R645-302-300. Special Areas of Mining

The rules in R645-302-300 present the minimum requirements for information to be included in the permit application to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations for mining in designated special areas and present procedures to process said permit applications.

310. Prime Farmland. R645-302-300 applies to any person who conducts or intends to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations on prime farmlands historically used for cropland.

311. The rules given under R645-302-300 do not apply to:

311.100. Lands on which coal mining and reclamation operations are conducted pursuant to any permit issued prior to August 3, 1977; or

311.200. Lands on which coal mining and reclamation operations are conducted pursuant to any renewal or revision of a permit issued prior to August 3, 1977; or

311.300. Lands included in any existing coal mining and reclamation operations for which a permit was issued for all or any part thereof prior to August 3, 1977, provided that:

311.310. Such lands are part of a single continuous coal mining and reclamation operation begun under a permit issued before August 3, 1977; and

311.320. The permittee had a legal right to mine the lands prior to August 3, 1977, through ownership, contract, or lease but not including an option to buy, lease, or contract; and

311.330. The lands contain part of a continuous recoverable coal seam that was being mined in a single continuous mining pit (or multiple pits if the lands are proven to be part of a single continuous surface coal mining and reclamation activity) begun under a permit issued prior to August 3, 1977.

312. For purposes of R645-302-300:

312.100. A pit will be deemed to be a single continuous mining pit even if portions of the pit are crossed by a road, pipeline, railroad, or powerline or similar crossing; and

312.200. A single continuous SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITY is presumed to consist only of a single continuous mining pit under permit issued prior to August 3, 1977, but may include noncontiguous parcels if the operator can prove by clear and convincing evidence that, prior to August 3, 1977, the noncontiguous parcels were part of a single permitted operation. Clear and convincing evidence includes, but is not limited to, contracts, leases, deeds or other properly executed legal documents (not including options) that specifically treat physically separate parcels as one SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITY.

313. Application Contents--Reconnaissance Inspection. All permit applications, whether or not prime farmland is present, will include the results of a reconnaissance inspection of the proposed permit area to indicate whether prime farmland exists. The Division in consultation with the NRCS will determine the nature and extent of the required reconnaissance inspection.

313.100. If the reconnaissance inspection establishes that no land within the proposed permit area is prime farmland historically used for cropland, the applicant will submit a statement that no prime farmland is present. The statement will identify the basis upon which such a conclusion was reached.

313.200. If the reconnaissance inspection indicates that land within the proposed permit area may be prime farmland historically used for cropland, the applicant will determine if a soil survey exists for those lands and whether soil mapping units in the permit area have been designated as prime farmland. If no soil survey exists, the applicant will have a soil survey made of the lands within the permit area which the reconnaissance inspection indicates could be prime farmland. Soil surveys of the detail used by the NRCS for operational conservation planning will be used to identify and locate prime farmland soils.

313.210. If the soil survey indicates that no prime farmland soils are present within the proposed permit area, R645-302-313.100 will apply.

313.220. If the soil survey indicates that prime farmland soils are present within the proposed permit area, R645-302-314 will apply.

314. Application Contents--Prime Farmland. All permit applications for areas in which prime farmland has been identified within the proposed permit area will include the following:

314.100. A soil survey of the permit area according to the standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey and in accordance with the procedures set forth in U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbooks 436 "Soil Taxonomy" (U.S. Soil Conservation Service, 1975), as amended on March 22, 1982 and October 5, 1982 and 18, "Soil Survey Manual" (U.S. Soil Conservation Service, 1951) as amended on December 18, 1979, May 7, 1980, May 9, 1980, September 11, 1980, June 9, 1981, June 29, 1981, November 16, 1982. The NRCS establishes the standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey and maintains a National Soils Handbook which gives current acceptable procedures for conducting soil surveys. This National Soils Handbook is available for review at area and Utah NRCS offices.

314.110. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbooks 436 and 18 are incorporated by reference as they respectively existed on October 5,1982, and November 16,1982.

