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related subsidence impacts. Both stnrctures are on the King Coal Mine. Impacts on these <br />structures will be monitored by quarterly visual inspections for evidence of subsidence <br />features within the permit azea. Repairs, if necessary, will be effected by the operator for <br />the ditch and have the approval of the surface landowners. This method has proved to be <br />effective as in early 1990, subsidence cracks transversed the Harrington Ditch and NKC <br />immediately effected repairs by placing an impermeable fabric liner down several hundred <br />feet of the ditch to repair the crack and prevent further problems if additional cracks <br />appeared. <br />No renewable resource lands lie within the permit azea. Information provided in the <br />application indicates the Pine Gulch drainage, which at one time was suggested to be a <br />renewable resource area, does not in fact qualify as one. There is no aquifer or recharge <br />azea for an aquifer in the Pine Gulch area. Core hole data supplied with the original <br />application demonstrate that the bedrock section above the level of the coal is dry. The <br />survey of wells and springs in the area of the mine has established stratigraphically lower <br />aquifers whose rechazge azeas do not include Pine Gulch. The Pine Gulch area is also not <br />one utilized for agricultural or silvicultural production of food and fiber nor does it serve as <br />a pasture land. The confluence of Pine Gulch and Hay Gulch approximately three miles <br />downstream from the mine was determined to be an alluvial valley floor on which <br />agricultural activities are conducted. These activities however, do not rely on the surface or <br />ground water resources originating in the Pine Gulch azea. Provisions of the proposed <br />mining plan, furthermore, will minimize any potential for mining related subsidence <br />impacts on the Pine Gulch drainage. Elongated pillazs will not be extracted during final <br />retreat. As a result, the Pine Gulch drainage area will be assured of continued long term <br />stability. <br />NKC predicts the worst possible consequences from subsidence caused by mining at the <br />King II Mine will be cracks in a two-track road and offset of a bazbed wire fence on the <br />ridge west of the surface facilities area. As described in Section 2.05.6 of the permit <br />applicator, NKC has committed to inspecting the road and fence, filing a report with the <br />Division, and providing repairs if there is subsidence damage. <br />XIV. Operations on Alluvial Valley Floors <br />A. The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or <br />adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial valley <br />floor known as Hay Gulch located 7 miles SW of Hesperus, Colorado. <br />There are cun•ently two coal mining operations located within Hay Gulch: the King <br />Coal and proposed King II Mines (permitted, active), and the Blue Flame Coal Mine <br />(permit revoked, site reclaimed). $oth operations aze considered in the alluvial valley <br />floor discussion. <br />Field observations by Division staff and information contained in permit applications <br />indicate that small azeas of unconsolidated stream-laid materials are present in adjacent <br />drainages. These areas are not extensive enough to meet the size criteria of AVFs. <br />24 <br />