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2.05.4(2)(e) and Map 2.05.4-5 of PR-6 contain the required narrative. The proposed post <br />mining land uses described in PR-6 are within what the Act and Rules require. <br />36. The topsoil management within the permit area must conform to the requirements <br />of Rule 4.06 and for the prime farmland soils, Rule 4.25.4. Sections 2.04.9 and 2.05.4(2)(d) <br />of PR-6 address the applicable standards. Map 2.05.4-4 of PR-6 displays the type, manner <br />and depth of the topsoil replacement in the permit area. Overall, the topsoil redistribution, <br />soil suitability, and topsoil reconditioning described in PR-6 will conform (and in some cases <br />go beyond) what the Act and Rules require. <br />37. Rule 1.04(95) defines prime farmland as "land which has been historically used for <br />cropland and that ... has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics of <br />producing food, feed, forage, fiber and oilseed crops ...." Once a prime farmland <br />designation is made, additional stringent requirements are imposed upon the operator. <br />Among the numerous prime farmland requirements, Rules 2.04.12, 2.06.6 and 4.25 apply <br />here. <br />38. After prime farmlands are identified, § 34-33-120(2)(e), C.R.S., requires that <br />additional environmental protection performance standards be met. The operator must: <br />(I) Segregate the A horizon of the natural soil, except where it can be shown <br />that other available soil materials will create a final soil having a greater <br />productive capacity, and, if not utilized immediately, stockpile this material <br />separately from other spoil and provide needed protection from wind and <br />water erosion or contamination by other acid or toxic material; <br />(II) Segregate the B horizon of the natural soil, or underlying C horizons or <br />other strata, or a combination of such horizons or other strata that are shown <br />to be both texturally and chemically suitable for plant growth and that can <br />be shown to be equally or more favorable for plant growth than the B <br />horizon, in sufficient quantities to create in the regraded final soil a root <br />zone of comparable depth and quality to that which existed in the natural <br />soil, and, if not utilized immediately, stockpile this material separately from <br />other spoil and provide needed protection from wind and water erosion or <br />contamination by other acid or toxic material; <br />(III) Replace and regrade the root zone material described in subparagraph <br />(II) of this paragraph (g) with proper compaction and uniform depth over <br />the regraded spoil material; and <br />(IV) Redistribute and grade in a uniform manner the surface soil horizon <br />described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (g). <br />Section 34-33-120(2)(g), C.R.S. <br />The soil management practices required for prime farmlands are included in PR-6 and fulfill <br />the statutory requirements. <br />Western Fuels <br />Order 5 <br />C-1981-008