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The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in <br />the 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 <br />Regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors (2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)). <br />The operator has obtained specific permit approval to conduct surface coal mining <br />and reclamation operations within an alluvial valley floor (4.24.3(4)(b) and <br />2.06.8(5)(b)(I)(B)). <br />Therefore, the operations within a specific geographic area may continue despite their <br />proximity to an alluvial valley floor. The specific geographic area has been delineated <br />as East Salt Creek. <br />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 to <br />reestablish the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the <br />affected area throughout the mining and reclamation process (4.24.2). <br />2. 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 />There are no Prime Farmlands in the permit area. As determined by a negative <br />determination of the existence of Prime Farmlands within the permit area by the U.S. <br />Department of Agriculture, NRCS (formerly Soil Conservation Service). This <br />documentation is found in Appendix L, in a letter dated December 15, 1980, from Thomas <br />W. Priest, to James Walsh. <br />XIX. Mountaintop Removal <br />No mountaintop removal operations are proposed with this operation. <br />XX. Operations on Steep Slopes <br />The Division had originally proposed to approve a variance from meeting approximate <br />original contour for reclaimed areas. Various subsequent revisions to the operations <br />and reclamation plans (TRs 10, 11, 12, and 16) resulted in modifications that eliminate <br />the applicability of the steep slope variance. The reclamation plan as approved in <br />RN5 achieves approximate original contour, and the Steep Slope Variance finding has <br />been removed from this findings document. For a more detailed discussion, please refer <br />to the Steep Slope Variance section of the Division's August 10, 2000 Mid -Term <br />37 <br />