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stream salinity levels are lowest, and the alluvial water would be further diluted by the <br /> low salinity Trout Creek irrigation drainage water. <br /> Alluvial Valley Floor Monitoring <br /> Hydrologic monitoring as discussed in Section III, A and B of this document will be <br /> sufficient to verify projections and monitor effects of mining on the quality and quantity <br /> of water supplying the identified alluvial valley floors. Included in this monitoring plan is <br /> a monitoring schedule for the Fish Creek AVF to assess for impacts. A surface water and <br /> alluvial water site presently exists downstream of all Foidel Creek mining activities on <br /> Trout Creek(site 1005 and well 008-AT-1). Surface water monitoring and alluvial <br /> monitoring sites are located along both Foidel and Middle Creeks to assess possible <br /> impacts due to the undermining of these perennial streams. <br /> Currently Station 900 is the downstream surface water monitoring site for Foidel Creek. <br /> Projected mining in the Wolf Creek Reserve in mid-2022 may impact Station 900. Given <br /> this, the permittee has committed to moving the downstream surface water monitoring site <br /> for Foidel Creek from Station 900 to a new station (Station 900a), one year prior to any <br /> mining -related impacts on Station 900. <br /> The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, discontinue, <br /> or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or naturally subirrigated <br /> (4.24.3(1)). <br /> The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in the <br /> 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 Regulations <br /> with respect to alluvial valley floors (2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)). <br /> Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the essential <br /> hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit area and to reestablish the <br /> essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the affected area throughout <br /> the mining and reclamation process (4.24.2). <br /> An environmental monitoring system has been installed, and will be maintained and <br /> operated, by the permittee on all alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and <br /> reclamation operations. The environmental monitoring system will be continued until all <br /> bonds are released in accordance with Rule 3 (4.24.4). <br /> XVIII. Operations on Prime Farmland <br /> No prime farmlands currently exist within the proposed permit area. Therefore any <br /> specific approvals under this section do not apply. <br /> XIX. Mountaintop Removal <br /> No specific approvals are granted to the applicant under this section. <br /> Foidel Creek Mine 47 August 4,2023 <br />