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<br />-lz- <br /> <br />This [each of Foidel Creek is determined to be an alluvial <br />valley floor because of the capability for flood irrigation. <br />Parts of the valley bottom may also be aubicrigated. <br />No information has been provided concerning the significance of <br />the alluvial valley floor to farming. The Division can proceed <br />by assuming the area is significant and make all three alluvial <br />valley floor findings for this AVF. <br />1. Surface facilities for the existing surface mining <br />opecation are cutcently Located on and adjacent to the alluvial <br />valley flooc. As long as no additional sucface distucbance <br />occurs within the alluvial valley floor, there would be no <br />pcoblem in making a finding that the mining opecations would <br />not interrupt, discontinue, of preclude facming on the AVF. <br />2. The finding that no material damage to the surface water <br />and ground water that supply the AVF must wait until after <br />receipt of the revised assessment of probable hydrologic <br />consequences. The only potential problem might result from the <br />discharge of effluent to the Foidel Creek system. <br />3. The finding Chat the essential hydcologic functions would <br />be preserved or restored should be no problem as long as no <br />additional facilities are located within the AVF. If any of <br />the existing surface facilities are located within the <br />boundaries of the AVF, the applicant should provide a <br />discussion of how the essential hydrolgoic functions would be <br />restored following the removal of those facilities. <br />Whether or not any additional AVF monitoring (beyond the normal <br />hydrologic monitoring) ie needed for either the Fish Creek AVF <br />or Foidel Creek AVF, will be determined after reviewing the <br />applicant's revised discussion of the probable hydrologic <br />consequences of the proposed mining operation. <br />The Division is concerned that the information provided in the <br />Foidel Creek mine permit application is limited to the study <br />area established for the Eckman Palk Mine. Although that area <br />encompassed all the affected areas associated with the surface <br />operation, it may not be sufficient for the proposed <br />underground mine. The discharge of mine water and spoil water <br />f [om the'dewaterinq well to the Foidel Creek drainage could <br />potentially effect flow in the downstream teaches of Middle <br />Creek and Trout Creek. The applicant must either ]ustify the <br />extent of the current AVF study area by showing no potential <br />for effects outside of this area or expand the AVF study area <br />to include potentially affected downstream reaches along Foidel <br />Creek, Fish Creek, Middle Creek, and Trout Creek. <br />