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An environmental monitoring system as described in Tab 15 of the permit application <br /> has been installed, maintained, and operated by the permittee on all alluvial valley floors <br /> during surface coal mining and reclamation operations and will continue until all bonds <br /> are released in accordance with Rule 3 (4.24.4). <br /> Tabs 15 through 18, and Tab 22, adequately address the monitoring of potential impacts <br /> and ensure that the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the <br /> permit area are reestablished after mining and that the essential hydrologic functions of <br /> alluvial valley floors outside the permit area are preserved during and after mining. If <br /> future monitoring of affected surface and ground waters indicates trends which <br /> necessitate alteration of the projections upon which these AVF findings are based, the <br /> findings will be reevaluated and modified as appropriate. <br /> The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br /> XVIII. Operations on Prime Farmland <br /> The Division made a negative determination for the presence of prime farmlands within <br /> the permit area. This decision was based on the evidence provided by the Soil <br /> Conservation Service that there are no prime farmland mapping units within the proposed <br /> permit area. This evidence can be found in Volume 5,Tab 9,Appendix 9-5. <br /> The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br /> XIX. Mountaintop Removal <br /> A. The Division approved an exemption from retention of an outcrop barrier at the toe <br /> of the lowest coal seam. The applicant demonstrated that the requirements of Rule <br /> 4.26.2(2) would be met. <br /> XX. Operations on Steep Slopes <br /> A. The Division approved a variance from meeting approximate original contour for <br /> reclaimed areas. This variance was proposed following a demonstration that the <br /> requirements of Rule 2.06.4 and 2.06.5 would be met(4.27.3). Additionally, the <br /> Division found that the applicant demonstrated that the requirements of Rule 4.27.4 <br /> would be met. <br /> B. The applicant proposed to dispose of woody plant materials in the backfill beneath <br /> the highwall. The Division found that this practice would not deteriorate the stable <br /> condition of the backfilled area, and therefore approved this practice (4.27.3(6)). <br /> C. The Division approved the construction of an unlined or unprotected drainage <br /> channel on backfill. Approval was based on a demonstration of channel stability <br /> (427.3(7)). <br /> D. The applicant proposed alternative specifications and practices for operations on <br /> steep slopes and reclamation of these operations. This proposal was accompanied <br /> by a thorough analytical demonstration that use of the alternatives will result in <br /> reclaimed areas as environmentally sound and structurally stable as would result <br /> using the standards set in 4.27 (4.27.3(8)). <br /> Page 36 of 37 <br />