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F. The Division has approved the use of the dryland pasture reference areas described <br />above for NH -1 dryland pasture cover success evaluation, and NH -2 dryland pasture <br />cover and production success evaluation. The irrigated pasture reference area <br />described above has been approved for evaluation of NH -2 irrigated pasture cover and <br />production success, pursuant to the requirements of Rule 4.15.7(3). <br />G. The reference areas will be utilized to determine revegetation success in a manner that <br />the Division finds acceptable 4.15.7(4)(a). <br />H. Prime Farmland Irrigated Cropland production success demonstration will be based on <br />comparison of minimum 3 year average crop production to a technical standard <br />developed in consultation with NRCS, in conformance with the requirements of <br />4.25.5. <br />XII. Post - Mining Land Use <br />A. The predominant pre -mine and post- mining land use within the New Horizon Mine 1 <br />permit area block is rangeland, supporting wildlife habitat and livestock grazing, with <br />smaller areas of irrigated hay cropland and dryland pasture. <br />B. The predominant pre- mining land uses within the New Horizon Mine 2 permit area <br />block were related to irrigated agriculture, grazing, and related support facilities. <br />Approximately 85% of the proposed permit area was irrigated agriculture. The <br />remaining 15% was composed primarily of sagebrush rangeland, with smaller <br />inclusions of abandoned farmsteads and facilities. The pre- mining land uses are <br />discussed in Section 2.04.3 of the permit and shown on Map 2.04.3.The proposed <br />post- mining land uses are combined with the revegetation in Section 2.05.4(2)(e) and <br />shown on Map 2.05.4 -5. <br />In PR -6, the pre- and post- mining land uses were carefully evaluated. WFC is <br />proposing to revise the acreage associated with the post- mining land uses to reflect the <br />amount of water shares each landowner owns. After consultation with the landowners <br />and an evaluation of water availability, WFC is proposing to return the lands west of <br />2700 Road as follows. <br />• Benson West —WFC proposes to flood irrigate 12.4 acres on Benson West and <br />return 55.8 acres to dryland pasture. <br />• Lloyd Property —WFC proposes to flood irrigate 25.62 acres and return 46.02 <br />acres to dryland pasture. <br />• WFC Property in northwest permit area (originally Johnson Property) —3.96 acres <br />are designated Prime Farmland that have been disturbed and will be returned to <br />flood irrigated cropland. The remaining acreage on the WFC property is <br />proposed as dryland pasture. <br />55 <br />