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supply alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors. <br />Alluvial Valley Floor Findings With Regard to Preserving Essential Hydrologic Functions <br />The potential for any effect of surface water quality and quantity in East Salt Creek was <br />previously discussed. Even though the potential for impact is minimal, Grand Valley Coal <br />Company has established a monitoring network to verify these projections and to identify <br />detrimental effects if they were to occur. This monitoring network is established to detect <br />changes in surface and ground water within the alluvial valley floor. <br />Upon termination of mining operations, all mine surface facilities will be removed, coal <br />material will be disposed of, topsoil will be spread, all openings will be sealed and a stable, <br />protective stand of vegetation will be established on the area. <br />Therefore, pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(iii), the Division finds that the proposed surface coal <br />mining and reclamation operation will preserve, throughout the mining and reclamation <br />process, the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor. <br />AVF Findings <br />The Division has determined that an alluvial valley floor exists within the affected or <br />adjacent area. Therefore, the following findings are in order for the alluvial valley floor <br />known as East Salt Creek located in Township 7 South, Range 102 West of the 6th Principal <br />Meridian Sections 21 and 29 of the permit area. <br />1. The Division finds that activities proposed by the applicant will not interrupt, <br />discontinue, or preclude farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or <br />naturally subirrigated, except for small areas which may provide negligible support <br />for the farm's agricultural production (4.24.3(1)) and 2.06.8(5)(a)(I)). <br />The proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in <br />the surface or ground water system described above (4.24.3(3) and 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 operator has obtained specific permit approval to conduct surface coal mining <br />and reclamation operations within an alluvial valley floor (4.24.3(4)(b) and <br />2.06.8(5)(b)(I)(B)). <br />Therefore, the operations within a specific geographic area may continue despite their <br />proximity to an alluvial valley floor. The specific geographic area has been <br />delineated as East Salt Creek. <br />Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted to preserve the <br />39 <br />