314.120. The soil survey will include a description of soil mapping units and a representative soil profile as determined by the NRCS, including, but not limited to, soil-horizon depths, pH, and the range of soil densities for each prime farmland soil unit within the permit area. Other representative soil-profile descriptions from the locality, prepared according to the standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, may be used if their use is approved by the State Conservationist, NRCS. The Division may request the operator to provide information on other physical and chemical soil properties as needed to make a determination that the operator has the technological capability to restore the prime farmland within the permit area to the soil-reconstruction standards of R645-302-317.

314.200. A plan for soil reconstruction, replacement, and stabilization for the purpose of establishing the technological capability of the mine operator to comply with the requirements of R645-302-317.

314.300. Scientific data, such as agricultural-school studies, for areas with comparable soils, climate, and management that demonstrate that the proposed method of reclamation, including the use of soil mixtures or substitutes, if any, will achieve, within a reasonable time, levels of yield equivalent to, or higher than, those of nonmined prime farmland in the surrounding area; and

314.400. The productivity prior to mining, including the average yield of food, fiber, forage, or wood products obtained under a high level of management.

315. Consultation with Secretary of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture has responsibilities with respect to prime farmland soils and has assigned the prime farmland responsibilities arising under the Federal Act to the Chief of the NRCS. The NRCS will carry out consultation and review through the State Conservationist located in Utah.

315.100. The State Conservationist will provide to the Division a list of prime farmland soils, their location, physical and chemical characteristics, crop yields, and associated data necessary to support adequate prime farmland soil descriptions.

315.200. The State Conservationist will assist the Division in describing the nature and extent of the reconnaissance inspection required under R645-302-313.

315.300. Before any permit is issued for areas that include prime farmland, the Division will consult with the State Conservationist. The State Conservationist will provide for the review of, and comment on, the proposed method of soil reconstruction in the plan submitted under R645-302-314. If the State Conservationist considers those methods to be inadequate, then revisions will be suggested to the Division which result in more complete and adequate reconstruction.

316. Issuance of Permit. A permit to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations that include mining and reclamation on designated special areas of prime farmland may be granted by the Division, if it first finds, in writing, upon the basis of a complete application, that:

316.100. The approved proposed postmining land use of these prime farmlands will be cropland;

316.200. The permit incorporates as specific conditions the contents of the plan submitted under R645-302-314, after consideration of any revisions to that plan suggested by the State Conservationist under R645-302-315.300;

316.300. The applicant has the technological capability to restore the prime farmland, within a reasonable time, to equivalent or higher levels of yield as nonmined prime farmland in the surrounding area under equivalent levels of management; and

316.400. The proposed coal mining and reclamation operations will be conducted in compliance with the requirements of R645-302-317 and other environmental protection performance and reclamation standards for mining and reclamation of prime farmland of the State Program.

316.500. The aggregate total prime farmland acreage shall not be decreased from that which existed prior to mining. Water bodies, if any, to be constructed during mining and reclamation operations must be located within the post-reclamation non-prime farmland portions of the permit area. The creation of any such water bodies must be approved by the Division and the consent of all affected property owners within the permit area must be obtained.

317. Prime Farmland Performance Standards.

317.100. Scope and Purpose. The rules under R645-302-317 set forth special environmental protection performance, reclamation, and design standards for coal mining and reclamation operations on prime farmland.

317.200. Responsibilities of Agencies.

317.210. The NRCS within Utah will establish specifications for prime farmland soil removal, storage, replacement, and reconstruction.

317.220. The Division will use the soil-reconstruction specifications of R645-302-317.210 to carry out its responsibilities under R645-302-310 through R645-302-316 and R645-301-800.

317.300. Applicability. The requirements of the R645-302-317 will not apply to prime farmland that has been excluded in accordance with R645-302-311 and R645-302-312.

