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-23- <br />In order to evaluate subirrigation in the two potential AVF'S the <br />applicant conducted afield investigation and installed ten observation <br />wells. The field investigation failed to identify any zones of <br />subsurface soil mottliny. It was also found that no significant <br />difference in vegetation exists between the upslope areas and the valley <br />bottom areas. The ten observation wells were drilled through the <br />unconsolidated materials down to bedrock to depths of 12 to 57 feet. All <br />of these wells were observed to be dry throughout the entire year of <br />1980. Therefore, it is concluded that the vegetation along the Gordon <br />and i4aitland Arroyos is not subirrigated. <br />Based primarily on water availability criteria, the Division has made a <br />negative determination for the existence of alluvial valley floors in <br />either the mine or adjacent area associated with the Colorado Coal Mine <br />No. 1. <br />The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this <br />section. <br />X. Climatological Information and Air Resources - Rules 2.04.8, <br />Baseline information on climate in the area (Walsenburg, Colorado) is <br />presented in Volume I, pages 2.04-47 through 2.04-51. Air resources <br />protection measures are described on pages 4.14 and 2.03-10a of the <br />application. <br />The climate of the area is mild and semi-arid. The average amount of <br />precipitation annually is 15.3 inches, most of which occurs in the spring <br />and summer. The average annual yrowing season is 200 days long and <br />prevailing winds are from the west/northwest at 8.7 miles per hour. <br />The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this <br />section. <br />XI. Topsoil - Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(5), 2.05.4(2)(d) and 4.06 <br />Soils resource information can be found in Section 2.04.9 of Volume I, <br />and exhibits 13, 14, and 15 of Volume IV of the application. Topsoil <br />stripping and redistribution information is in Section 2.05.4, Volume I <br />and exhibit 19, Volume IV. <br />The soil survey conducted by CCMC identified nine soil mapping units <br />within the proposed permit boundary. The soils are the Noden Loam, Fort <br />Collins loam, Utero Fine sandy loam, Olney-Progresso sandy loam, <br />Travessilla-Kim loam, Louviers-Travessilla-rock outcrop complex, <br />Louviers-Travessilla complex, Ulney sand loin, and Baca loam. No Noden <br />loam, Otero Fine sandy loam, or Travessilla-Kim loam soils will be <br />disturbed by the mining operation. <br />Chemical analyses of overburden materials indicated the presence of <br />saline and sodic strata which if placed near the plant root zone during <br />backfilling could detrimentally influence soil structure and moisture <br />