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the revised Exhibit 1, was provided to the Applicant by Division letter of February 27, 1998, and <br />• corrected under Colowyo letter of March 12, 1998 (revised Exhibit 1, dated 3/2/98; revised Table <br />1 dated 3/12/98). The Division concluded its evaluation on March 23, 1998. <br />2. Inspections and Monitoring [Rules 4.05.13 and 5.02] <br />Results of monitoring of ground water levels, infiltration rates, subsurface flow and storage <br />characteristics, and the quality of ground water were evaluated to determine [Rule 4.05.13(1)(a)(i)] <br />the effects of surface or underground mining activities on the quantity and quality of water in <br />ground water systems in the permit area and adjacent areas; and [Rule 4.05.13(1)(a)(ii)] the effect <br />of surface mining activities on the recharge capacity of reclaimed lands. <br />The Permit requires groundwater monitoring in three wells: the Gossard Well located down <br />gradient of the Gossard Coal Loadout facility, the North Goodspring Well located down gradient <br />of mining activities, and the A-6 Well located up gradient of all mining activities. No impact to <br />groundwater from mining activities is apparent at these locations, as indicated in the monitoring <br />reports up through the 1997 Annual Hydrologic Report. <br />The Applicant is not required to monitor ground water within disturbed areas of the mine. The <br />Applicant is required to monitor pore pressures within structural excess spoil fills for stability. No <br />aquifers were found to be within the mined areas, and a determination was made that groundwater <br />was not a factor in the affected areas. <br />The 35-acre West Pit reclaimed region of the bond release area is located in the NE'/4 of Section <br />4 and the SE'/, of Section 33, in the vicinity of state plane coordinates N34770 to N349100 and <br />E1350100 to E 13510800, and includes the West Pit Fill. Construction characteristics of the West <br />Pit Fill are found in Exhibit 19 of the Permit. The potential for ground water within the excess spoil <br />West Pit Fill is minimized by construction characteristics. These include a fill underdrain, steep fill <br />slopes (no greater than 3 horizontal to 1 vertical), and surface drainage terraces at approximately <br />100-foot intervals that lead to a perimeter relief drain on the northern edge of the fill. <br />Groundwater levels in the excess spoil fill are monitored quarterly in a piezometer located in the <br />vicinity of state plane coordinates N348800 E11350650. However, this monitoring is related to fill <br />stability rather than ground water quantity and quality. The steep fill slopes and well developed <br />surface drainage system lower the quantity of water available for development of a shallow water <br />table. The underdrain and free-draining characteristics of the spoil rock fill inhibit the <br />development of an elevated water table. The results of piezometer monitoring indicate that the <br />level of the ground water table is at the elevation of undisturbed materials underlying the rock <br />underdrain. No springs or seeps have developed on the face of the fill. A seep at the underdrain <br />flows less than two gallons per minute (1996 AHR). The West Pit fill is a valley fill. The former <br />valley, a steep ravine, provided little opportunity for ground water recharge of formations down- <br />dip. No aquifers were identified in the Permit that would be affected by the fill. There is no <br />requirement in the Permit to monitor groundwater quality in the vicinity of this reclaimed area of <br />• 19 April 27, 1998 <br />