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vegetation. This azea is also delineated on Map I S of the PAP. PR-OS approved undermining <br />a portion of the AVF on Foidel Creek. <br />AVF Determination -Negative Determination <br />Foidel Creek <br />Prior to PR-03, an alluvial body along Foidel Creek in sections 28, 29, 31 and 32, TSN R86W, <br />was determined not to be an AVF based on a finding of insufficient water to support flood <br />irrigation, and a determination that subirrigated azeas were less than 10 acres in extent and <br />supported species which were not agriculturally useful. <br />Due to the significant expansion of mining operations proposed in the LOM revision <br />application (PR-O1), the potential impacts to identified alluvial valley floors were reevaluated. <br />Areas previously determined by the Division to not meet alluvial valley floor criteria were not <br />reexamined. As a result of additional vegetation data and land use information submitted by <br />the applicant and site visits made by Division staff, however, certain lands previously <br />identified as alluvial valley floors were found not to meet AVF criteria. <br />Based on the limited extent of arable land and relatively high percentage ofnon-agriculturally <br />useful species as documented by species composition data included in the September 22, 1986 <br />submittal, the Division concluded that the area of subimgated alluvium on lower Foidel Creek <br />denoted as "Pasture 19" on supplemental Map No. 1 is not an alluvial valley floor. The extent <br />of farmable acreage would be 10 acres or less. The azeas aze not presently and have not <br />historically been farmed and evidence presented indicates that farming is not typically <br />practiced on similaz parcels in the region. <br />During PR03 review, the Division determined that areas upstream of the Leiske ditch crossing <br />of Foidel Creek as shown on Map 15 (Sections 14, 21, 22, 23, and 28, TSN, R86W) are not <br />alluvial valley floors. This determination was based on the lack of sufficient water for flood <br />irrigation, the lack of flood irrigation, the small size of the valley bottom and the narrow <br />nature of the stream, and the lack of meaningful production or cover differences between the <br />creekside and upland vegetative communities. <br />Therefore, in summary, the Division has previously found that all valley bottom areas along <br />Foidel Creek above the County Road No. 33 crossing aze not alluvial valley floors. <br />Middle Creek <br />Prior to PR-03, no previous AVF determination had been made for azeas above the <br />Foidel/Middle Creek confluence AVF on Middle Creek, as these azeas were not proposed to <br />be affected or impacted by the Foidel Creek mine operation. During the PR-03 review process, <br />the applicant submitted information to support that azeas along the Middle Creek valley floor <br />in sections 12, 23, and 26 TSN R86W are not alluvial valley floors. Twentymile Coal <br />Company provided information which is contained in the permit application as Exhibit 42a <br />30 <br />