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drawdown of the White River alluvial aquifer had a detrimental effect on established <br />agricultural activities. A monitoring plan was subsequently approved and implemented, <br />thereby resolving the requirements of the stipulation. The approved plan called for <br />monthly monitoring of six alluvial wells installed within the White River alluvium above, <br />below, and adjacent to the alluvial well field utilized to supply water to the mining <br />operation. At present, only one well, Qal -5, is monitored due to the complete inundation <br />of the remaining wells by rising water levels from the gradual filling of Kenney Reservoir. <br />A raw water lagoon was constructed within the vicinity of the alluvial well field at the <br />confluence of Scullion Gulch and the White River, subsequent to construction of Kenney <br />Reservoir. Water to supply the mine is now pumped from the lagoon, rather than from the <br />alluvium. <br />Due to high water table in the immediate vicinity of the raw water lagoon, cattails and <br />other wetland species that are not significant to farming dominate the vegetation. <br />No other surface facilities are proposed by the permittee that would in any way <br />significantly affect agricultural activities established on the alluvial valley floor of the <br />White River. No underground mining activities are proposed beneath any portions of the <br />identified AVF during the permit term or over the proposed life of the mining operation. <br />A. The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or <br />adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial valley <br />floor located on the White River. <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, <br />discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or <br />naturally subirrigated (4.24.3(1)). <br />2. The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of <br />water in the surface or ground water system described above (4.24.3(3) and <br />2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)). <br />The proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and the <br />Regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors (2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)). <br />4. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the <br />essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit area and <br />to reestablish the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within <br />the affected area throughout the mining and reclamation process (4.24.2). <br />B. An environmental monitoring system shall be installed, maintained, and operated by <br />the permittee on all alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and reclamation <br />operations and continued until all bonds are released in accordance with Rule 3 <br />(4.24.4). <br />XVIII. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />41 <br />