requirements, and State requirements applicable pursuant to cooperative agreements under section 308, have been fulfilled. (f) Release schedule The release referred to in subsection (e) shall be according to the following schedule: (1) After the operator has completed any required backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of an area subject to mineral activities and covered by the financial assurance, and has commenced revegetation on the regraded areas subject to mineral activities in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, that portion of the total financial assurance secured for the area subject to mineral activities attributable to the completed activities may be released, except that sufficient financial assurance must be retained to address other required reclamation needs and to ensure the long-term success of the revegetation. (2) After the operator has successfully completed all remaining mineral activities and reclamation activities and all requirements of the operations plan and the reclamation plan, and all other requirements of this Act have been fully met, the remaining portion of the financial assurance may be released. During the period following release of the financial assurance as specified in paragraph (1), until the remaining portion of the financial assurance is released as provided in paragraph (2), the operator shall be required to comply with the relevant permit issued under this title. (g) Effluent (1) In general Notwithstanding section 307(b)(2)(D), where any discharge or other water-related condition resulting from mineral activities requires treatment in order to meet applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards, the financial assurance shall include the estimated cost of maintaining such treatment for the projected period that will be needed after the cessation of mineral activities. (2) Release of financial assurance The portion of the financial assurance attributable to such estimated cost of treatment shall not be released until such discharge has ceased