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The mining operation is in compliance with the provisions of this section with the <br />stipulations. <br />XVI. Concurrent Surface and Underground Mining <br />This section does not apply to the Bear Coal Company permit. <br />XVII. Operations on Alluvial Valley Floors <br />Information describing alluvial valley floors (AVFs) in the study azea is located in Section <br />2.06.8 of the Bear No. 3 permit application. The alluvial valley floor findings made by the <br />Division for the Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine aze directly applicable to the Beaz <br />Mine. The Beaz No. 3 permit area and hydrologically adjacent azeas were included in the <br />Mountain Coal Company AVF survey azea. <br />No AVFs are located within the Bear mine permit boundary. The only part of the <br />proposed permit or hydrologically adjacent azea identified as alluvial deposits aze <br />adjacent to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Several small bodies of alluvium lie <br />along the course of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The reclaimed area of the <br />Bear No. 3 facilities overlies alluvial material. This area does not meet the ten-acre <br />minimum size criterion; therefore, the azea is not an alluvial valley floor. <br />The Mountain Coal Company study identified a much larger body of alluvium <br />downstream from Somerset, Colorado. Areas currently supporting agriculture have <br />been identified within Sections 13 and 14, T135, R91 W, associated with the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River. Alluvium in Section 18, T13S, R90W (1.3 miles <br />downstream of Bear No. 3) and Sections 13 and 14, T13S, R91 W (2.5 to 4 miles <br />downstream) meet the criteria of alluvial valley floors. The alluvial valley floor <br />probably continues downstream; however, no determination has been made for the <br />North Fork valley between Section 14, T13S, R91 W and Section 29, T13S, R91 W, <br />(2.5 to 6.5 miles downstream) because it will not be impacted. <br />The Division is required to make specific written findings regarding the effect of <br />mining upon any AVFs within the permit and adjacent area pursuant to Rule 2.06.8. <br />The AVF is not within the mine permit area, and will not be physically disturbed by the <br />mining activities. No impacts to the AVF aze anticipated. <br />1. The Division finds that the surface coal mining operations would not interrupt, <br />discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floor pursuant to Rule <br />2.06.8(5)(a)(I)(A)(I). Surface disturbances associated with the Bear No. 3 Mine <br />are located more than a mile upstream of the alluvial valley floor and would not <br />affect agricultural activities on the alluvial valley floor. The alluvial valley floor <br />would not be undermined by the proposed operations. <br />30 <br />