released 592 acres from Phase II <br />liability; leaving 256.60 under Phase II liability. No Phase III bond release has been granted on <br />any of the disturbance area. <br />