Laserfiche WebLink
The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, <br />discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or <br />naturally subirrigated. (4.24.3(1)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in <br />the surface or ground water system described above. (4.24.3(3) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(ii)). <br />The proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and the <br />Regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors. {2.06.8(5)(a)(iii)). <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 to <br />reestablish the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the <br />affected area throughout the mining and reclamation process. (4.24.2). <br />B. NKC's alluvial ground water monitoring wells on the Hay Gulch AVF satisfies the <br />requirement to install, maintain, and operate an environmental monitoring system on <br />alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and reclamation operations (4.24.4). <br />XV. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />Information pertaining to prime farmland is presented in Section 2.04.12 of the permit <br />application. <br />The Division previously made a negative determination for the presence of prime farmland <br />within the permit area, based on the absence of prime farmland mapping units (soils) and <br />cropland. No new evidence has been submitted to alter this previous decision; therefore, <br />the Division reaffirms a negative determination for the presence of prime farmland within <br />the permit area. <br />26 <br />