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6. 1.1 Reference Area Comparison <br />The New Horizon 2 Mine will use a reference area within the current Morgan Property for <br />determining successful revegetation of Irrigated Cropland areas. The reference area is discussed <br />in detail in subsection 5.5 of Section 2.05.4(2)(e). The Prime Farmland revegetation success <br />standard is based on achieving 100% of the reference area production (within the statistical <br />confidence interval) on a three year adjusted average (Rule 4.25.5(3)(c)). Both prime farmland and <br />non -prime farmland areas of Irrigated Cropland will be measured according to the sampling and <br />statistical analysis methods described in Section 2.05.4(2)(e) subsection 5.5.4. <br />The reference area will be studied each year that any Irrigated Cropland post mine area is studied <br />for bond release. <br />7.0 Certification of Proposed Plans <br />NRCS Certification of the plans proposed in this section can be found in Attachment 2.06.6 -2. <br />8.0 NRCS Determination of Prime Farmland Productivity <br />The productivity of the reclaimed prime farmland areas will be measured against a reference area <br />of prime farmland soils on the south side of the Morgan property. This reference area has been <br />analyzed by the NRCS, DRMS, and qualified soil scientists, and has been determined to be <br />representative of the prime farmland soils found within the permit area. Since this reference area <br />is not available for vegetative study at the time of PR 08, the determination of its validity as a <br />reference area is based entirely on analysis of its soils. <br />Attachment 2.06.6 -3 contains the NRCS determination of the reference areas validity for <br />comparison with prime farmland areas of the permit. <br />9.0 Return of Soil Productivity <br />The return of soil productivity on prime farmland will be based on whether the Irrigated Cropland <br />post mine land use is achieved. In order for the Prime Farmland Irrigated Cropland to be <br />August 2013 (PR -08) 2.06.6 -5 <br />