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The Permanent Impoundment Evaluation topic was selected by the joint DRMS/OSM Oversight <br />Team. The impoundments chosen for this review are located at the Seneca II, Edna, and Marr <br />Strip Mines. Permittees often submit requests to retain sediment ponds as permanent structures <br />to serve and enhance the post mining land use. In order for the Division to approve these <br />requests the requirements of Rules 2.05.3(4)(b) and 4.05.9(1), Permanent Impoundments, must <br />be demonstrated. The team has agreed to review three recent requests the Division has received <br />for permanent impoundments. The evaluation criteria will include a review of the written <br />demonstration to comply with Rule 4.05.9(13) and a field evaluation of the ponds that have been <br />approved as permanent impoundments. <br />During the field evaluation of the Seneca II Mine, the Team observed Ponds 2, 3, 4, 8, as well as <br />the PECOCO Pond. The approved post mining land use for these impoundments is livestock <br />grazing/wildlife habitat. Ponds 2, 3, and the PECOCO Pond were retroactively updated in <br />December of 2004 to comply with the water quality and water rights requirements of Rule <br />4.05.9(13). The permanent impoundment demonstrations for Ponds 4 and 8 were approved in <br />January of 2006 in Technical Revision 37. All permanent impoundments are functioning in <br />compliance with the applicable requirements of Rule 4.05.9(13) and are consistent with their <br />approved post mining land use (PMLU). <br />Based on GSM's review of the written demonstrations for compliance with Rule 4.05.9(13) and <br />the field evaluations of the aforementioned permanent impoundments, the Team concludes the <br />following: <br />All permanent impoundments evaluated in conjunction with this Special Focus Topic at the <br />Seneca II, Edna, and Marr Strip Mines are functioning in compliance with the applicable <br />requirements of Rule 4.05.9(13), and are consistent with their approved post mining land use. <br />Accordingly, the DRMS is successfully implementing its permanent impoundment approval <br />process and OSM has no recommendations to offer for improving the approval process as a <br />result of the evaluation.