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prime farmland determination regarding 98E and 98A map units applies to permitted <br />areas located to the west of 2700 Road, and provide a more accurate description of the <br />area encompassed within the referenced 107.96 acres. <br />7. The NRCS letter included in Attachment 2.04.9-10 addresses the Prime Farmland <br />determination for the Barx and Darvey soil series (Map Unit 98E), but the attachment does <br />not include NRCS letter identifying the Begay soil series (Map Unit 98A) as Prime <br />Farmland. Please include the 2008 NRCS letter identifying the Begay soil series as <br />Prime Farmland, in Attachment 2.04.9-10. <br />8. Please provide documentation, including NRCS concurrence, to support the statements <br />in the final paragraph on page 2.04.9-15, that specified small parcels of 98E and 98A <br />soils located west of 2700 Road on Benson and Lloyd properties, respectively, are not <br />prime farmland due to past management practices, and insufficient irrigation water. <br />9. On page 2.04.9-17, under Soil Survey Maps, there is reference to Soil Profile Data Sheets in <br />Attachment 2.04.9-9. In the package submitted, the referenced attachment contains soil map <br />unit descriptions, but does not contain the referenced soil profile data sheets. Please submit <br />the referenced soil profile data sheets for inclusion in Attachment 2.04.9-9. <br />10. Additional detail and explanation is warranted regarding the topsoil stripping procedures <br />applicable to the prime farmland soils on the Morgan property, in the first paragraph under <br />Topsoil Stripping Procedures after February 2008, on page 2.04.9-23. <br />a) Narrative indicates that Lift A will be stripped "to color change or 24 inches, whichever is <br />less". Please provide detail regarding the color change that will be used in the field by <br />site foremen and equipment operators as the marker for the bottom of Lift A, and <br />identify the horizon break to which the color change corresponds. <br />Based on sample holes that show Lift A horizons are generally less than 24", with no <br />samples where the thickness is greater than 32", there may be little reason to impose a 24" <br />limit on the Lift A salvage depth. From an operational and inspection perspective, it would <br />seem to be more practicable to define Lift A based on the color change criteria, with no <br />maximum salvage depth imposed. Please amend the appropriate narrative sections of <br />the application to reflect this modification. <br />b) Regarding Lift B salvage projections for the Morgan property Prime Farmland, one <br />statement in the narrative indicates that stripping thickness would vary from 48" to 60", <br />depending on suitability, while the very next sentence indicates that the assumed average <br />stripping thickness for Lift B would be 40". The statements are contradictory; if the range is <br />48 to 60, the average would have to be between the upper and lower limits. In addition, the <br />Lift B salvage thickness indicated in Table 2.04.9-4 is only 29", for the 98E Map Unit. <br />Please address these apparent discrepancies regarding Lift B salvage, and clarify how <br />the bottom of Lift B will be defined for site foremen and equipment operators in the <br />field. <br />3 <br />