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Attachment 2.05.4(2)(e) -3, and a June, 1998 letter from the NRCS supportive of <br />the production standard of 1.84 tons /acre /year, for 1St cutting irrigated alfalfa hay <br />land production, is included in Attachment 2.05.4(2)(e) -3, of the permit <br />application. Because the irrigated hay cropland in the NH2 area is designated <br />prime farmland, production success will be demonstrated when the average <br />annual reclaimed area hay production (based on a minimum three years of data) <br />is not less than 100% of 1.84 tons per acre. Pursuant to Rule 4.25.5, success <br />demonstration for bond release will be demonstrated based on a minimum of 3 <br />years of data, beginning no earlier than year 8 of the liability period, and <br />including the three cropping years immediately prior to bond release. Success <br />demonstration will be based on direct comparison of the minimum three year <br />average to the approved standard. <br />The success standard for irrigated pasture areas was changed from a technical <br />standard to reference area comparison within TR -58, approved in 2009. The <br />reference area is described above under the section on Cover. Irrigated pasture <br />production success will be demonstrated when the production mean based on <br />sampling is not less than 90% of an adjusted reference area mean production <br />value. The justification and methodology for adjustment of the reference area <br />mean is to correct for inherent differences in potential productivity associated <br />with the various pre- mining soil types in the affected area, and was developed in <br />consultation with NRCS. The premining soil type delineations that will be used <br />for reference area production adjustments are depicted on permit Map <br />2.05.4(2)(e) -l. <br />The success standard for dryland pasture areas in the New Horizon Mine 2 area <br />will be based on comparison to herbaceous production in the dryland pasture <br />reference area. Success will be demonstrated when herbaceous production based <br />on random sampling within the bond release parcel is not less than 90% of the <br />dryland pasture reference area mean, with 90% statistical confidence. <br />3. In TR -58, a diversity (forage quality) standard was established for the irrigated <br />pasture reclaimed areas, which requires that: <br />At least 75% of the relative production will be comprised of seeded species or <br />species of comparable quality as livestock forage. County listed noxious weed <br />species will not be counted towards the success standard for cover or production <br />in any reclaimed area. <br />Similar forage quality standards for irrigated hay cropland and dryland pasture <br />areas are proposed in PR -6. The forage quality criteria for irrigated hay cropland <br />and dryland pasture are addressed in subsections 5.5.2 and 6.4 of Permit Section <br />2.05.4(2)(e), respectively. These criteria are also referenced above in this <br />document, under "Success Demonstration Methods" for NH -2. <br />The Division proposes to approve these standards. <br />54 <br />