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10.3 Definition of Terms <br />1) Prime Farmland Soils - Soils that have the best physical and chemical characteristics and other <br />requirements necessary to produce sustained high yields of crops when proper management, <br />including water management, and acceptable farming methods are applied. In the case of the <br />permit area, this refers to any 98A or 98E soils identified, which include the Barx or begay soil <br />complexes. This term basically replaces all references to prime farmlands in correspondence prior <br />to August, 2009. If adequate water is available and other definitional requirements are met, the <br />subject area is classified as prime farmland. <br />2) Prime Farmlands - Prime Farmland means land which has been determined by the Division in <br />Consultation with NRCS to meet the definition of Rule 1.04(95). In the reclamation plan, lands that <br />meet this criteria have been designated as Irrigated Cropland (IC). For bond release, these lands <br />must meet all the requirements of prime farmlands in the DRMS rules. <br />3) Irrigated Cropland - This is a pre -mine and post -mine land use category (IC) which applies to <br />irrigated lands that meet the DRMS Cropland definition, of Rule 1.04(71)(a). All prime farmlands <br />in the permit area will be reclaimed to irrigated cropland use. <br />10.4 Discussion of Individual Areas for Consideration to be Prime Farmland <br />1) Areas east of 2700 Road and south of BB Road <br />The original Peabody permit area consisted of a portion of the area south of BB Road and east of <br />2700 Road. This area was approximately 274 acres and was called the East Mine. The area <br />contains a 21.0 acre area of D70B (Barx) soil which was mapped by Peabody for the original permit <br />application. This area is not mapped as Barx soil under the NRCS mapping for the area, as shown <br />on Map 2.05.4(e) -1. Under the NRCS mapping, only 1.19 acre area of Soil 15 (using NRCS <br />naming) just barely extends into the permit area as shown on Map 2.05.4(e) -2. Soil 15 could be <br />considered prime farmland soil. These areas could have been considered prime farmland, but after <br />Dean Stindt did an inspection of the property in 1992, he concluded that there was not adequate <br />supply of water nor was it historically managed to a high degree for this area to be considered <br />Revised September 2010 (PR 06) 2.04.9 -13 <br />