317.400. Soil Removal and Stockpiling.

317.410. Prime farmland soils will be removed from the areas to be disturbed before drilling, blasting, or mining.

317.420. The minimum depth of soil and soil materials to be removed and stored for use in the reconstruction of prime farmland will be sufficient to meet the requirements of R645-302-317.520.

317.430. Soil removal and stockpiling operations on prime farmland will be conducted to:

317.431. Separately remove the topsoil, or remove other suitable soil materials where such other soil materials will create a final soil having a greater productive capacity than that which exists prior to mining. If not utilized immediately, this material will be placed in stockpiles separate from the spoil and all other excavated materials; and

317.432. Separately remove the B or C horizon or other suitable soil material to provide the thickness of suitable soil required by R645-302-317.520. If not utilized immediately, each horizon or other material will be stockpiled separately from the spoil and all other excavated materials. Where combinations of such soil materials created by mixing have been shown to be equally or more favorable for plant growth than the B horizon, separate handling is not necessary.

317.440. Stockpiles will be placed within the permit area where they will not be disturbed or be subject to excessive erosion. If left in place for more than 30 days, stockpiles will meet the requirements of R645-301-232, R645-301-233.100, R645-301-234, R645-301-242, and R645-301-243.

317.500. Soil Replacement.

317.510. Soil reconstruction specifications established by the NRCS will be based upon the standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey and will include, as a minimum, physical and chemical characteristics of reconstructed soils and soil descriptions containing soil-horizon depths, soil densities, soil pH, and other specifications such that reconstructed soils will have the capability of achieving levels of yield equal to, or higher than, those of nonmined prime farmland in the surrounding area.

317.520. The minimum depth of soil and substitute soil material to be reconstructed will be 48 inches, or a lesser depth equal to the depth to a subsurface horizon in the natural soil that inhibits or prevents root penetration, or a greater depth if determined necessary to restore the original soil productive capacity. Soil horizons will be considered as inhibiting or preventing root penetration if their physical or chemical properties or water-supplying capacities cause them to restrict or prevent penetration by roots of plants common to the vicinity of the permit area and if these properties or capacities have little or no beneficial effect on soil productive capacity.

317.530. The operator will replace and regrade the soil horizons or other root-zone material with proper compaction and uniform depth.

317.540. The operator will replace the B horizon, C horizon, or other suitable material specified in R645-302-317.432 to the thickness needed to meet the requirements of R645-302-317.520.

317.550. The operator will replace the topsoil or other suitable soil materials specified in R645-302-317.431 as the final surface soil layer. This surface soil layer will equal or exceed the thickness of the original surface soil layer, as determined by the soil survey.

317.600. Revegetation and Restoration of Soil Productivity.

317.610. Following prime farmland soil replacement, the soil surface will be stabilized with a vegetative cover or other means that effectively controls soil loss by wind and water erosion.

317.620. Prime farmland soil productivity will be restored in accordance with the following provisions:

317.621. Measurement of soil productivity will be initiated within 10 years after completion of soil replacement;

317.622. Soil productivity will be measured on a representative sample or on all of the mined and reclaimed prime farmland area using the reference crop determined under R645-302-317.626. A statistically valid sampling technique at a 90-percent or greater statistical confidence level will be used as approved by the Division in consultation with the NRCS;

317.623. The measurement period for determining average annual crop production (yield) will be a minimum of three crop years prior to release of the operator's performance bond;

317.624. The level of management applied during the measurement period will be the same as the level of management used on nonmined prime farmland in the surrounding area;

317.625. Restoration of soil productivity will be considered achieved when the average yield during the measurement period equals or exceeds the average yield of the reference crop established for the same period for nonmined soils of the same or similar texture or slope phase of the soil series in the surrounding area under equivalent management practices;

317.626. The reference crop on which restoration of soil productivity is proven will be selected from the crops most commonly produced on the surrounding prime farmland. Where row crops are the dominant crops grown on prime farmland in the area, the row crop requiring the greatest rooting depth will be chosen as one of the reference crops;

317.627. Reference crop yields for a given crop season are to be determined from:

317.627.1. The current yield records of representative local farms in the surrounding area, with concurrence by the NRCS; or

317.627.2. The average county yields recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which have been adjusted by the NRCS for local yield variation within the county that is associated with differences between nonmined prime farmland soil and all other soils that produce the reference crop; and

317.628. Under either procedure in R645-302-317.627, the average reference crop yield may be adjusted, with the concurrence of the NRCS, for:

317.628.1. Disease, pest, and weather-induced seasonal variations; or

317.628.2. Differences in specific management practices where the overall management practices of the crops being compared are equivalent.

