2010-08-10_REVISION - C1981008 (4)

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NRCS "Prime Farmland" - Colorado Important Farmland Inventory pH error United States Department of Agriculture 4NRCS Natural Resources Conservattoo Service Jim Boyd. Resource Comervatliontst Itm.boyd@co.usda.gov P O. Box 29 970- 327- 4245 - OFFICE Norwood, CO 81423 970. 327.4247 "FAX March 4, 20 10 Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Department of Natural Resources 101 South 3` Street, Suite 301 Grand Junction" CO 81501 Dear Concerned Parties, Accompanying this letter arc documents related to "Prime Farmland" determination for lands within the New Horizon Mine, Western Fuels- Colorado, mine permit area. In particular, I would like to address a letter written March 29, 1996 by Fortner MRCS Resource Conservationist Mr. Dean Stindt, to the letter submitted to Western Fuels - Colorado, Mr, Stindt made a negative determination regarding the presence of Prime Farmland on Garvey faros. property planned for future coal mining. tie was assisted by soil scientist Mr. Jim Irvine, Intermountain Resource Inventories Inc., who was hired by New Horizon Mine to complete an Order I Soil Survey t'or the mine permit area, Mr. Stindt stated in paragraph two of his letter that "irrigated sods with bedrock within 40 inches of the surface and soil horizons that have a pH higher than 7.4 are considered as having high conductivity and therefore are not prime." In regards to the soil observed on the Garvey property, since both of these criteria were met, the soils were considered not Prime Farmland by Mr. Stindt in his letter Mr. Stindt and Mr. Irvine were relying upon a United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service document in circulation at that time titled "Colorado Important Farmland Inventory," which indeed established the above criteria for prime farmland desigtnation on page 3 of the document. Unfortunately, the pi I limit of 7.4 was an error in the document and should have read 8.4 instead. This mistake in the Colorado Important Farmland Inventory document is addressed more fully in a letter written by Dave-. Dearstync, MRCS Soil Scientist, dated February It. 2408, and enclosed. Regardless of the mistake described above, which has since been corrected, the sail designation of not Prime Farmland for the Garvey Bros, property was most likely correct since the soils were less than 40 inches in depth, and therefore may not have met the water holding capacity criteria established for Prime Farmland designation. It is unfortunate if the soil pH limit of 7.4, an error, referred to in the Colorado Important Farmland Inventory and referenced in the Garvey Bros, determination, was used in subsequent determinations of Prime Farmland for other properties mined within the New Horizon Mine permit area The Natueal a„&,„, Gwr&vrvalbn 8orvrta %arks rn ganneriMo %Mh the Amernan Pantslp •_.._._...�._.._. .. - . to currswwu and sustain natural rosoutcos on privala land& Air Equal Oppwtundy Pj amWj and EmpkWr Friday, March 05, 2010.max