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C- 1981 -008 PR -06 <br />PAR — Supplemental <br />06- Apr -2010 <br />Page 2 of 7 <br />12. The Potential Cropland (PC) designation seemed to create some concern. Dryland <br />Pasture (DP) designation should be applied if there are areas of prime farmland soils that <br />cannot be irrigated due to insufficient water availability. It should be made clear in the <br />narrative that any such areas of prime farmland soils would be reclaimed in accordance <br />with Prime Farmland soil salvage, replacement, and handling requirements, and narrative <br />will need to further address how such areas will be reclaimed to allow for restoration of <br />pre - mining capability following final bond release. <br />14. Several comments in the informal conference were directed at Prime Farmland <br />Determinations. To clarify the permit, WFC stated they will consolidate all NRCS Prime <br />Farmland determination documentation within a single Attachment in the permit, <br />including descriptions of the permit areas to which each document applies. <br />42. The original question 42 was addressed at rock picking and land leveling for irrigated <br />cropland and potential cropland. As stated previously, the use of Potential Croplands was <br />not well received. A general consensus among participants at the informal conference <br />was to have all pre -mine irrigation restored after mining. To this end, rock picking and <br />land leveling would apply to all areas that had been irrigated prior to mining to restore the <br />capability of the premining irrigated use, pursuant to Rule 4.16.1(1). Please revise the <br />permit accordingly. <br />45. The original question 45 requested a summary description of irrigation practices <br />applicable to postmining Irrigated Pastureland (IP), along with specific information <br />regarding irrigation rates, design layout, and supporting calculations for EP (comparable <br />to the design documentation provided for the Morgan irrigated alfalfa cropland). In <br />several comment letters and as stated at the informal conference, other landowners (Harry <br />Lloyd and Bud Benson), who irrigated their lands pre - mining, expressed their desire to <br />have irrigation restored to the same extent of acreage that was irrigated prior to mining. <br />For each affected landowner's parcel, please work with NRCS and consult with affected <br />landowners to prepare a detailed plan for the irrigation system layout and irrigated <br />acreages. A copy of the proposed irrigation system(s) must be included with the permit <br />application package. Justification must be provided if the proposed irrigated acreage for <br />a particular landowner is less than existed prior to mining, and demonstration that the <br />capability for irrigation will be restored for the areal extent that was irrigated prior to <br />mining must be provided. <br />46148. After some discussion regarding seed mix modifications, and seeding and mulching <br />requirements for dryland pasture plantings, the Division recommends the following seed <br />mix. <br />• The dryland pasture seed mix would be revised by replacing pubescent <br />wheatgrass with the native thickspike wheatgrass (Agropyron dasystachyum), <br />which is adapted to somewhat more and conditions than pubescent. Also, the half <br />shrub forage kochia (Kochia prostrata) would be added at a low rate, to provide <br />