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XVII. Operations on Alluvial Valley Floors <br />The findings in this section regarding the impact of the operation on alluvial valley floors <br />are extremely conservative, as they are based on plans for an active mining operation <br />and significant expansion of current surface disturbance and affected area. As of <br />March 2018, the mine has been reclaimed and no further coal extraction is proposed <br />or approved. Existing affected area (surface disturbance and underground workings <br />combined) at the mine site is and will remain less than 40 acres; disturbed area is and <br />will remain less than 20 acres. The Loma Loadout has been Phase I, II and III bond <br />released and removed from the permit area, SL -2 and TR -26, <br />Expansion of mine bench facilities, continued coal extraction, and construction of an <br />operational haul road to the mine bench area were originally approved and included in <br />the following analysis and findings. In addition, coal handling and processing facilities <br />that had at one time been proposed for development on the East Salt Creek alluvial valley <br />floor were also considered in the following analysis and findings. Under the currently <br />approved permit to be renewed by this RN -7, these activities, facilities, and expanded <br />disturbance areas are no longer proposed or approved. <br />Information provided by the applicant with respect to alluvial valley floors can be found <br />in Section 4.1.4 of the permit application text, and Preliminary Alluvial Valley Floor <br />Mapping is presented on Figure 4.1-2 of the permit application. Based on a review of <br />this information, the following determinations have been made by the Division: <br />AVF Determination <br />The proposed permit area for the Munger Canyon Mine occupies parts of four drainage <br />basins distinguishable on a topographic map. These basins include Munger Canyon, <br />Stove Canyon, Buniger Canyon and an unnamed tributary to East Salt Creek. East Salt <br />Creek has been determined to be an alluvial valley floor. Irrigated agriculture exists in <br />the East Salt Creek Valley helps confirm this determination. Irrigated cropland as well <br />as areas used for grazing are shown on Figure 4.1-2 of the permit application. <br />Just south of Munger Canyon, Stove Canyon and Buniger Canyon are sub -basins within <br />the Big Salt Wash drainage system. Munger Canyon and the unnamed tributary are <br />both sub -basins of the East Salt Creek drainage. Development of mine workings during <br />the initial permit term was anticipated to extend under portions of all of the above- <br />mentioned drainage basins. However, the workings were never developed to this <br />extent. <br />The central facilities area permit revision increased the permitted area by 273.3 acres. <br />This area was to be located along East Salt Creek beginning at the mouth of Munger <br />Canyon and extending southward approximately 1.5 miles to the proposed coal processing <br />waste disposal area. Prior to submittal of the central facilities area permit revision <br />request in 1985, the planned surface disturbance related to the mine consisted of the <br />Munger Canyon Mine haul road encompassing a 35 -acre area extending from the mouth <br />32 <br />