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2-23 • Coarse wash plant refuse will average fourteen to sixteen percent moisture with the finer material averaging sixteen to eighteen percent. It is difficult to estimate what the overall refuse characteris- tics will be, due to the varying amounts of coal that may be washed. If, in early years of production, all coal was to be washed, refuse would best be characterized by the weighted average of the washed coal fines and coarse refuse. In this case, the combined refuse would be approximately fourteen to sixteen percent moisture and 91.9 percent -4" +;" with 5.3 percent +4" and 2.8 percent -;". At full production, since only a portion of the coal would be washed, overall refuse characteristics would change. Moisture would be expected to average thirteen to fifteen percent with 23.8 percent +4" material, 74.0 percent -4" +;" material and ' 2.2 percent -;" material. At full production, with no wash plant, the refuse will be primarily +4" and average ten to twelve percent moisture. These sizes and moistures are an estimate of what will be trans- ported to the refuse area. During the handling and spreading, some further size degradation will occur. As moistures reflect surface water added during the mining and washing processes, it can be expected that the final in-place moisture will be less than given. The refuse pile will be constructed in two foot lifts allowing for evaporation. 2.4.2 Refuse Area Design Armed with information on volumes of refuse, Salt Creek Mining Company began a search of disposal alternatives. The design and lateral extent of the mines precluded disposal underground. Sur- face topography near the mines limited the volume of any refuse • area within the canyons where the mines are located. 1/17/83