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• indicates flow in the river is 7.6 times the amount passing through alluvium at record <br />low flow. Flow in the North Fork of the Gunnison River averages 433 CFS or 82.4 <br />times the flow through the alluvial material. The larger flows present in the river <br />will dilute any wntaminants which enter the river from the alluvium. <br />Concentrations of constituents of the entire alluvial effluent volume would have to be <br />three (3) to twenty-two (22) times larger than concentrations of the same constituent <br />in the river water to increase downstream constituent concentrations 25 percent at <br />low flow and average annual flow respectively. <br />Adequate dilution of any effluent generated at the Bear No. 3 Mine will mitigate any <br />effects of reduced water quality in the Bear No. 3 alluvium on downstream AVFs. <br />The greater the distance from the Bear no. 3 Mine, the greater the dilution of any <br />effluent. <br />The potential impacts are considered insignificant, and the applicant's ground water <br />and surface monitoring program should detect any changes in the quantity and quality <br />of ground and surface water supplied to the North Fork of the Gumison River and, <br />therefore, to alluvial valley floors downstream. <br />No potentially significant impacts to the AVF have been identified. The monitoring <br />plan outlined in the permit application will ensure that the essential hydrologic <br />• functions of the, AVF are maintained by monitoring the development of any effluent <br />at the Bear No. 3 Mine site. <br />XVIII. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />A. Prime farmland investigation information is located in Section 2.Q4.12 of the <br />Bear No. 1 and 2 permit application, and in Section 2.04.12 and 4.25 of the <br />Bear No. 3 permit revision application. <br />No prime farmland exists within the permit area. The majority of the disturbed <br />area has been historically affected by mining and has not been historically used <br />as cropland. The Soil Conservation Service has indicated that no soils have <br />been identified as prime farmland in Gunnison County, Colorado (SCS, USDA, <br />1980, Important Farmland Inveruory -Colorado, Denver, Colorado). <br />The Bear Coal operation is in compliance wiW the provisions of this section. <br />3tIXX. Mountaintop Removal <br />A. This section does not apply to the Bear Coal Company permit. <br />XX. Operations on Steep Slopes <br />• A. Mining at the Bear No. 2 and the Bear No. 3 portals involves face-up areas and <br />portal benches constructed on the steep valley slopes south of the North Fork of <br />35 <br />