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Typic Haplaquolls) are found in the mid to lower reaches of the swales and exhibit good quality <br />soil to a depth of about 24 inches. The fine- loamy, mixed, mesic, deep Typic Haplaquolls are <br />found in the lower reaches of the swales and along Calamity Draw. These soils have sandy loam <br />and loam textures to a depth of about four feet with sandy clay loam below that. The soils were <br />classified as Haplaquolls because of soil wetness. However, this diagnostic factor is artificially <br />induced because of irrigation water. The soils were formed in the alluvium of the swales. Fair to <br />good quality topsoil exists in the swale areas in thickness from 1.2 to over 4 feet. <br />A second soil survey was conducted in 1995 that covered approximately 106 acres located south <br />of BB Road and immediately east of 2700 Road. The area surveyed is delineated on Map 2.04.9- <br />1. Major soil groups encountered were Progresso -Bond Complex, 2 to 8 percent slopes (map <br />unit 30C -A) and Progresso Sandy Loam (map unit 30C -A -1). Of the area surveyed, 100.7 acres <br />were incorporated into the permit under Permit Revision No. 4 (PR -4). <br />In association with Permit Revision No. 5 (PR -5), a new soil survey encompassing <br />approximately 442 acres to the north and west of the previously approved New Horizon Mine 2 <br />permit area was conducted. The Order 1 survey was conducted in 1998. Map unit designations <br />differ from previous surveys due to changes made in NRCS soil taxonomy. Map 2.04.9 -1 <br />delineates the soil mapping units associated with the various surveys. Dominant map units <br />identified in the 1998 survey include Bowbac - Bowdish Complex, 0 to 3% slopes, Darvey -Bari <br />complex, 0 to 3% slopes, and Monierco Fine Sandy Loam, 0 to 10% slopes, and Haplargids — <br />Endoaquepts association, 0 to 3 percent slopes. The Bowbac - Bowdish and Darvey -Bari <br />complex units were used primarily for irrigated hayland or pastureland. The Darvey -Barx <br />complex (Mapping Unit 98E) dominates that portion of the PR -5 expanded permit area located <br />south of BB Road and west of 2700 road. As discussed under Prime Farmland Determinations <br />below, the Darvey -Barx soils have since been determined to be Prime. <br />E1. Prime Farmland Determinations <br />No prime farmland soils were identified at Peabody's Nucla Mine (now New Horizon Mine 1). <br />The original Permit Revision No. 2 (PR -2) Order 1 soil survey for the new " Nucla East" mine <br />(now New Horizon Mine 2), conducted for Peabody in 1987 and 1988, identified approximately <br />15 acres of Barx soil (unit D70B on Map 2.04.9 -1) south of 5th Street Road, in the southeastern <br />portion of the new permit area. This area had been historically used for hay production and was <br />irrigated with a dependable water supply. It was therefore rated as prime farmland by the USDA <br />Soil Conservation Service (SCS) (documentation not available). Special methods of soil <br />handling were incorporated into the permit language: topsoil was to be removed in a two -lift <br />operation, and stored separately. The B horizon and portions of the C horizon were to be <br />segregated and replaced as subsoil in order to ensure soil productivity. Prime farmland areas <br />were to be revegetated with species suitable for the post- mining land use of irrigated hayland. <br />PR -2, which incorporated 119.9 acres, was issued on February 28, 1989. <br />In May 1992, the permit was transferred from Peabody Coal Company to Western Fuels — <br />Colorado, LLC (WFC). No disturbance of the Nucla East Mine (renamed the New Horizon <br />Mine 2) permit area had occurred prior to the transfer. On October 14, 1992, the District <br />16 <br />