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XVL Concurrent Surface and Underground Mining <br />This section is not applicable to the Southfield Mine. <br />XVII. Operations on Alluvial Valley Floors <br />The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or adjacent <br />area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial valley floor known as Oak <br />Creek located at the southwest portion of the loadout. <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, discontinue, or <br />preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or naturally sub - irrigated <br />(4.24.3(1)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in the surface <br />or groundwater system described above (4.24.3(3) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)). <br />The proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations with <br />respect to alluvial valley floors (2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)). <br />Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the essential <br />hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit area and to reestablish the <br />essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the affected area throughout the <br />mining and reclamation process (4.24.2). <br />Water quality monitoring of Oak Creek was discontinued (TR -37). The Division approved this <br />change in monitoring because of the additional disturbance (a railroad trestle was built in the <br />channel by another party) that would make it nearly impossible to detect impacts from the <br />loadout. Also, the data indicated no observable impacts from the loadout operation prior to the <br />trestle construction. <br />XVIII.Operations on Prime Farmland <br />As described in Sections 2.04.12 and 2.06.6 of the PAP, no lands within the Southfield mine or <br />loadout area have been identified as prime farmlands. Dorchester, the previous operator, <br />received a negative determination, which can be found in Exhibit 14, a copy of the original <br />findings document. <br />XIX. Mountaintop Removal <br />This section is not applicable to the Southfield Mine. It was not (and is not) a mountaintop <br />removal operation. The requirements of Rule 4.26.2(2) have been met. <br />29 <br />