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Generally, for areas that were irrigated prior to mining, and where irrigation water is <br />available for irrigation during and after the liability period, the amount of irrigated land <br />should follow this approximate ratio. One exception will likely be the WFC owned <br />parcel which was irrigated prior to acquisition, and which WFC will likely propose to <br />restore to dryland pasture (one +/- 3 acre parcel of Prime Farmland Soil may be need to <br />be irrigated and restored to Prime Farmland Condition, depending on NRCS <br />determination). <br />An approach discussed for lands that may have been irrigated prior to mining, but for <br />which water rights are not available or are insufficient, would be to restore lands to an <br />"improved /irrigable" status. The concept is these lands would be seeded to dryland <br />species and subject to dryland pasture success criteria, but grading, soil handling, and <br />provision of irrigation infrastructure would be specified, such that the postmine owner <br />could apply some level of irrigation management with whatever water is available, <br />following bond release. <br />There are numerous other issues, including detailed seeding plans, crop rotations, soil <br />management practices, revegetation success criteria and sampling plans to name only a <br />few, that will need to be addressed in the Permit Revision. NRCS will need to be <br />involved in development of these plans, as well as in the soil handling and delineation <br />Technical Revision (particularly in regard to Prime Farmland issues). Land owner input <br />will need to be taken into consideration and documented in the Permit Revision <br />application. WFC has indicated that they will be discussing these matters with the permit <br />area landowners prior to submittal of the Permit Revision application. <br />