2010-01-22_REVISION - C1981008 (2)

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C-1981-008 PR-06 PAR Rule 2.04. 10 Vegetation Information 22-Jan-2010 Page 4 of 26 5. In sub-section 3.0 of Section 2.04.10, there is a paragraph that discusses a proposed re- designation of 25.02 acres of Irrigated Cropland pre-mine area (mostly on Burbridge property) to Irrigated Pasture (actually to Pastureland Irrigated Hay based on amended Maps 2.04.3 and 2.04.10). As noted previously in Item 1 above, the revised designation appears to have been based on a misinterpretation of narrative regarding description of land use/vegetative types documented in 1987 baseline investigations. Please review the relevant materials and amend pertinent text in sub-section 3.0 of Section 2.04.10. 6. The wording of the first two sentences on amended page 2.04.10-18 of the Redline Version of sub-section 3.0 is confusing, probably because irrigated cropland in the mine vicinity includes alfalfa hay, corn silage, and presumably various other crops in lesser amounts. However, not all irrigated haylands are considered croplands, under the definitions set forth in the Premine Land Use section of the application. The meaning would be clarified if the first sentence stated: "Agricultural production is concentrated on irrigated pasture hayland and irrigated grass pasture". Similarly, the final sentence of the paragraph should be amended to more clearly reflect the land use category definitions of Section 2.04.3. Recommended wording would be: "With the continued availability of adequate irrigation water, irrigated hay pastureland, irrigated grass pasture, and cropland including irrigated alfalfa hay, corn silage, and various other irrigated crops will continue to dominate the landscape around NucW'. Please review the referenced text with respect to the intended meaning, and revise for clarity as appropriate. 7. Reference to Map 2.04.10-1 in the Section 2.04. 10 Table of Contents, and in sub-section 4.2 (and possibly other text sections) appears to be in error; there is not a Map 2.04.10-1. References should be to Map 2.04.10. Please make these minor edits as warranted. 8. In subsection 6-3 of Section 2.04. 10 a new introductory paragraph explains that [within PR-6] the Morgan fields east of the fence line in the southwest portion of the 1999 study area have been re-classified as Irrigated Cropland (IC). For reasons referenced previously under the Site Description and Land Use Information section of this letter, management history on the Morgan Property may warrant Cropland Irrigated Alfalfa (IC) designation for the entire area previously designated IH. If a designation of IC is not warranted, retention of the ]PH designation rather than re-designation to IP may be appropriate. We note that on the currently approved 2/7/2000 version of Map 2.04.10-1, there is a notation within the IH mapped area in the southwest portion of the Morgan property