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-42- <br />XIII. Prime Farmland - Rules 2.04.12. 2.06.6 and 4.25 <br />The discussion of prime farmlands can be found in volume I, Section 5.1 <br />of the Snowmass Coal Company application. In addition, soil survey work <br />is contained in Section 3.8.2; topsoil removal and storage is discussed <br />in Section 4.4.3; and agricultural yields for the site are presented in <br />Section 3.2.1. <br />An investigation was conducted of the mine site to determine whether <br />prime farmlands existed in or adjacent to the 5-year permit area. The <br />investigation revealed that there are no soil map units that have been <br />designated prime farmland by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service within or <br />adjacent to the mine site. This information is one of the criteria <br />listed in Rule 2.04.12(2) as acceptable to make a negatives <br />determination. Based on this, the Division finds that no prime farmlands <br />exist in the 5-year mine permit area. <br />A similar investigation was conducted for the mine loadout facility and <br />Its associated haul road. The loadout facility was reviewed, approved, <br />and constructed prior to the enactment of prime farmland regulations for <br />underground coal mines. As a result, a small portion of the loadout haul <br />road has been constructed on soils mapped by the U.S. Soil Conservation <br />Service as prime farmland. The Division finds that the soil units 70C - <br />Unnamed silt loam and d71 - Almy loam - identified on Soils Map D-3-15, <br />1s the only area of prime farmlands in or ad3acent to the loadout permit <br />area. Furthermore, no additional disturbance is proposed for this unit <br />of prime farmland nor any other unit within this 5-year permit term. <br />Rules 2.06.6 and 4.25 set forth specific compliance and performance <br />standards that must be met for all prime farmlands affected by mining <br />operations. The operator responded to these requirements in the <br />application, but also requested that the haul road, which disturbed the <br />prime farmland, be retained after mining, if possible. Since current <br />regulations require the restoration of all prime farmlands, the Division <br />must deny this request and impose the following stipulation: <br />Stipulation No. B <br />THE OPERATOR SHALL RESTORE THAT PORTION OF THE LOADOUT HAUL ROAD <br />WHICH DISTURBED PRIME FARMLANDS TD ITS PRE-MINING LAND USE OF <br />AGRICULTURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULES 2.06.6, 4.25, AND THE PLAN <br />CONTAINED IN THE APPROVED PERMIT APPLICATION. <br />The operator's plan for restoration of the prime farmland included the <br />following items required under Rule 2.06.6(2): <br />A site-specific soil survey, characterization, and soils <br />analysis. <br />The method and type of equipment that was used to remove and <br />store the topsoil. <br />c. The locations of the topsoil stockpiles. <br />