(a) Within 12 months after compliance with 3(a) and sufficient compliance with 3(b) and (c) so that full compliance can be predicted by the Administrator, the discoverer shall comply with the reporting requirements of W.S. § 35-11-404(e) or (f) (2015). After receipt of such report, the Administrator shall have one year to inspect and evaluate the hole completion and surface restoration work and make a determination of whether to release the bond to the discoverer or institute forfeiture proceedings.
(b) Forfeiture proceedings and release of bonds shall be according to the procedure set forth in W.S. §§ 35-11-421 through 35-11-423(2015); substituting therein "discoverer" for "operator"; "surface restoration" for "reclamation" and "exploration by drilling" for "surface mining".
(c) Failure to so inspect and evaluate shall constitute a decision by the Administrator that the discoverer has complied with this Chapter for release of bond purposes only. This one-year limitation shall not be construed to alter or affect W. S. § 35-11-404(k) - (n) (2015), or any other rights of action against the discoverer granted pursuant to the statutory provisions of the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act.
020-14 Wyo. Code R. § 14-5
Amended, Eff. 4/19/2016.