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the surface landowners. This method has proved to be effective as in early 1990 <br /> when subsidence cracks traversed the Huntington Ditch, and the operator <br /> immediately effected repairs by placing an impermeable fabric liner down several <br /> hundred feet of the ditch to repair the crack and prevent further problems if additional <br /> cracks appeared. <br /> No renewable resource lands lie within the permit area. Information provided in the <br /> application indicates the Pine Gulch drainage, which at one time was suggested to be <br /> a renewable resource area, does not in fact qualify as one. There is no aquifer or <br /> recharge area for an aquifer in the Pine Gulch area. Core hole data supplied with <br /> the original application demonstrate that the bedrock section above the level of the <br /> coal is dry. The survey of wells and springs in the area of the mine has <br /> established stratigraphically lower aquifers whose recharge areas do not include <br /> Pine Gulch. The Pine Gulch area is also not one utilized for agricultural or <br /> silvicultural production of food and fiber nor does it serve as a pasture land. The <br /> confluence of Pine Gulch and Hay Gulch approximately three miles downstream <br /> from the mine was determined to be an alluvial valley floor on which agricultural <br /> activities are conducted. These activities however, do not rely on the surface or <br /> ground water resources originating in the Pine Gulch area. Provisions of the <br /> proposed mining plan, furthermore,will minimize any potential for mining related <br /> subsidence impacts on the Pine Gulch drainage. Elongated pillars will not be <br /> extracted during final retreat. As a result,the Pine Gulch drainage area will be <br /> assured of continued long term stability. <br /> GCC predicts the worst possible consequences from subsidence caused by mining <br /> at the King II Mine will be cracks in a two-track road and offset of a barbed wire <br /> fence on the ridge west of the surface facilities area. As described in Section <br /> 2.05.6 of the permit application, GCC has committed to inspecting the road and <br /> fence, filing a report with the Division, and providing repairs if there is <br /> subsidence damage. <br /> XVL Concurrent Surface and Underground Mining <br /> This section does not apply to the King Coal Mine permit application. <br /> XVII. Operations on Alluvial Valley Floors <br /> A. The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the <br /> affected or adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for <br /> the alluvial valley floor known as Hay Gulch located four to six miles <br /> southwest of Hesperus, Colorado. <br /> The King Coal Mine is the only active coal mining operation located within <br /> 25 <br />