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2.04.12, Rice Tract Prime Farmland Soils Map. This map shows that of the 0.52 acres of the site <br />mapped by the NRCS has corresponding to soils mapping unit 71, Nyswonger silty clay loam, 1 <br />to 4 percent slopes, most of the site has slopes greater than 4 percent, which is the upper most <br />slope limit for this soil mapping unit and 0.31 acres or 59.6 percent of this site has slopes greater <br />than 6 percent which is the upper most slope allowable for potential prime farmland soils in <br />Section 2.04.12(2)(b). Of the remaining area, consisting of 0.21 acres or 40.4 percent of the area, <br />the slopes are less than six percent but since this site has never been irrigated or planted to crops, <br />it cannot be considered to be a prime farmland soil. These site specific slope measurements <br />make it impossible for this site to be considered as a prime farmland soil. <br />Examination of the NRCS soils mapping unit descriptions and typical soil profile descriptions <br />confirm the fact that the existing NRCS soils mapping does not conform to the designated soils <br />mapping unit description. According to the soils mapping unit description; 71, Nyswonger silty <br />clay loam, 1 to 4 percent slopes; is found on "alluvial fan, valley floor and terrace landforms," <br />that the parent material of these soils is "alluvium" and that the slope ranges from "1 to 4 <br />percent." WFC acknowledges that a portion of this site confirms to these conditions, <br />corresponding to only approximately 40.4 percent of prime farmland soil mapped on this site <br />Based upon this documentation and the existing site conditions, WFC requested NRCS to issue a <br />negative prime farmland determination within the proposed North Mine permit area. A copy of <br />May 8, 2009 letter received from NRCS in this regard is attached as Appendix 2.04. -12 -1. <br />Section 2.04.12 Page 4 April 2011 <br />