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and alluvial waters from Dry Creek apparently being used to irrigate hay fields downstream) and previous findings by the Division for the Seneca II-W Mine concerning Dry Creek; those portions of Dry Creek mapped as alluvial deposits will continue to be designated as pazt of the Dry Creek alluvial valley floor. The loadout has existed on the Dry Creek valley floor since early 1978 and was previously permitted by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division. The area of the valley floor affected by the disturbance comprises approximately 4% of the area of unconsolidated alluvial deposits in the valley. None of the disturbance impinges upon the area of irrigated agriculture indicated by the applicant. No further disturbance is planned for this operation. Because of the small azea involved and because the disturbance is contained with a sediment control system, there will be no significant effect of the operation on the integrity of surrounding agricultural activity. Impacts on surface water quality due disturbances at the loadout will be minimal due to the size of the permit area with respect to the surface area drained by Dry Creek. Furthermore, data provided by the applicant indicates that coal stockpiled at the loadout does not contain any chemical constituents at high enough concentrations to be of concern with respect to contamination of surface water. Surface water effects will be monitored during and after mining by surface monitoring stations on Dry Creek upstream and downstream of the disturbance to verify this conclusion. Impacts on ground water due to disturbance at the loadout could result from leaching of stockpiled coal and its eventual percolation into the alluvial ground water. This percolation would be expected to be minimized as a result of the degree of compaction which would be expected to result from the use of heavy equipment at the loadout (increased compaction of the surface decreases the permeability of the surface material causing most of the precipitation to run off). The potential for degradation would also be expected to be minimal due to the relatively low concentrations of contaminants as indicated by coal analysis, . In conclusion, the Division makes the following findings: The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, discontinue or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are or could be irrigated or naturally subirrigated by Dry Creek (4.24.3(])). The Division also finds that the proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in the surface or ground water systems as described above in the summary section of this document and, in addition, these activities will comply with the requirements of the Act and Regulations with respect to alluvial valley floors. (2.06.8(5)(a)(ii) and 4.24.3(1)). ss