You are correct, Les. The bond actually started out much lower. It was increased around the time of the C&D was issued, and then increased again. But the majority of the bond was required for the estimated pond reclamation cleanup.
As Sanbrunobaby points out, some if the bond will remain for the recovery of any environmental dangers associated with the mill and dry stack. But the figures are calculated on the cost of the cleanup associated with the remaining process. (And remember the mill is a functional mill, just closed by the C&D. There should be bonding in place associated with parts of that process, if any was required before.)
The DRMS saw the ponds as a much higher risk and costly cleanup than the mill. The dry stack SHOULD be much less, since there is no danger of a pond overflow or rupture. (It's pretty hard to get dry earth to flow like the slurry in a settling pond would.)
I seem to remember that the DRMS and the Hard Rock Mining rules do allow for the return of the bond upon completion of the necessary work, however I can't place my finger on the info right now.
Don't take my word for it, Do your own research! Then you will know it's true!
