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Colorado, October 1982. It states that no prime farmland mapping units are found within the <br />permit area or within Routt County. The local office of the NRCS confirmed this finding in a <br />letter dated September 24, 1984. This letter can be found in Exhibit 24 (2.07.6(2)(k)). <br />12. Based on information provided in the application, the Division has determined that alluvial <br />valley floors (AVF) exist within the permit or adjacent area. The alluvial valley floors are <br />known as the Fish Creek AVF, Foidel/Middle Creek Confluence AVF, and the Trout Creek <br />AVF. Based on information provided by the operator, the Division finds that for all the <br />above AVF's: <br />a) The proposed mining operation will not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming <br />on the alluvial valley floor. Cattle's ranching on undeveloped rangeland is the only <br />agricultural operation currently in practice in these portions of Fish Creek. Rule <br />4.24.3(1) allows for impacts to undeveloped rangelands which are insignificant to <br />farming. The operator has submitted information that the acreage to be affected is <br />of small acreage relative to the ranches. Previous subsidence of Fish Creek in the <br />Northern Mining District found that ranching was not precluded or diminished on <br />the affected area. <br />b) The proposed mining operation will not cause material damage to the quality and <br />quantity of surface and groundwater that supply the alluvial valley floor. Additional <br />information regarding impacts to alluvial valley floors may be found in Section B, <br />XVIII. <br />c) The proposed operation will preserve the essential hydrologic functions of the <br />alluvial valley floor, (2.07.6(2) and 2.06.8(3)(c)). <br />13. The Division hereby approves the post -mining land uses of the operation. It was determined <br />that pastureland, rangeland, and cropland uses meet the requirements of Rule 4.16 for the <br />permit area. (2.07.6(2)(1)). <br />14. Specific approvals have been granted or are proposed. These approvals are addressed in the <br />following section, Section B. (2.07.6(2)(m)). <br />15. Both the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the OSMRE were notified of PR -10 and <br />their comments were requested regarding potential impacts to threatened and endangered <br />species. OSMRE was consulted to determine if a section 7 consultation was necessary. The <br />Division did not receive any comments from CPW. OSMRE did not specifically respond <br />whether a section 7 consultation was necessary. However on March 23, 2015, the Division <br />received a letter from OSMRE indicating that they would begin developing a Mining Plan <br />Modification Decision Document based on compliance with NEPA, BLM's Resource <br />Recovery and Protection Plan documentation, the permit application package, the Division's <br />Findings, and documentation ensuring compliance with applicable requirements of other <br />Federal laws, regulations and executive orders including consultations(s) with U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service, and consultations(s) on cultural resources. No new surface disturbance is <br />proposed with PR -10 with the exception of the incidental effects of subsidence. The <br />Division finds that the activities proposed by the applicant would not affect the continued <br />Page 29 of 52 <br />