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Memo to Steve Renner <br />Coal Basin Examination <br />page 3 <br />of disturbance. However, the Army Corps of Engineers has the <br />ultimate authority in this situation through their issuance of the <br />404 permit. <br />Following the completion of the channel relocation, I recommend <br />that we require Mid - Continent to survey, photograph and map the <br />resulting channel reconfiguration. In addition, we should direct <br />the operator to install sufficient monuments at the toe and crest <br />of the incised slope to accommodate simplified determination of <br />recession of the crest of the incised slope. <br />Treatment of Seep Area <br />Coincidentally, the northwestern extremity of the old coal refuse <br />pile, which lies adjacent to and immediately west of the receding <br />incised slope, is a boggy seep area. The area is poorly drained <br />and several seeps issue from the slope. An area to the northwest <br />of the refuse pile appears to have been disturbed to borrow topsoil <br />and subsoil to cover the refuse. A small surficial failure has <br />occurred in this area, as evidenced by several lateral extensional <br />cracks with up to two inches of vertical offset across the cracks. <br />This small failed area, approximately 75 feet across by 50 feet <br />parallel to the slope gradient does not affect the refuse pile. In <br />addition the diversion ditch upslope from this area is poorly <br />defined and obviously incapable of containing the flow, allowing it <br />to contribute to the bog condition at the toe of the refuse pile. <br />Tony and I reconnoitered the immediate area. An old access road <br />descends from the northwestern corner of the pile area to Dutch <br />Creek. This road apparently functioned to drain the area <br />previously as evidenced by considerable sediment clogging the road. <br />However, the borrow activity reversed the gradient interrupting <br />flow from the graded area onto the road. We recommend that the <br />diversion ditch be realigned to drain onto the old access road. A <br />small triangle of ground above the road immediately adjacent to the <br />refuse area should be excavated and regraded to improve the <br />alignment. This material could be used to regrade the adjacent <br />area to grade northwest towards the road, rather than to the <br />southeast into the boggy area. The road will require clean up to <br />ensure containing the flow and remove the accumulated slope debris <br />and sediment. <br />Tony had previously staked a relocated alignment for the existing <br />backhoed ditch adjacent to the toe of the refuse through the bog <br />area. The new alignment will increase the grade slightly to <br />encourage more positive drainage. Several small seeps exist along <br />what appears to be the terminus of the refuse and native ground. <br />It appears groundwater migrates from above the disturbed area out <br />