2010-11-12_PERMIT FILE - C1981010A (8)

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• 3.6.2 Cropland Croplands are those lands where there was farming during at least five years of the 10 years immediately prior to Utah International, Inc. gaining control of them. As a result of a Soil Survey and Range Site and Condition Survey of the Trapper Mine lease area in 1975, the Colorado First Soil Conservation District concl,udad that areas used for farming within the time frame specified above and with su tabie topsoil cxt slopes <12% were appropriate for cropland. Areas exhibiting slopes in excess of 12% were considered highly conducive to erosion and therefore deemed unsuitable for cropland. Trapper Mine will reduce potential soil erosion on reclaimed cropland by planting to a hayland crop. Also, no cropland is restored on slopes greater than 12 percent. Mining has disturbed approximately 593 acres of cropland and all of these acres have been reclaimed. The total number of acres of cropland occurring before mining will be reestablished after mining. All croplands within the proposed permit area are on state lands. Cropland boundaries will shift after mining, reflecting minor changes in terrain and restricting cropland to slopes of less than 12 percent. These changes have been approved by the Colorado Board of Land Commissioners (see Appendix O). See • Section 2.6.2.1 for characteristics of soils occurring on croplands. Map M46 shows probable post-mining cropland boundaries. Local Farming Practices Wheat is the most common dryland cash crop produced in Moffat County. It is commonly seeded at 60 Ibs per acre. Fertilizers are seldom used on any crop in the county because of the unpredictable moisture patterns of the area, Fields remain too wet for fertilizing in the spring, and when fields are dry and the crop has emerged, the possibility of reduced yields caused by fertilizer burn discourages farmers from further attempts to fertilize crops (Martin, 1980). • 3-69