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<br /> Page 2 April 2022 (PR-09) <br />Prime Farmlands <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />Prime farmland determinations have been made on the Morgan and Elk Ridge Mining and <br />Reclamation (ERMR) properties within the New Horizon mine permit area as described further <br />below. Soil survey information can be found in Section 2.04.9 and is shown Map 2.04.9-1. All <br />prime farmland determinations have been confirmed by the Natural Resources Conservation <br />Service (NRCS). Please see Attachment 2.04.9-6 for NRCS prime farmland determinations. <br />Identification of Prime Farmlands <br /> <br />Morgan Property <br />Soils south of BB Road and west of 2700 Road on the Morgan property within the New Horizon <br />mine permit boundary were considered prime farmland soils (98E). The total prime farmlands <br />soils encompass nearly 87 acres as shown on Map 2.04.9-1. The entirety of the Morgan property <br />that was disturbed by mining activities has been reclaimed to prime farmland standards <br />(approximately 108 acres). <br /> <br />Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation LLC Property <br />There are 4.8 acres of prime farmland designed soils (98A) in a low lying area of Tuttle Draw in <br />the northwest corner of the permit area on ERMR property. In a portion of this 4.8 acres of prime <br />farmland soils, topsoil was removed from 4.0 acres to construct Pond 013. This prime farmland <br />will be restored directly adjacent to other irrigated pasture areas as shown on Map 2.05.4-5. This <br />location provides the best opportunity for the prime farmland to be successfully restored since <br />existing infrastructure is already in place to provide irrigation water, and the logistics of <br />fertilization, cutting, and haying can be conducted concurrently with existing irrigated pasture <br />reclamation areas. <br />Prime Farmland Topsoil Removal, Storage and Replacement <br /> <br />For prime farmland topsoil handling including storage and redistribution pleases refer to Section <br />2.05.4(2)(d). <br />Prime Farmland Topsoil Quality – Morgan Property <br /> <br />All topsoil that has been redistributed on the Morgan Property was analyzed through sampling of <br />the stockpiles prior to redistribution of the soils. The data from the sampling of the stockpiles in <br />Attachment 2.06.6-1 <br />