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1. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(i),the Division finds that the proposed surface mining <br /> operations, would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on Alluvial <br /> Valley Floors (Rule 2.06.8(5)). <br /> 2. Pursuant to Rule 2.05.8(5)(a)(ii), the Division finds that the proposed surface coal <br /> mining operations would not materially damage the quantity and quality of water <br /> in surface and groundwater systems that supply those Alluvial Valley Floors or <br /> portions of Alluvial Valley Floors. <br /> 3. Pursuant to Rule 4.24.2(1),the Division finds that the proposed surface coal mining <br /> operation has been designed to preserve the essential hydrologic functions of <br /> Alluvial Valley Floors. <br /> XVIIL Operations on Prime Farmland - Rule 4.25 <br /> Information pertaining to prime farmland may be found in Section 2.04.12 and in the Prime <br /> Farmland Appendix of Volume 9A of the PAP. <br /> The Division has previously made a negative determination pertaining to the presence of <br /> prime farmland at this site. The basis of this determination was letters from the Soil <br /> Conservation Service specifying that there are no prime farmland mapping units within the <br /> permit area. <br /> The Division has not received any information causing a change to this previous <br /> determination. Therefore,the Division reaffirms a negative determination pertaining to the <br /> presence of prime farmland within the permit area. <br /> The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br /> XIX. Mountaintop Removal - Rule 4.26 <br /> This section is not applicable to the Bowie No. 1 Mine. <br /> XX. Operations on Steep Slopes - Rule 4.27 <br /> The Bowie No. 1 Mine has obtained a variance from the requirement for restoration of <br /> affected lands to their approximate original contour in accordance with Rules 2.06.5 and <br /> 4.27. The variance was granted under the 1981 permit and is hereby reaffirmed. The <br /> variance applies to the mine benches only and was granted because it was demonstrated <br /> that backfilling the benches to approximate original contour on such a steep slope would <br /> not achieve the required slope stability safety factor of 1.3 (see Volumes 6 and 6A of the <br /> PAP, Stability Analysis, for a complete discussion). <br /> The original Bowie No. 1 Mine permit application specified that, because the mine was an <br /> underground mine, Rule 4.27 regarding steep slope mining was not applicable. This is not <br /> 44 <br />