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Soils There aze three major soils types at the New Horizon Mine 2 azea (see Soils Map of the permit application): Progresso-Bond Complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes; Barx sandy loam, 1 to 4 percent slopes; and Haplaquolls, 1 to 3 percent slopes. The Progresso-Bond complex is comprised of 40 percent Progresso, 40 percent Bond, 10 percent Barx (see below), 5 percent Travesilla, and 5 percent Bowdish series soils. The Progresso series is classified as afine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Ustollic Haplazgid. The Bond series is a loamy, mixed, mesic Lithic Ustollic Haplargid. The main difference between these two is the distance to bedrock; Bond soils are shallow (17 to 19 inches to bedrock) while Progresso soils aze fairly deep (36 inches to bedrock). This complex is found on gently to strongly sloping irrigated uplands over much of the New Horizon Mine 2 azea. The soils aze shallow to moderately deep, well-drained sandy loams formed in sandstone derived alluvium. Topsoil quality is good to an average depth of 2.1 feet. The Barx soil is found in the southeast corner of the New Horizon Mine 2 permit azea. It is classified as afine-loamy, mixed, mesic Ustollic Haplargid. It is a deep, well-drained sandy loam formed in sandstone derived alluvium. Part of this soil unit (about 15 acres) has been historically used for hay production, is irrigated with a dependable water supply, and was reclaimed as prime farmland but was recently declassified as prime farmland by the USDA -NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). The ephemeral drainages of the New Horizon Mine 2 azea contain three families of Haplaquoll soils; Lithic, Lithic/T'ypic, and Typic Haplaquolls. The loamy, mixed, mesic, Lithic Haplaquolls are found in the upper reaches of the swales in the area and aze the shallowest of the three series (bedrock at 11 inches). Lithic/'I'ypic Haplaquolls (coazse-loamy, mixed, mesic, moderately deep Typic Haplaquolls) aze found in the mid to lower reaches of the swales and exhibit good quality soil to a depth of about 24 inches: The fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, deep Typic Haplaquolls aze found in the lower reaches of the swales and along Calamity Draw. These soils have sandy loam and loam textures to a depth of about four feet with sandy clay loam below that. The soils were classified as Haplaquolls because of soil wetness. However, this diagnostic factor is artificially induced because of irrigation water. The soils were formed in the alluvium of the swales. Fair to good quality topsoil exists in the swale areas in thickness from 1.2 to over 4 feet. In association with Permit Revision No. 5, a new soil survey encompassing approximately 376 acres to the northwest of the previously approved New Horizon 2 permit azea was conducted. The Order 1 survey was conducted in 1998. Map unit designations differ from previous surveys due to recent changes in NRCS soil taxonomy. Dominant map units identified in the 1998 survey include Bowbac-Bowdish Complex, 0 to 3% slope, Darvey-Barx complex, 0 to 3% slope, and Monierco Fine Sandy Loam, 0 to 10% slope. The Bowbac-Bowdish and Darvey-Bari complex units are used primarily for irrigated hayland or pastureland. Portions of the Monierco unit aze developed for irrigated pastureland, while other portions of the unit support native sagebrush rangeland. Other map units from which soil salvage will occur within the revision area include Haplazgids-Endoaquepts Association, which occurs primazily along artificially subirrigated drainage swales, and several upland soil types which support native sagebrush rangeland. A two lift salvage procedure will be utilized on all map units, with the exception of two relatively shallow upland soils, Valley City-Rock 10