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Environmental Scientists and Engineers. LLC <br />The term AVF has a very specific meaning in the context of the SMCRA. That definition, <br />as adopted in the Regulations [Section 1.04(10)], means: <br />"the unconsolidated stream -laid deposits holding streams with water availability <br />sufficient for subirrigation or flood irrigation agricultural activities but does not <br />include upland areas which are generally overlain by a thin veneer of colluvial <br />deposits composed chiefly of debris from sheet erosion, deposits formed by <br />unconcentrated runoff or slope wash together with talus, other mass movement <br />accumulations, and windblown deposits." <br />As part of the overall permitting process, the CCDMG will make a finding as to whether <br />or not certain lands within the area potentially impacted by the proposed Collom lease <br />area are AVFs. This finding can be made either prior to submitting a permitting package <br />or simultaneous with the permit application submittal, at the operator's discretion. <br />Summary of Existing AVF Studies <br />WMC (2005) evaluated available information concerning AVF for the proposed lease <br />area. Potential AVFs will be further evaluated during the mine plan design in the <br />permitting phase. Previous studies perforthed in the general vicinity of the proposed <br />Collom lease area include: <br />• Danforth Hills Project Alluvial Valley Floor Preliminary Identification and <br />Evaluation, Dames & Moore, July 1980 <br />• Reconnaissance Maps to Assist in Identifying Alluvial Valley Floors: West - <br />central and Northwestern Colorado, U.S. Office of Surface Mining <br />Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), June 1985 <br />• ColoWyo Alluvial Valley Floor Analysis Report, Dames & Moore, <br />December, 1995 <br />• Kennecott Energy . ColoWyo Coal Company L.P. Jurisdictional Waters <br />Report, JBR Environmental Consultants Inc., September 1998 <br />The existing studies are discussed below in chronological order. The studies were <br />evaluated by WMC with the following questions in mind: <br />• Were any AVFs identified? If so, are they significant to farming? <br />• Is the study area adequate for the Collom lease area? <br />• Does the study contain all of the maps and data required under Section <br />2.06.8(3)(b) of the Regulations? <br />• Do the conclusions reached seem reasonable and consistent with conditions <br />today? <br />P PROJEC I'S Colo, .1,6 I SS .EA Pinaf RINI, -EA Collom 08 01 O(' doe <br />22 <br />