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L <br />runoff. The Iow spot was repaired during the inspection. <br />There was not any evidence to suggest that disturbed area <br />runoff had been discharged to the diversion as a result of the <br />low spot. <br />The field inspection essentially ended with observations of <br />the refuse area. The waste deposited in the refuse area <br />generally represents roof and floor material from the <br />underground portions of the mine. The inspection of the upper <br />bench of the refuse indicated that there is a small <br />depression, about 20 feet in diameter located on the edge of <br />the bench at the approximate midpoint where moisture could <br />collect. The depression was not more than six inches deep. <br />The depression was not holding water at the time of the <br />inspection. The permittee will placed additional material in <br />the depression as it is generated. The upper bench is sloped <br />toward the cut slope of the adjacent hill so that drainage is <br />not allowed to flow over .the face. There is also an axle high <br />safety berm along the crest of the slope of the refuse. The <br />small refuse pile occupies afoot print area that is <br />approximately 450 feet in length 50 to 100 feet wide at its <br />base. Ring Coal estimates that 30,000 cubic yards of material <br />will be deposited at the site over the life of the mine. The <br />life of mine under Permit Revision No. 3 (PR) is estimated to <br />be through the year 2019, according to Colorado's findings of <br />compliance for the PR. The findings also indicate that the <br />waste pile will extend approximately 900 feet up the drainage. <br />The ultimate configuration of the pile calls for a diversion <br />that will divert runoff from the upstream area away from the <br />refuse. There is no diversion presently that diverts the <br />upstream watershed. The watershed is about 8 acres. Runoff <br />from the upper bench is conveyed along the refuse and the <br />adjacent slope interface in a small diversion where it <br />ultimately discharges to the disturbed area below. The DMG <br />representatives indicated that the upland diversion cannot <br />presently be constructed on the undisturbed slope because it <br />is too steep and the dynamic state of the upper bench prevents <br />construction of a more permanent structure. The concern is <br />that a more permanent diversion would be continually covered <br />and have to be reconstructed as more material is place at the <br />site. I advised the DMG representatives that I am aware that <br />the issue of refuse diversions had been a concern in general, <br />in the past and that I would relay the information to the <br />Colorado Regulatory Program Specialist in AFO. <br />Records Review: <br />The permit was renewed on August 18, 1992. The permit area is <br />approximately 1,082 acres. The disturbed area is 10.25 acres. <br />The permittee and DMG are in the process of completing a <br />revision, Permit Revision 4, that will increase the coal <br />reserves that will be mined. <br />The records we reviewed included the certificate of liability, <br />subsidence monitoring, NPDES permit and discharge monitoring <br />5 <br />