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because of soil wetness. However, this diagnostic factor is artificially induced because of <br /> irrigation water. The soils were formed in the alluvium of the swales. Fair to good quality topsoil <br /> exists in the swale areas in thickness from 1.2 to over 4 feet. <br /> A second soil survey was conducted in 1995 that covered approximately 106 acres located south <br /> of BB Road and immediately east of 2700 Road. The area surveyed is delineated on Map 2.04.9- <br /> 1. Major soil groups encountered were Progresso-Bond Complex, 2 to 8 percent slopes (map unit <br /> 30C-A) and Progresso Sandy Loam (map unit 30C-A-1). Of the area surveyed, 100.7 acres were <br /> incorporated into the permit under Permit Revision No. 4 (PR-4). <br /> In association with Permit Revision No. 5 (PR-5), a new soil survey encompassing approximately <br /> 442 acres to the north and west of the previously approved permit area was conducted. The Order <br /> 1 survey was conducted in 1998. Map unit designations differ from previous surveys due to <br /> changes made in NRCS soil taxonomy. Map 2.04.9-1 delineates the soil mapping units associated <br /> with the various surveys. Dominant map units identified in the 1998 survey include Bowbac- <br /> Bowdish Complex, 0 to 3% slopes, Darvey-Bari complex, 0 to 3% slopes, and Monierco Fine <br /> Sandy Loam, 0 to 10% slopes, and Haplargids — Endoaquepts association, 0 to 3 percent slopes. <br /> The Bowbac-Bowdish and Darvey-Bari complex units were used primarily for irrigated hayland <br /> or pastureland. The Darvey-Bari complex (Mapping Unit 98E) dominates that portion of the PR- <br /> 5 expanded permit area located south of BB Road and west of 2700 road. As discussed under <br /> Prime Farmland Determinations below, the Darvey-Bari soils have since been determined to be <br /> Prime. <br /> El. Prime Farmland Determinations <br /> Two areas have been designated as having prime farmlands. The first is located on the ERMR <br /> Property, south of BB Road and west of 2700 Road. This area is delineated on Map 2.04.9 — <br /> Soils Baseline as soil map unit 98E. It comprises 87.03 acres. <br /> The second area is a small portion north of BB Road and west of 2700 Road. This area is <br /> delineated on Map 2.04.9 — Soils Baseline as soil map unit 98A. It comprises 4.76 acres. <br /> F. Vegetation and Land Use <br /> The natural vegetation in the Nucla area was pinyon juniper woodland and Great Basin sagebrush. <br /> More than 100 years of intensive agricultural activity in the area has resulted in only scattered <br /> remnants of the native vegetation types. Prior to the agricultural conversion, sagebrush shrublands <br /> occupied the park-like areas with deeper soils and more gentle slopes while the more broken <br /> upland areas with shallow coarse textured soils were occupied by the pinyon juniper woodlands. <br /> In the baseline surveys, six general vegetation types were found: irrigated pasture, irrigated hay <br /> land,irrigated cropland(small grains), swale/drainage, sagebrush/grass, and various miscellaneous <br /> types related to old farmsteads, abandoned orchards, and disturbed areas. The mine area has been <br /> intensively developed for agricultural uses, including substantial acreage of irrigated hay cropland <br /> and irrigated pastureland. There are smaller acreages of sagebrush/grass type, swale drainages, <br /> and various miscellaneous cover types interspersed among the developed agricultural lands. <br /> 16 <br />