(a) General. (1) As part of the review of a proposed surface use plan of operations, the authorized Forest Service officer shall review existing bond amount(s) to determine if they are sufficient to ensure complete and timely reclamation of surface disturbances and restoration of any lands or surface waters adversely affected by lease operations. The review shall include a determination of whether the performance bond held by the Bureau of Land Management is adequate to meet the requirements of this paragraph (a)(1).

(2) If at any time prior to, or during the conduct of operations, the authorized Forest Service officer determines that the performance bond amount held by the Bureau of Land Management is not adequate to ensure complete and timely reclamation and restoration of National Forest System lands, the authorized Forest Service officer may review and require a bond amount specifically for reclaiming surface disturbance.

(b) Considerations for reviewing bond adequacy. In assessing whether a bond is sufficient, the authorized Forest Service officer:

(1) Shall consider the scope and full extent of the operator's proposed operations, associated surface disturbance, and infrastructure, and performance history and risk posed by the operator.

(2) Shall consider the costs to the Forest Service to undertake reclamation or restoration actions in case of operator default.

(c) Determining level of bond amount. If additional bonding is determined necessary, the authorized Forest Service officer may specify a bond amount to any level, provided that the amount does not exceed the total estimated cost of reclamation based on surface disturbance.

(d) Posting bonds. If the authorized Forest Service officer determines that additional bonding is necessary, the officer shall give the operator the option of either increasing the bond held by the Bureau of Land Management or filing a separate reclamation bond with the Forest Service in the amount deemed adequate. The Forest Service must notify the Bureau of Land Management if the operator chooses to increase its Bureau of Land Management bond. If an additional surface use bond is determined to be necessary, the bond must be posted prior to commencing any surface-disturbing activities.

(e) Bond release. When the Forest Service holds a bond, the operator may request that the Forest Service authorize an incremental reduction in bond amount at any time during operations as restoration or reclamation activities are completed. When the Bureau of Land Management holds the bond, an operator may request the authorized Forest Service officer to notify the Bureau of Land Management to reduce the bond amount. The authorized Forest Service officer shall, if appropriate, notify the Bureau of Land Management of the amount by which the bond may be reduced.