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Preface <br /> Soil surveys contain information that affects land use planning in survey areas. They <br /> highlight soil limitations that affect various land uses and provide information about <br /> the properties of the soils in the survey areas. Soil surveys are designed for many <br /> different users, including farmers, ranchers, foresters, agronomists, urban planners, <br /> community officials, engineers, developers, builders, and home buyers. Also, <br /> conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists in recreation, waste disposal, <br /> and pollution control can use the surveys to help them understand, protect,or enhance <br /> the environment. <br /> Various land use regulations of Federal, State, and local governments may impose <br /> special restrictions on land use or land treatment. Soil surveys identify soil properties <br /> that are used in making various land use or land treatment decisions.The information <br /> is intended to help the land users identify and reduce the effects of soil limitations on <br /> various land uses. The landowner or user is responsible for identifying and complying <br /> with existing laws and regulations. <br /> Although soil survey information can be used for general farm, local, and wider area <br /> planning,onsite investigation is needed to supplement this information in some cases. <br /> Examples include soil quality assessments (http://www.nres.usda.gov/wps/portal/ <br /> nrcs/main/soils/health/) and certain conservation and engineering applications. For <br /> more detailed information, contact your local USDA Service Center(http:// <br /> offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nres) or your NRCS State Soil <br /> Scientist(http://www.nres.usda.gov/wps/portal/nres/detail/soils/contactus/? <br /> cid=nres142p2_053951). <br /> Great differences in soil properties can occur within short distances. Some soils are <br /> seasonally wet or subject to flooding. Some are too unstable to be used as a <br /> foundation for buildings or roads. Clayey or wet soils are poorly suited to use as septic <br /> tank absorption fields. A high water table makes a soil poorly suited to basements or <br /> underground installations. <br /> The National Cooperative Soil Survey is a joint effort of the United States Department <br /> of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, State agencies including the Agricultural <br /> Experiment Stations, and local agencies. The Natural Resources Conservation <br /> Service (NRCS) has leadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil <br /> Survey. <br /> Information about soils is updated periodically. Updated information is available <br /> through the NRCS Web Soil Survey, the site for official soil survey information. <br /> The U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA)prohibits discrimination in all its programs <br /> and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where <br /> applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual <br /> orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an <br /> individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited <br /> bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means <br /> 2 <br />