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Alluvial Valley Floor Monitoring <br />Hydrologic monitoring as discussed in Section III, A and B of this document will be <br />sufficient to verify projections and monitor effects of mining on the quality and quantity <br />of water supplying the identified alluvial valley floors. Included in this monitoring plan is <br />a monitoring schedule for the Fish Creek and Foidel/Middle Creek Confluence AVF to <br />assess for impacts. A surface water and alluvial water site presently exists downstream of <br />all Foidel Creek mining activities on Trout Creek (site 1005 and well 008 -AT -1). Surface <br />water monitoring and alluvial monitoring sites are located along both Foidel and Middle <br />Creeks to assess possible impacts due to the undermining of these perennial streams. <br />Currently Station 900 is the downstream surface water monitoring site for Foidel Creek. <br />Projected mining in the Wolf Creek Reserve in mid -2022 may impact Station 900. Given <br />this, the permittee has committed to moving the downstream surface water monitoring site <br />for Foidel Creek from Station 900 to a new station (Station 900a), one year prior to any <br />mining -related impacts on Station 900. <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, discontinue, <br />or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or naturally subirrigated <br />(4.24.3(1)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in the <br />surface or ground water 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 <br />with 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 <br />the mining and reclamation process (4.24.2). <br />An environmental monitoring system has been installed, and will be maintained and <br />operated, by the permittee on all alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and <br />reclamation operations. The environmental monitoring system will be continued until all <br />bonds are released in accordance with Rule 3 (4.24.4). <br />XIX. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />No prime farmlands currently exist within the proposed permit area. Therefore any <br />specific approvals under this section do not apply. <br />XX. Mountaintop Removal <br />No specific approvals are granted to the applicant under this section. <br />XXI. Operations on Steep Slopes <br />No specific approvals are granted to the applicant under this section. <br />Foidel Creek Mine 51 February 25, 2016 <br />