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•^' <br />r^ <br />Based on the foregoing discussion, the Division has determined that <br />an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or adjacent <br />area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the <br />alluvial valley floor known as the Colorado River and Alkali Creek <br />located adjacent to but not on the disturbed area. <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will <br />not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial <br />valley floors that are irrigated or naturally subirrigated <br />(4.24.3(1)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or <br />quality of water in the surface or ground water system described <br />above (4.24.3(3) and 2.06.8(5>(a)(ii)). <br />The proposed activities will comply with the requirements of the Act <br />and the Regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors <br />(2.06.8(5)(a>(iii)). <br />Underground coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted <br />to preserve the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley <br />floors outside the permit area and to reestablish the essential <br />hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the affected <br />area throughout the mining and reclamation process (4.24.2). <br />XI <br />The water supply for the subirrigated area near the Colorado River is, as <br />previously discussed, groundwater flow due to irrigation from the Vulcan <br />ditch. As long as NCIG supplies adequate water for flood irrigation, the <br />source of water for subirrigating this area will not be affected. <br />The source of water for the subirrigated area bisected by the Vulcan <br />ditch is a small ephemeral drainage. The proposed operation will not <br />affect any of the area tributary to this drainage; therefore, there <br />should be no effect on the water supply to this subirrigated area. <br />Operations on Prime Farmland - Rules 2.04.12, 2.06.6, and 4.25 <br />The Division has made a negative determination on the presence of prime <br />farmlands within the proposed permit area. The decision was based on <br />evidence provided by the Soil Conservation Service which appears on pages <br />3-171 to 3-173 in Volume I of the application. <br />The proposed reclamation is in compliance with the requirements of this <br />section. <br />SES/yjb/bjw <br />3788E <br />..~q. <br />