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The Division finds that activities conducted by SPL have not interrupted, discontinued or precluded <br />farming on the alluvial valley floors in the Sage Creek Reservoir Site and the AVFs identified in <br />Section 30 that are irrigated or naturally sub -irrigated. The field in Section 13 is undeveloped <br />rangeland, which is not significant to farming, and the field in Section 18 provides negligible support <br />for the farm's agricultural production. <br />The SL7 Phase III BRB has not materially damaged the quantity or quality of water in the surface or <br />ground water system described above, due to the potential AVF lands being of such small acreage as <br />to be of negligible impact on the farm's agricultural production. <br />The conducted activities have complied with the requirement of the Act and the regulations with <br />respect to alluvial valley floors. <br />Findings on Protection of Hydrologic Balance <br />According to Rule 3.03.2(2), the Division must conduct an inspection and an evaluation to <br />determine whether pollution of surface or subsurface water is occurring, the probability of future <br />occurrence of such pollution, and the estimated cost of abating such pollution. <br />Based on the review of the water monitoring data for the SL7 Phase 111 Bond release area of the <br />Yoast Mine, the observed hydrological impacts are consistent with those predicted in the probable <br />hydrologic consequences (PHC) section of the permit, C-1994-082. The SU Phase Ill areas <br />drain through portions of the disturbance areas which have yet to receive Phase 11 and III bond <br />release. These areas comprise portions of the North Valora Pit. <br />Water pollution is not occurring from the SL7 Phase III bond release area of the SPL lands, based <br />on a review of the monitoring data and on -the -ground observations, there is no potential for future <br />water pollution from the bond release area. Water quality at the alluvial Ground Water Point of <br />Compliance well is within the prescribed limits. Based on the foregoing observations regarding <br />hydrologic impacts, the Division finds SPL has minimized disturbance of the hydrologic balance <br />in the bond release area and adjacent areas, and prevented material damage outside the permit <br />area. <br />Summary and Conclusions <br />Based upon a review of the mine permit, the applicant's bond release application, and site <br />inspections, the Division finds that Seneca Property, LLC has successfully completed all surface coal <br />mining reclamation operations in accordance with the approved reclamation plan and met all <br />requirements of the Act and the Rules. Phase I release has been achieved for all parcels within the <br />disturbance boundary with the exception of the steep slide areas comprising 22.5 acres in the <br />vicinity of Pond 12. <br />IV. PROPOSED DECISION <br />The approved post -mining land use for the land applicable to SL7 is livestock grazing and wildlife <br />habitat. The bond release block, the subject of this bond release application (SL7), has been <br />reclaimed for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The revegetation plan was designed to achieve <br />the approved post mining land use. <br />Based on the observations above, the Division proposes to approve SPL's request for a partial Phase <br />Permit Number C-1994-082 Page 21 of 23 <br />