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- - -- ------ - -- <br />areas of Map Unit 98E (Darvey-Bari Complex), located north of BB Road and <br />east of 2700 Road. <br />Presumed Prime Farmland, Based On Available Information <br />• Darvey-Bari Complex soils dominate the portion of the NH-2 permit block located <br />south of BB Road and west of 2700 Road, covering approximately 85% of the <br />107.96 acre area. Updated evaluation of prime farmland soils by MRCS in 2008" <br />emphasized that the Darvey-Barx soils in this area are potentially prime farmlands <br />(see February 11, 2008 memorandum from NRCS Soil Scientist Dave Dearstyne <br />in permit Attachment 2.04.9-10=2). As of August 2009, a formal determination of <br />the areal extent of the Darvey-Barx Complex soils in this location that have been <br />historically used as cropland, and for which there is a dependable and adequate <br />water supply, has not been made. It is known, however, that significant portions <br />of the acreage have historically been cropped and irrigated, and that there is <br />continued irrigated crop production on portions of the acreage that have not yet <br />been disturbed by mining. Pending formal determination regarding past irrigation <br />management and water supply dependability, th i nww _?v1#h permit <br />ppla i narFa gals 2.04-Q-15, and 2 04.9 16 that?the entire 4r6 :.g-f <br />tip k3?i ?? est e iut t section ?>x . AUU .?1 f?oa?I t? considere <br />'e fiaT-t s ??i tttrart4he permit <br />area), -to 3 W-ki? iwlati tan ar s. <br />Discussion and Explanation of Prime Farmland Status Determinations <br />For those portions of the NH-2 permit area block east of 2700 Road and south of BB <br />Road, soil map Units 70B and D70B (see Map 2.04.9-1) which contained Barx fine <br />sandy loam soil as a major component, were identified as prime farmland soils based on <br />1988 soil studies performed by the operator, as well as NRCS soil survey information. <br />Areas located to the west of 2700 Road and south of BB Road that were mapped as 70B <br />u in thel - Q <br />1998 updated survey contracted by the operator. Parcels of 98E soils also occur in <br />locations to the north of 2700 Road, both east and west of BB Road- these areas were <br />not-intruded iri the 1988- stu'vey- c u e in the 1998 survey. In 1992, e <br />Lands located to the east of 2700 Road were mined and reclaimed with the <br />understanding that 70B, D74B, and 98E map units were not Prime Farmland, however <br />they were salvaged and replaced using two lift operations, to preserve the high <br />oductivity potenria a - -- <br />• Soil handling practices were changed as the operations advanced to the west of 2700 <br />Road, and single lift soil handling practices were implemented, even on the 98E soil <br />46 <br />NRCCS-District Conservationist- <br />onservationist made a determination that t fine sand loam <br />wit in tfie mine permit boundary was not Prime Farmland, due to the lac v an