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-11- <br />III. Cultural and Historic Resources - Rules 2.04.4 and 2.05.6(4 <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(e), and on the basis of information provided by the <br />State Historic Preservation Officer (page II.6-20 of the application), the <br />Division finds that the proposed mining operation will not adversely affect <br />any publicly owned park or place listed on the National Register of Historic <br />Places. <br />The results of an archaeological survey of the affected area conducted by a <br />private archaeological consultant is contained on Pages II.B-5 through II.B-20 <br />of the application. The report concludes that no prehistoric or historic <br />sites exist on the study area and that mining will not impact any cultural <br />resources. <br />The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />IV. Geology - Rules 2.04.5 and 2.04.6 <br />Geology information is provided on pages II.C-1 through II.D-13 of the <br />application. For a detailed discussion of the geology of the permit and <br />adjacent area, the reader is referred to the Description of the Existing <br />Environment found in Section IX Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study of this <br />document. <br />Mining during this permit term will occur in a 70 foot thick sequence of <br />interbedded sandstones and shales which dip approximately loo to the west. <br />Five coal seams occur in the Pit 4 area, and are designated collectively as <br />the Number 2 or Pinnacle Coals. The Number 5 Rider (the lowest seam) is the <br />thinnest (maximum thickness of 24 inches) and is not continuous across the <br />mine area. Other seams vary from 2 to 3 1/2 feet in thickness. The <br />Number 1 Rider (topmost seam) is not mined since its near surface position at <br />the Pit 4 area has resulted in oxidation and resultant deleterious effects on <br />coal quality. <br />The Division's adequacy letter of February 6, 1983 requested chemical analyses <br />of each overburden and interburden stratum and the stratum immediately below <br />the lowest coal seam to be mined. The request was made because, apparently, <br />previous sample analyses from the Pit 4 highwall had been composited. <br />Rule 2.04.6(1)(b)(i)(D) requires analysis of each stratum so as to identify, <br />at a minimum, those horizons which contain potential acid-forming, <br />toxic-forming, or alkalinity producing materials. An additional concern was <br />that one analysis labeled "underburden" showed an acidic pH (4.3) but the <br />suspect strata was not identified. <br />