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The Prime Farmland reference area is located on the south side of the Morgan Property within <br />the mine permit area. It can be seen on Map 2.05.4(2)(e)-3. This area was originally set aside <br />and not disturbed by mining to provide a buffer between the home of the Morgan's (to the <br />south) and mine blasting activities. The soils in this area have been determined to be prime <br />farmland soils of the same type found within the disturbed Prime Farmland areas immediately to <br />the north. Map 2.04.9-1 shows these soils. Additionally, this area was managed as part of <br />cropland fields that existed on the west end of the Morgan Property prior to mining. It received <br />the same irrigation, fertilization, harvesting, and grazing as the Prime Farmland areas that have <br />been disturbed by mining. The irrigation for this area was from the same water rights as the rest <br />of the Morgan Property. <br />The combination of matching management, soils, and water on both the reference area and the <br />disturbed areas of the Morgan Property make this reference area ideal for revegetation success <br />measurements. Also, the soils have not been disturbed on the reference area during mining. This <br />means that the reference area has a soil profile that matches the best pre -mine soils on the <br />Morgan property. The reference area soils are prime farmland Barx soils. Again, this makes the <br />reference area the best option for the comparison point with regards to Prime Farmland <br />revegetation success. <br />The reference area has not been used as a cropland field since 2008, when water ceased to be <br />applied to the area north of it prior to topsoil stripping. This prevents a vegetation analysis from <br />being conducted at this time. According to the DRMS definitions, a reference area must be <br />representative of the geology, soils, and vegetation of the permit area as determined by premining <br />inventories. The Prime Farmland reference area shown on Map 2.05.4(2)(e)-3 is part of the Prime <br />Farmland area designated on Map 2.04.10-1 (Pre Mine Vegetation), has the same soils (including <br />prime farmland Barx) as the Morgan Property (Map 2.04.9-1), and shares the same overall <br />geology as the rest of the Morgan property. The vegetation was historically the same since it was <br />part of the larger irrigated alfalfa field. <br />Irrigated Cropland - Prime Farmland <br />Please see permit Section 2.06.6, subsection 6.6 for all information on the success criteria and <br />demonstration for prime farmland areas of Irrigated Cropland. The revegetation success <br />measurement criteria are described below in Rule 4.25.5(3): <br />Measurement of success in prime farmland revegetation will be determined based upon the <br />techniques approved in the permit by the Division under [Rule] 2.06.6. At a minimum, the <br />following shall be met: <br />(a) Average annual crop production shall be determined based upon a minimum of years of <br />data. Crop production shall be measured for the three cropping years immediately prior to full <br />Page 36 May 2016 (TR -75) <br />