320. Alluvial Valley Floors. R645-302-320 applies to any person who conducts or intends to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations on areas or adjacent to areas designated as alluvial valley floors.

321. Alluvial Valley Floor Determination.

321.100. Before applying for a permit to conduct, or before conducting surface coal mining and reclamation operations within a valley holding a stream or in a location where the adjacent area includes any stream, the applicant shall either affirmatively demonstrate, based on available data, the presence of an alluvial valley floor, or submit to the Division the results of a field investigation of the proposed permit and adjacent area. The field investigations shall include sufficiently detailed geologic, hydrologic, land use, soils, and vegetation studies on areas required to be investigated by the Division, after consultation with the applicant, to enable the Division to make an evaluation regarding the existence of the probable alluvial valley floor in the proposed permit or adjacent area and to determine which areas, if any, require more detailed study in order to allow the Division to make a final determination regarding the existence of an alluvial valley floor.

321.200. Studies performed during the investigation by the applicant or subsequent studies as required of the applicant by the Division shall include an appropriate combination, adapted to site-specific conditions, of:

321.210. Mapping of unconsolidated stream-laid deposits holding streams including, but not limited to, geologic maps of unconsolidated deposits, and stream-laid deposits, maps of streams, delineation of surface watersheds and directions of shallow groundwater flows through and into the unconsolidated deposits, topography showing local and regional terrace levels, and topography of terraces, flood plains and channels showing surface drainage patterns;

321.220. Mapping of all lands included in the area in accordance with R645-302-321 and subject to agricultural activities, showing the area in which different types of agricultural lands, such as flood irrigated lands, pasture lands and undeveloped rangelands, exist, and accompanied by measurements of vegetation in terms of productivity and type;

321.230. Mapping of all lands that are currently or were historically flood irrigated, showing the location of each diversion structure, ditch, dam and related reservoir, irrigated land, and topography of those lands;

321.240. Documentation that areas identified in R645-302-321 are, or are not, subirrigated, based on groundwater monitoring data, representative water quality, soil moisture measurements, and measurements of rooting depth, soil mottling, and water requirements of vegetation;

321.250. Documentation, based on representative sampling, that areas identified under R645-302-321 are, or are not, flood irrigable, based on streamflow, water quality, water yield, soils measurements, and topographic characteristics; and

321.260. Analysis of a series of aerial photographs, including color infrared imagery flown at a time of year to show any late summer and fall differences between upland and valley floor vegetative growth and of a scale adequate for reconnaissance identification of areas that may be alluvial valley floors.

321.300. Based on the investigations conducted under R645-302-321.200, the Division will make a determination of the extent of any alluvial valley floors within the study area and whether any stream in the study area may be excluded from further consideration as lying within an alluvial valley floor. The Division will determine that an alluvial valley floor exists if it finds that:

321.310. Unconsolidated streamlaid deposits holding streams are present; and,

321.320. There is sufficient water to support agricultural activities as evidenced by:

321.321. The existence of flood irrigation in the area in question or its historical use;

321.322. The capability of an area to be flood irrigated, based on streamflow water yield, soils, water quality, and topography; or,

321.323. Subirrigation of the lands in question, derived from the groundwater system of the valley floor.

322. Application Contents for Operations Affecting Designated Alluvial Valley Floors.

322.100. If land within the permit area or adjacent area is identified as an alluvial valley floor and the proposed coal mining and reclamation operation may affect an alluvial valley floor or waters supplied to an alluvial valley floor, the applicant will submit a complete application for the proposed coal mining and reclamation operation to be used by the Division together with other relevant information, including the information required by R645-302-321, as a basis for approval or denial of the permit.

