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subsidence impacts to areas of the Round Bottom alluvial valley floor as a result of <br />mining in the 2 West area of the Eagle No. 5 Mine. <br />The Division finds that RAG Empire Corporation will not impact the essential <br />hydrologic functions of the Yampa River/Round Bottom alluvial valley floor, and will <br />not impact the quantity and quality of water supplied to this alluvial valley floor so as to <br />reduce the productivity of the alluvial valley floor. <br />A. The Division has determined that three alluvial valley floors exist within the <br />affected or adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the <br />alluvial valley floors known as Williams Fork alluvial valley floor, Yampa <br />River/Big Bottom alluvial valley floor, and Yampa River/Round Bottom alluvial <br />valley floor. Map 25 of the permit depicts the locations of these resources. The <br />Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, <br />discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that aze 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 />The operation proposed by the applicant produced coa[ in commercial quantities <br />and was located within or adjacent to an alluvial valley floor prior to August 3, <br />1977 (4.24.3(4)(a) and 2.06.8(5)(b)(i)(A)). <br />The operation proposed by the applicant obtained specific permit approval to <br />conduct surface coal mining and reclamation activities within an alluviai valley <br />floor (4.24.3(4)(b) and 2.06.8(5)(b)(i)(B)). <br />Therefore, the operations within a specific geographic area may continue despite <br />their proximity to an alluvial valley floor. The specific geographic area has been <br />delineated as the actual extent of mine workings on August 3, 1977 and adjacent <br />azea for which there existed substantial demonstrable fmancial or regulatory <br />commitment to mine in the future (2.06.8(5)(b)(ii)(b)) as shown on permit maps 25 <br />and 23. <br />B. An environmental monitoring system has been installed, maintained, and operated <br />by the permittee on all alluvial valley floors during surface coal mining and <br />reclamation operations and will continue until all bonds are released in accordance <br />with Rule 3. Alluvial wells AVF-3, AVF-5, and AVF-6 have been installed and <br />monitored regularly as described in Section B.II (4.24.4). Since the Division has <br />approved the construction of development mains under Highway 13 along the <br />Williams Fork River, the operator is required to monitor three new subsidence <br />monuments, H-1, H-2, and H-3, within this alluvial valley floor. These three <br />38 <br />