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r <br /> <br />Alamosa Canyon alluvial material covers 100 acres in the permit area. The canyon is <br />relatively narrow and exhibits high sinuosity. The stream is intermittent and the <br />minimum recorded depth to the water table is 13 feet. The drainage does not appear to <br />support sub-irrigation and local practice would not consider flood irrigation. <br />Chimney, Puertecito, Little Pine, and Jeff Canyons are all ephemeral streams, each with <br />valley bottoms of no more than 45 acres. Depth to water exceeds 14 feet and soil depth <br />reaches a maximum at 60 inches, precluding sub-irrigation. Sinuosity is low and flood <br />imgation would not be possible due to the lack of useable water. <br />13. The Division hereby approves the post-mining land use for the disturbed area of the <br />operation. The post-mining land use of rangeland/wildlife habitat will be changed to <br />rangeland. The applicant meets the requirements of Rule 4. l6 for the areas affected by <br />surface coal mining operations. (2.07.6(2)(1)) <br />l4. Specific approvals have been granted or are proposed. These approvals are addressed in <br />Section B, which follows. (2.07.6(2)(m)) <br />I5. The Division finds that the activities proposed by the applicant would not affect the <br />continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or <br />adverse modification of their critical habitats. (2.07.6(2)(n)) <br />l6. The Division has contacted the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation Fees Branch. As of <br />this time, the operator, Lorencito Coal Company, LLC, is current in the payment of <br />reclamation fees required by 30 CFR Chapter VII, subchapter R. (2.07.6(2)(0)) <br />Section B -Rule 4 <br />I. Roads <br />A. Haul Roads <br />Haul roads are discussed beginning on page 2.05-13 of the permit application and <br />shown on Maps 2.05.3-1, 2.05.3-3a, and 2.05.3-3b. <br />Alternative criteria and specifications were used during the design of haul <br />roads. These criteria and specifications are approved by the Division based <br />on an analytical demonstration that the roads will be environmentally sound <br />and reclamation can be achieved. The proposed criteria and specifications <br />pertain to haul road drainage structures. A combination culvert and concrete <br />ford may be used to pass the 2-year/24-hour and the l0-year/24-hour storm <br />events, respectively. This alternative design is depicted on pages 2.05-24 <br />and 2.05-25, tigures 2.05.3-12 and 2.05-13, respectively. Due to large, <br />intense precipitation, the steep grade of the terrain, and the preponderance of <br />soils with slow infiltration characteristics, this design is preferable over a <br />13 <br />