322.200. The complete application will include detailed surveys and baseline data required by the Division for a determination of:

322.210. The characteristics of the alluvial valley floor which are necessary to preserve the essential hydrologic functions throughout the mining and reclamation process;

322.220. The significance of the area to be affected to agricultural activities;

322.230. Whether the operation will cause, or presents an unacceptable risk of causing, material damage to the quantity or quality of surface or groundwaters that supply the alluvial valley floor;

322.240. The effectiveness of proposed reclamation with respect to requirements of the State Program; and

322.250. Specific environmental monitoring required to measure compliance with R645-302-324 during and after coal mining and reclamation operations.

322.300. Information required under R645-302-322 shall include, but not be limited to:

322.310. Geologic data, including geologic structure, and surficial geologic maps, and geologic cross-sections;

322.320. Soils and vegetation data, including a detailed soil survey and chemical and physical analysis of soils, a vegetation map and narrative descriptions of quantitative and qualitative surveys, and land use data, including an evaluation of crop yields;

322.330. Surveys and data required under R645-302-322 for areas designated as alluvial valley floors because of their flood irrigation characteristics will also include, at a minimum, surface hydrologic data, including streamflow, runoff, sediment yield, and water quality analysis describing seasonal variations over at least one full year, field geomorphic surveys and other geomorphic studies;

322.340. Surveys and data required under R645-302-322 for areas designated as alluvial valley floors because of their subirrigation characteristics, will also include, at a minimum, geohydrologic data including observation well establishment for purposes of water level measurements, groundwater contour maps, testing to determine aquifer characteristics that affect waters supplying the alluvial valley floors, well and spring inventories, and water quality analysis describing seasonal variations over at least one full year, and physical and chemical analysis of overburden to determine the effect of the proposed coal mining and reclamation operations on water quality and quantity;

322.350. Plans showing how the operations will avoid, during mining and reclamation, interruption, discontinuance or preclusion of farming on the alluvial valley floors unless the premining land use has been undeveloped rangeland which is not significant to farming and will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in surface and groundwater systems that supply alluvial valley floors;

322.360. Maps showing farms that could be affected by the mining and, if any farm includes an alluvial valley floor, statements of the type and quantity of agricultural activity performed on the alluvial valley floor and its relationship to the farm's total agricultural activity including an economic analysis; and

322.370. Such other data as the Division may require.

322.400. The surveys required by R645-302-322 should identify those geologic, hydrologic, and biologic characteristics of the alluvial valley floor necessary to support the essential hydrologic functions of an alluvial valley floor. Characteristics which support the essential hydrologic functions and which must be evaluated in a complete application include, but are not limited to:

322.410. Characteristics supporting the function of collecting water which include, but are not limited to;

322.411. The amount and rate of runoff and water balance analysis, with respect to rainfall, evapotranspiration, infiltration and groundwater recharge;

322.412. The relief, slope, and density of the network of drainage channels;

322.413. The infiltration, permeability, porosity and transmissivity of unconsolidated deposits of the valley floor that either constitute the aquifer associated with the stream or lie between the aquifer and the stream; and

322.414. Other factors that affect the interchange of water between surface streams and groundwater systems, including the depth to groundwater, the direction of groundwater flow, the extent to which the stream and associated alluvial groundwater aquifers provide recharge to, or are recharged by bedrock aquifers;

322.420. Characteristics supporting the function of storing water which include, but are not limited to:

322.421. Roughness, slope, and vegetation of the channel, flood plain, and low terraces that retard the flow of surface waters;

322.422. Porosity, permeability, waterholding capacity, saturated thickness and volume of aquifers associated with streams, including alluvial aquifers, perched aquifers, and other water bearing zones found beneath valley floors; and

