GENERAL31070

• Permit No: C1981023
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 3/14/2003
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for RN4
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

IX. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values
A. The applicant has proposed the use of persistent pesticides on the site during reclamation
operations. The permittee has stated that herbicides andlor pesticides will be used according to U.S.
Forest Service practices (page 2.05-45 revised October 14, 1983, Federal Lease permit revision
application).
B. Fish and wildlife habitat is a planned post-mining land use. The applicant has selected
appropriate plant species and distributions to benefit fish and wildlife. The permittee has submitted
information on threatened or endangered plant species at the mine site. No listed or proposed listed
threatened or endangered plant species has been identified during vegetative surveys. At this time,
pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(n), the Division finds that the reclamation activities will not affect the
continued existence of any threatened or endangered plant species or result in the destruction or
adverse modification of their critical habitats. The Division proposes to approve this usage
(4.18(5)(I)).
X. Operations on Alluvial Va1leyFloors
A. The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or
adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial valley floor known as
Stollsteimer Creek AVF located in Section 30, T 34 N, R 4 W, N.M.P.M.
1. The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, discontinue, or
preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that aze irrigated or naturally subirrigated (4.24.3(1))
except for:
a. Small areas which may provide negligible support for the fazm's agricultural production
(4.24.3(1)) and
b. undeveloped rangelands which are not significant to farming (4.24.3(1) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(I)).
2. The Division finds that the proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or
quality of water in the surface or ground water system described above (4.24.3(3) and
2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)).
3. The proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations
with respect to alluvial valley floors (2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)).
B. The valley formed adjacently to Stollsteimer Creek was determined to be an AVF (Reports by
Piteau and Associates, July 1983, "Hydrogeology of the Barren Ridge Area," and September 15,
1983, "Comprehensive Probable Hydrologic Consequences for the Barren Ridge and Revision 1
Areas") based on the following applicable criteria:
(1) The valley contains unconsolidated stream laid deposits;
(2) The azea has historically been flood irrigated; and
(3) The azea is potentially subirrigated.
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