Laserfiche WebLink
L PROCEDURES AND SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS <br />Honeywood Coal Company applied for a complete bond release under the Colorado Surface Coal <br />Mining and Reclamation Act following reclamation of the Hamilton Mine. The release is a final Phase <br />III bond release for the entire site as well as a Phase I, II and III release of the Pond Area A. The mine is <br />located in Montrose County approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Naturita, Colorado, more specifically <br />described as follows: <br />Township 46 North, Range 15 West, N.M.P.M. <br />Section 32: E1/2E ' /2 <br />Section 33: W 1/2, Disturbed are in sin the S 1/2 NW 1/4 NE 1/4, <br />SE 1/4 NE 1/4, W 1/2 N 1/4 SE 1/4 <br />Township 45 North, Range 15 West, N.M.P.M. <br />Section 4: Portions of Lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 & 12 <br />Section 5: N 1/2 NE 1/4 NE 1/4 <br />The permit area encompasses 757 acres, 111.2 acres of which have been disturbed. The disturbed area is <br />comprised of 90.2 acres which were backfilled, graded, topsoiled, and seeded, and 19.4 acres of <br />"permanent facilities ", including Pond B, ditches and haul roads. Mining operations began at the <br />Hamilton Mine in March 1992, and ceased in July 1993 when the coal supply contract with the power <br />plant located in Nucla was not renewed. Coal was mined from two separate areas within the permit: <br />Mining Area No. 1 located to the west, encompassing approximately 73.1 acres, and a 9.9 acre portion <br />of Mining Area No. 3 to the east. Mining Area No. 2 was permitted, but never mined. Backfill, grading, <br />and redistribution of topsoil were completed in 1992 and 1993. Seeding was accomplished in 1993 for <br />the 90.2 acres that that had been reclaimed, including the facilities area. The entire reclaimed area was <br />reseeded in 1995, and a third seeding (of 80 acres) occurred in 1998. <br />SL -1 granted Phase I bond release for the entire permit area, exclusive of sedimentation ponds and <br />collection ditches. SL -1 was approved on August 10, 1994. <br />The SL -2 application for Phase II bond release for 86.8 acres was received by the Division on November <br />2, 2009. The application was approved on April 14, 2011. <br />This application for Phase III bond release for the entire site was received by the Division on January 5, <br />2012. The application was deemed complete on February 28, 2012, after the Division received proof of <br />publication of the applicant's public notice. Honeywood Coal Company published notice of the bond <br />release application in San Miguel Basin Forum once weekly for four consecutive weeks, beginning on <br />January 19, 2012. Honeywood Coal Company also notified land owners within and adjacent to the mine <br />permit area, and other interested parties of the application for bond release, as required by Rule <br />3.03.2(1). <br />No comments, written objections, or requests for an informal conference regarding the bond release <br />application were received by the Division. <br />Page 3 of 16 <br />