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has designated a slightly larger (4.68 acre) area incorporating the 98A parcel as Prime <br />Farmland, as indicated on permit Map 2.05.4-4. <br />Morgan Property <br />Darvey-Bari Complex soils dominate the portion of the NH-2 permit block located south <br />of BB Road and west of 2700 Road, covering approximately 85% of the 107.96 acre area. <br />Updated evaluation of prime farmland soils by NRCS in 2008 determined that the <br />Darvey-Bari soils in this area are prime farmlands (see February 11, 2008 memorandum <br />from NRCS Soil Scientist Dave Dearstyne in permit Attachment 2.04.9-6). In the PR-6 <br />application WFC acknowledged that the area had been historically used as cropland, and <br />there is a dependable and adequate water supply. Therefore, the entire area of fields <br />southwest of the intersection of BB Road and 2700 Road is considered Prime Farmland <br />(total of 107.96 acres of proposed disturbance within the permit area), and will he <br />restored to Prime Farmland standards. <br />Determined Not To Be Prime Farmland <br />• Small areas of Darvey-Bari (98E) and Begay (98A) soils located north of BB <br />Road and west of 2700 Road, in the NH-2 permit area block have been evaluated <br />and determined to not meet the Prime Farmland criteria, because they historically <br />were not managed as cropland and lacked sufficient water for proper irrigation <br />(see NRCS Resource Conservationist letter dated June 27, 2008, in Attachment <br />2.04.9-10-4). <br />• Areas of D70B soils (Barx Sandy Loam, Barx-Barx Scalped-Bari Buried <br />Complex) which were mined and reclaimed prior to 2008, located within the NH- <br />2 permit block to the east of 2700 Road and south of BB Road, were previously <br />determined not to meet the Prime Farmland criteria, because of the lack of an <br />adequate and dependable supply of irrigation water (see NRCS District <br />Conservationist letter of October 14, 1992, in permit Attachment 2.04.9-6-2). <br />Mining and reclamation operations were conducted and completed with the <br />understanding that the October 14, 1992 determination also applied to areas of <br />Map Unit 98E (Darvey-Bari Complex), located north of BB Road and east of <br />2700 Road. <br />For the prime farmland areas, WFC has proposed a plan to comply with Rule 2.06.6(4). <br />a) The approved postmining land use of the prime farmlands is irrigated cropland - <br />alfalfa hay. <br />b) WFC has consulted with the National Resource Conservation Service on the proposed <br />soil reconstruction plan. The NRCS concurrence is found in Attachment 2.05.4(2)(e)- <br />11. <br />c) WFC has provided detailed plans on the equipment and the methods that will be used <br />to restore the prime farmland, within a reasonable time, to equivalent or higher levels <br />58