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Revised April 5, 1985 <br />• consistent with benefit cost information attained from SCS as shown in <br />Exhibit 11, Soil Conservation Service Irrigation Considerations. <br />Given the cost to develop the site as an irrigated field, presented in <br />Exhibit 11, Soil Conservation Service Irrigation Considerations, the <br />minimum number of acres that could be developed is 50 acres. This is <br />taking into consideration the highest hay yield of 3 tons per acre <br />under irrigation and fertilization and receiving E100 per ton. Also, <br />it is based on free labor, no equipment cost, and no E500/acre <br />leveling cost and a three year return on investment. For the 6.23 <br />acres on the tipple site, it would take 24 years to recover the <br />investment cost if it were returned to irrigated cropland. If it were <br />developed to dryland pasture, the development cost would be recovered <br />in 2.5 years if it were grazed and 1.5 years if it were ocassionally <br />cut for hay. This is based on production rates reported on adjacent <br />reclaimed mined land. <br />• The post mine land use of pastureland is supported by correspondance <br />from the local office of SCS presented in Exhibit 11, Soil <br />Conservation Service Irrigator Considerations. The SCS states that <br />the site is too small to develop for irrigated cropland using either <br />ditch water or pumped water from a well or from Fish Creek. In <br />personal communication with SCS, they stated that there were <br />approximately four ranchers in the county who pump water, but it is <br />not economical in most situations and especially not at the tipple <br />site. The SCS further recommend that the site should be seeded to a <br />dryland mixture used for grazing. This recommendation is in agreement <br />with the proposed post mine land use of pastureland. <br />The Fish Creek Tipple was handling commercial quantities of coal prior <br />to August 3, 1977. This fact is documented in Colorado State Mining <br />and Reclamation Permit 76-16. Furthermore, the amendment to the State <br />Mining Permit 76-16, which was approved prior to August 3, 1977 <br />• <br />2.06-36 <br />