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• <br />_1P_ <br />The Division reviewed the application with respect to the aforementioned <br />facts. For those mining facilities already constructed on alluvial <br />valley floors, the Division is ensuring that those areas will be restored <br />after mining in accordance with Rule 4.24. However, all new mining <br />operations proposed by Snowmass Coal Company were reviewed under the full <br />context of alluvial valley floor regulations. <br />For the purposes of this section, the mine and loadout will be discussed <br />separately. , <br />A. Mine <br />The operator conducted a reconnaissance level study of the mine area to <br />determine those areas that might qualify as alluvial valley floors. The <br />study area 1s indicated on Map D-5-1 and discussed in Volume I, Section <br />5.2 of the application. <br />The study area includes the potential 20. year life-of-mine area, in <br />addition to the permitted 5-year mine plan area. Also, areas adjacent to <br />the life-of-mine were considered for distances to excess of three miles. <br />The total area considered for this mine investiyation was in excess of 75 <br />square miles. <br />Black and white and color aerial photos were used for the study. In <br />addition, areas were field checked for accuracy. <br />The study identified areal of unconsolidated streamlaid deposits along <br />the North, Middle, and Souttr Thompson Greeks and their tributaries. <br />Surveys and field checks of these deposits revealed that the alluvium is <br />relatively thin, intermittent, and restricted to ttre immediate stream <br />channels. No identifiable soils were mapped wltfiln alluvial areas, the <br />alluvium 15 primarily boulders and cobbles with minor stretches of sand, <br />gravel, silt and clay. <br />There are two criteria used by the Division to identify alluvial valley <br />floors. They are: <br />1) Sufficient unconsolidated streamlaid deposits holding streams, <br />and <br />2) Sufficient water to support agricultural activities. <br />Hydrologic data available for North Thompson Creek indicates an annual <br />runoff of 16.2 cfs or 0.6 cfs per square mile. Eighty percent of this <br />runoff occurs during the snowmelt season of April through June. low <br />flows during late summer average less than one cubic foot per second. <br />Although water fs limited within the Thompson Creek drainage, the <br />Division feels that sufficient water is available to support limited <br />agricultural activity. ThereFore, the Thompson Creek drainage satisfies <br />one of the crlterla for alluvial valley floors. <br />Tho second end f1nd1 alluvial valley floor crlterla that needs to be <br />considered is that of unconsolidated streamlaid deposits. <br />