322.423. Moisture held in soils or the plant growth medium within the alluvial valley floor, and the physical and chemical properties of the subsoil that provide for sustained vegetation growth or cover during extended periods of low precipitation;

322.430. Characteristics supporting the function of regulating the flow of water which include, but are not limited to:

322.431. The geometry and physical character of the valley, expressed in terms of the longitudinal profile and slope of the valley and the channel, the sinuosity of the channel, the cross-section, slopes and proportions of the channels, flood plains and low terraces, the nature and stability of the stream banks and the vegetation established in the channels and along the stream banks and flood plains;

322.432. The nature of surface flows as shown by the frequency and duration of flows of representative magnitude including low flows and floods; and

322.433. The nature of interchange of water between streams, their associated alluvial aquifers and any bedrock aquifers as shown by the rate and amount of water supplied by the stream to associated alluvial and bedrock aquifers (i.e. recharge) and by the rates and amounts of water supplied by aquifers to the stream (i.e., baseflow); and

322.500. Characteristics which make water available and which include, but are not limited to the presence of land forms including flood plains and terraces suitable for agricultural activities.

323. Findings

323.100. No permit or permit change application for coal mining and reclamation operations in Utah will be approved by the Division unless the application demonstrates and the Division finds in writing, on the basis of information set forth in the application that:

323.110. The proposed operations would not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on an alluvial valley floor unless the premining land use has been undeveloped rangeland which is not significant to farming on the alluvial valley floor, or unless the area of an affected alluvial valley floor is small and provides, or may provide, negligible support for production of one or more farms; provided however, R645-302-323.100 does not apply to those lands which were identified in a reclamation plan approved by the State Program prior to August 3, 1977, for any coal mining and reclamation operation that, in the year preceding August 3, 1977;

323.111. Produced coal in commercial quantities and was located within or adjacent to alluvial valley floors, or

323.112. Obtained specific permit approval by the Division to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations within an alluvial valley floor;

323.120. The proposed operations would not materially damage the quantity and quality of water in surface and underground water systems that supply those alluvial valley floors or portions of alluvial valley floors which are:

323.121. Included in R645-302-323.110; or

323.122. Outside the permit area of an existing or proposed coal mining and reclamation operation;

323.130. The proposed operations would be conducted in accordance with all applicable requirements of the State Program; and

323.140. Any change in the land use of the lands covered by the proposed permit area from its premining use in or adjacent to alluvial valley floors will not interfere with or preclude the reestablishment of the essential hydrologic functions of the alluvial valley floor.

323.200. The significance of the impact of the proposed operations on farming will be based on the relative importance of the vegetation and water of the developed grazed or hayed alluvial valley floor area to the farm's production, or any more stringent criteria established by the Division as suitable for site-specific protection of agricultural activities in alluvial valley floors. The effect of the proposed operations on farming will be concluded to be significant if they would remove from production, over the life of the mine, a proportion of the farm's production that would decrease the expected annual income from agricultural activities normally conducted at the farm.

323.300. Criteria for determining whether a coal mining and reclamation operation will materially damage the quantity or quality of waters subject to R645-302-323.310 and R645-302-323.320 include, but are not limited to:

323.310. Potential increases in the concentration of total dissolved solids of waters supplied to an alluvial valley floor, as measured by specific conductance in millimhos, to levels above the threshold value at which crop yields decrease, as specified in Maas and Hoffman, "Crop Salt Tolerance - Current Assessment," Table 1, "Salt Tolerance of Agricultural Crops," which is incorporated by reference unless the applicant demonstrates compliance with R645-302-323.320.

323.311. Salt tolerances for agricultural crops have been published by E.V. Maas and G.J. Hoffman, in a paper titled "Crop Salt Tolerance - Current Assessment" contained in The Journal of The Irrigation and Drainage Division, American Society of Civil Engineers, pages 115 through 134, June, 1977. Table 1, giving threshold salinity values is presented on pages 22 through 125.

