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1) Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(1), the Division finds that the proposed surface coal mining operations will not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on an alluvial valley floor; 2) Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(11), the Division finds that the proposed opera- tions will not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in surface and underground water systems that supply those alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors; and 3) Pursuant to Rule 3.06.8(5)(111), the Division finds that the proposed coal mining and reclamation operation will preserve, throughout the mining and reclama- tion process, the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor. IX. Assessment of Probable Cumulative Hydrologic Impact (2.05.6(3), 2.07.6(2)(c) Ground Water The mines that will be considered for the purpose of the "Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment" are the King Coal mine, the Peacock mine, and the proposed Shalako mine. These are the only mines which are located in the immediate vicinity of the Hay Gulch coal field. A11 of these mines are, or are proposed to be, underground operations extracting the same coal seam. All are located within a one-mile stretch of Ray Gulch. The zing Coal mine and the proposed Shalako mine, both located on the southeast valley wall of Ray Gulch are located immediately adjacent to each other, and are mining down-dip. The Peacock mine is located on the opposite side of Hay Gulch and mines the seam in an up-dip direction. No ground water has been encountered in either the King Coal mine or the Peacock mine. Because the proposed Shalako mine is located immiediately adjacent to the King Coal mine, and mining the same seam, it is unlikely that ground water will be encountered in the Shalako workings. Additionally, information found in the Shalako permit application, Section 2.OI.7, demonstrates that ground water should not be encountered. The nearest bedrock aquifer, the Point Lookout sandstone, is located stratigraph- ically about 275 feet below the coal seam to be mined. Because of this large strati graphic separation, it is reasonable to conclude that this aquifer will not be impacted by the proposed mining operations. Therefore, the three mining operations will not impact the quantity or quality of any bedrock ground water. The only aquifer which has the potential to be impacted by the proposed mining operations is the alluvial aquifer of Hay Gulch. The impact that the King Coal mine will have on the aquifer is considered insignificant and is discussed in detail in V, Ground Water Hydrology, of this document. Since the Shalako mine is immediately adjacent to the King Coal mine and proposed to mine in a similar fashion, potential impacts are considered similar to those discussed in V, Ground Water Hydrology, and the same conclusions apply. For the Peacock mine, the only known impact would be from a sedimentation pond constructed adjacent to the RVF. This pond is designed to collect runoff from the disturbed area. Because the pond is lined, however, there is no hydrologic comununication with the aquifer. There are no known mine production wells to be located in the aquifer other than those previously discussed in this document. Therefore, no cumulative ground water effects are anticipated.