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Also one species of insect has been identified as potentially occurring in the <br />general mine area. The nysa roadside skipper typically inhabits areas of <br />shrubby woodlands near water courses as well as roadsides (Pague 1993). <br />However, the lack of disturbances to these areas indicates that the roadside <br />skipper will not be impacted. <br />Continued operation of the facilities is anticipated to have minor impacts on fish <br />and wildlife resources of the area. <br />2.04.12 Prime Farmland Investi ag tion <br />An investigation of the lands which will be disturbed by the New Elk mining <br />operation has been conducted by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service located <br />in Trinidad, Colorado. This investigation indicates that the short growing <br />season excludes this soil from the prime farmlands designation. A letter from <br />Mr. Bill Watson of the Soil Conservation Service is shown in Exhibit 17, <br />Prime Farmland Exclusion. <br />In 2013, NECC completed another soil survey for the area due to state -wide re- <br />classification and re- evaluation by the Natural Resource Conservation Service <br />(MRCS). This soil survey is titled Custom Soil Resource Report for Las Animas <br />County Area Colorado, Parts of Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, 2013 Soil <br />Survey, New Elk Mine, and is found in Exhibit 14. This report confirms under the <br />heading "Interpretive group" for each soil type that no prime farmland soils exist <br />or will be affected in the greater New Elk area. NECC also reviewed prior <br />correspondence from the SCS for the nearby Golden Eagle permit that states in <br />addition to the local soils not meeting the prime farmland criteria or standard, a <br />primary reason prime farmland soils are not classified in the greater New Elk area <br />is due to the short growing season. <br />TR -68 2.04 -52 (revised 3/21/2014) <br />