ESSENTIAL HYDROLOGIC FUNCTIONS:
- A. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations shall be conducted to preserve, throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors not within an affected area. These functions shall be preserved by maintaining those geologic, hydrologic and biologic characteristics that support those functions.
- B. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations shall be conducted to reestablish, throughout the mining and reclamation process, the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within an affected area. These functions shall be reestablished by reconstructing those geologic, hydrologic and biologic characteristics that support those functions.
C. The characteristics that support the essential hydrologic, functions of alluvial valley floors are those in Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 19.8.10.1006 NMAC and those other geologic, hydrologic, or biologic characteristics identified during premining investigations or monitoring conducted during the surface coal mining and reclamation operation.
[11-29-97; 19.8.23.2300 NMAC- Rn, 19 NMAC 8.2.23.2300, 9-29-2000]