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4. The operation produced coal in commercial quantities and was located within or <br />adjacent to an alluvial valley floor prior to August 3, 1977 (4.24.3(4)(a) and <br />2.06.8(5)(b)(I)(A)), therefore, the operations within a specific geographic area were <br />permitted despite their proximity to an alluvial valley floor. The specific geographic area <br />has been delineated as the loadout. This was identified in a reclamation plan approved by <br />the Mined Land Reclamation Board prior to August 3, 1977, for a surface coal mine <br />(4.34.3(4) and 2.06.8(5)(b)(ii)(A)). <br />5. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations were conducted in a manner whereby <br />the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside were retained, and <br />those within the permit area were reestablished, throughout the mining and reclamation <br />process (4.24.2). <br />IX. Operations on Prime Farmland <br />The discussion of prime farmlands can be found in Volume I, Section 5.1 of the PAP. In <br />addition, soil survey work is contained in Section 3.8.2, topsoil removal and storage is discussed <br />in Section 4.4.3, and agricultural yields for the site are presented in Section 3.2.1. <br />An investigation was conducted of the mine site to determine whether prime farmlands existed in <br />or adjacent to the five-year permit area. The investigation revealed that there are no soil map <br />units that have been designated prime farmland by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service within or <br />adjacent to the mine site. This information is one of the criteria listed in Rule 2.04.12(2) as <br />acceptable to make a negative determination. Based on this, the Division found that no prime <br />farmlands exist in the five-year mine permit area. <br />A similar investigation was conducted for the mine loadout facility and its associated haul road. <br />A small portion of the loadout haul road has been constructed on soils mapped by the U.S. Soil <br />Conservation Service as prime farmland. The Division found that the soil units 70C - Unnamed <br />silt loan - and d71 - Almy loam - identified on Soils Map D-3-15, are the only area of prime <br />farmland in or adjacent to the loadout permit area. No additional disturbance is proposed for this <br />unit of prime farmland or any other unit. On behalf of the landowner, the operator requested that <br />the haul road, which disturbed a small portion of prime farmland, be retained after mining. <br />Because Rule 4.25.1(2) exempts coal preparation plants, support facilities and roads of <br />underground mines used over an extended period of time and affecting a minimal amount of land <br />from the performance standards for prime farmland, the haul road was permitted to remain in <br />place for the landowner's convenience rather than being reclaimed. The Division subsequently <br />determined that none of the Permit area, was in fact, prime farmland. <br />This concludes the Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for Permit Renewal 05 for <br />the North Thompson Creek Mine. <br />North Thompson Creek C-1981-025 12 May 2009 <br />Permit Renewal 05 <br />36