323.312. The Maas and Hoffman publication is on file and available for inspection and copying at the Division office;

323.320. Potential increases in the concentration of total dissolved solids of waters supplied to an alluvial valley floor in excess of those incorporated by reference in R645-302-323.310 will not be allowed unless the applicant demonstrates, through testing related to the production of crops grown in the locality, that the proposed operations will not cause increases that will result in crop yield decreases;

323.321. For types of vegetation not listed in Maas and Hoffman as specified by the Division, based upon consideration of observed correlation between total dissolved solid concentrations in water and crop yield declines, taking into account the accuracy of the correlations;

323.322. Potential increases in the average depth to water saturated zones (during the growing season) located within the root zone of the alluvial valley floor that would reduce the amount of subirrigation land compared to premining conditions;

323.323. Potential decreases in surface flows that would reduce the amount of irrigable land compared to premining conditions; and

323.324. Potential changes in the surface or groundwater systems that reduce the area available to agriculture as a result of flooding or increased saturation of the root zone.

323.400. For the purposes of R645-302-323, a farm is one or more land units on which agricultural activities are conducted. A farm is generally considered to be the combination of land units with acreage and boundaries in existence prior to August 3, 1977, or, if established after August 3, 1977, with those boundaries based on enhancement of the farm's agricultural productivity and not related to coal mining and reclamation operations.

324. Performance Standards.

324.100. Essential Hydrologic Functions.

324.110. The operator of a coal mining and reclamation operation will minimize disturbances to the hydrologic balance by preserving throughout the mining and reclamation process the essential hydrologic functions of an alluvial valley floor not within the permit area.

324.120. The operator of a coal mining and reclamation operation will minimize disturbances to the hydrologic balance within the permit area by reestablishing throughout the mining and reclamation process the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors.

324.200. Protection of Agricultural Activities.

324.210. Prohibitions. Coal mining and reclamation operations will not:

324.211. Interrupt, discontinue or preclude farming on alluvial valley floors; or

324.212. Cause material damage to the quantity or quality of water in surface or underground water systems that supply alluvial valley floors.

324.220. Statutory Exclusions. The prohibitions of R645-302-324.210 will not apply:

324.221. Where the premining land use of an alluvial valley floor is undeveloped rangeland which is not significant to farming;

324.222. Where farming on the alluvial valley floor that would be affected by the coal mining and reclamation operation is of such small acreage as to be of negligible impact on the farm's agricultural production;

324.223. To any coal mining and reclamation operation that, in the year preceding August 3, 1977:

324.223.1. Produced coal in commercial quantities and was located within or adjacent to a alluvial valley floor; or

324.223.2. Obtained specific permit approval by the Division to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations within an alluvial valley floor; or

324.224. To any land that is the subject of an application for renewal or revision of a permit issued pursuant to the Act which is an extension of the original permit, insofar as:

324.224.1. The land was previously identified in a reclamation plan submitted under R645-301, and

324.224.2. The original permit area was excluded from the protection of R645-302-324.210 for a reason set forth in R645-302-324.223.

324.300. Monitoring.

324.310. A monitoring system will be installed, maintained, and operated by the permittee on all alluvial valley floors during coal mining and reclamation operations and continued until all bonds are released in accordance with R645-301-800. The monitoring system will provide sufficient information to allow the Division to determine that:

324.311. The essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors are being preserved outside the permit area or reestablished within the permit area throughout the mining and reclamation process in accordance with R645-302-324.100;

324.312. Farming on lands protected under R645-302-324.200 is not being interrupted, discontinued, or precluded; and

324.313. The operation is not causing material damage to the quantity or quality of water in the surface or underground systems that supply alluvial valley floors protected under R645-302-324.200.

324.320. Monitoring will be conducted at adequate frequencies to indicate long-term trends that could affect compliance with R645-302-324.100 and R645-302-324.200.

324.330. All monitoring data collected and analyses thereof will routinely be made available to the Division.