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as "pre-law" was insignificant to the total farms production. <br />2. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii), the Division fmds that the surface coal mining <br />operations did not, and that future reclamations activities will not, materially damage the <br />quantity and quality of water in surface and ground water systems that supply those <br />alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. <br />3. The Division fmds that activities proposed by the applicant did not, and that future <br />reclamations activities will not, interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial <br />valley floors that aze irrigated or naturally subimgated (4.24.3(1)). <br />4. The operation produced coal in commercial quantities and was located within or <br />adjacent to an alluvial valley floor prior to August 3, 1977 (4.24.3(4)(a) and <br />2.06.8(5)(b)(I)(A)), therefore, the operations within a specific geographic azea were <br />permitted despite their proximity to an alluvial valley floor. The specific geographic azea <br />has been delineated as the loadout. This was identified in a reclamation plan approved by <br />the Mined Land Reclamation Boazd prior to August 3, 1977, for a surface coal mine <br />(4.34.3(4) and 2.06.8(5)(b)(ii)(A)). <br />5. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations were conducted in a manner whereby <br />the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside were retained, and <br />those within the permit azea were reestablished, throughout the mining and reclamation <br />process (4.24.2). <br />IX. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />The discussion of prime farmlands can be found in Volume I, Section 5.1 of the PAP. In <br />addition, soil survey work is contained in Section 3.8.2, topsoil removal and storage is discussed <br />in Section 4.4.3, and agricultural yields for the site aze presented in Section 3.2.1. <br />An investigation was conducted of the mine site to determine whether prime farmlands existed in <br />or adjacent to the five-yeaz permit azea. The investigation revealed that there aze no soil map <br />units that have been designated prime farmland by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service within or <br />adjacent to the mine site. This information is one of the criteria listed in Rule 2.04.12(2) as <br />acceptable to make a negative determination. Based on this, the Division found that no prime <br />farmlands exist in the five-yeaz mine permit azea. <br />A similaz investigation was conducted for the mine loadout facility and its associated haul road. <br />A small portion of the loadout haul road has been constructed on soils mapped by the U.S. Soil <br />Conservation Service as prime farmland. The Division found that the soil units 70C -Unnamed <br />silt loan -and d71 - Almy loam -identified on Soils Map D-3-15, aze the only area of prime <br />farmland in or adjacent to the loadout permit azea. No additional disturbance is proposed for this <br />unit of prime farmland or any other unit. On behalf of the landowner, the operator requested that <br />the haul road, which disturbed a small portion of prime farmland, be retained after mining. <br />Because Rule 4.25.1(2) exempts coal prepazation plants, support facilities and roads of <br />36 <br />