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,y, .~, <br />the proposed permit area. Additionally, there is not sufficient alluvial ground water <br />to enhance the productivity of agriculturally useful vegetation along Pine Gulch <br />within the permit area. <br />The operator has indicated that the area of confluence of Pine Gulch with Hay Guldt <br />which lies several miles beyond the permit area is an alluvial valley floor where <br />agricultural practices are being conducted. This agricultural activity, however, is <br />not dependent upon surface or ground water associated with Pine Gulch but <br />primarily upon irrigation with water diverted to the area from the La Plata River. <br />While subirrigation may also be a factor in the productivity of this area, it is the <br />opinion of the Soil Conservation Service that this subirrigation would most likely be <br />related to the Hay Gulch water table. <br />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 <br />in the surface or ground water system described above. (4.24.3(3) and <br />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. An environmental monitoring system shall be installed, maintained, and operated by <br />the permittee on all alluvial valley floors during surfacecoal mining and reclamation <br />operations and continued until all bonds are released in accordance with Rule. 3. <br />(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 <br />farmland within the permit area. The basis for this decision was that there are no prime <br />farmland mapping units (soils) within the permit area and the land has not been <br />historically used as cropland. <br />24 <br />