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approximately 7 acres of irrigated pasture, feeder ditches will be constructed as <br />necessary to continue irrigation of the remaining pasture. (4.24.3(1)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water <br />in the surface or ground water system described above. Locating the coal loadout <br />on the alluvial valley floor will not cause measurable changes in the water quantity <br />or quality. Local material will be used for the fill, where necessary. This material <br />is not acid-forming or toxic, as demonstrated by geochemical analysis of materials <br />throughout the permit area. Waters that irrigate the pasture are taken out of the <br />Purgatoire River above the confluence with Lorencito Canyon. At a maximum <br />discharge rate of 65 gpm to Cow Canyon and typical mine water discharge quality, <br />changes to water quality in the Purgatoire would be minimal. TDS may increase <br />from 251 mg/( to 267 mg/1 for the waters that irrigate the Chacon pasture. SAR <br />may increase from 1.02 to 2.72. Neither of these small changes would affect the <br />usability of this water for irrigation. (4.24.3(3) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)) <br />Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the <br />essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit area and <br />to reestablish the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the <br />affected area throughout the mining and reclamation process. The location of the <br />coal loadout on a small portion of the Purgatoire River AVF will not affect the <br />hydrologic function of the AVF, during operations or after. Upon final mine <br />closure, fill materials will be removed, and the disturbed area ripped, topsoiled, <br />seeded and mulched. This will restore the hydrologic function of the immediate <br />disturbed azea to pre-mining levels. The disturbed azea will be compared to the <br />similar irrigated pasture area for determination of revegetative productivity of the <br />disturbed AVF azea.(4.24.2) <br />B. An environmental monitoring system shall be installed, maintained, and operated <br />by the permittee on all alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and <br />reclamation operations and continued until all bonds are released in accordance <br />with Rule 3. Alluvial wells hydrologically above and below the coal loadout will <br />be installed as a result of permit revision no. I. Monitoring of surface water and <br />alluvial water quantity and quality will occur over the life of the mine. (4.24.4) <br />XVIII. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />No specific approvals are granted under this section. <br />XIX. Mountaintop Removal <br />A. The surface coal mining activities proposed will include the removal of an entire coal <br />seam or seams running through the upper fraction of a mountain, ridge or hill by <br />removing substantially all of the overburden off the bench, and, in portions of the <br />23 <br />