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17 <br />areas of Map Unit 98E (Darvey -Barx Complex), located north of BB Road and <br />east of 2700 Road. <br />Presumed Prime Farmland, Based On Available Information <br />• Darvey -Barx Complex soils dominate the portion of the NH -2 permit block located <br />south of BB Road and west of 2700 Road, covering approximately 85% of the <br />107.96 acre area. Updated evaluation of prime farmland soils by NRCS in 2008 <br />emphasized that the Darvey -Barx soils in this area are potentially prime farmlands <br />(see February 11, 2008 memorandum from NRCS Soil Scientist Dave Dearstyne <br />in permit Attachment 2.04.9- 10 -2). As of August 2009, a formal determination of <br />the areal extent of the Darvey -Barx Complex soils in this location that have been <br />historically used as cropland, and for which there is a dependable and adequate <br />water supply, has not been made. It is known, however, that siguificant portions <br />of the acreage have historically been cropped and irrigated, and that there is <br />continued irrigated crop production on portions of the acreage that have not yet <br />been disturbed by mining. Pending formal determination regarding past irrigation <br />management and water supply dependability, the Division concurs with permit <br />application narrative on pages 2.04.9 -15 and 2.04.9 -16, that the entire area of <br />fields southwest of the intersection of BB Road and 2700 Road is considered <br />Prime Farmland (total of 107.96 acres of proposed disturbance within the permit <br />area), and will be restored to Prime Farmland standards. <br />Discussion and Explanation of Prime Farmland Status Determinations <br />For those portions of the NH -2 permit area block east of 2700 Road and south of BB <br />Road, soil map Units 70B and D70B (see Map 2.04.9 -1) which contained Barx fine <br />sandy loam soil as a major component, were identified as prime farmland soils based on <br />1988 soil studies performed by the operator, as well as NRCS soil survey information. <br />Areas located to the west of 2700 Road and south of BB Road that were mapped as 70B <br />in the 1988 survey, were classified as 98E (Darvey -Barx Complex 0 -3% slopes) in a <br />1998 updated survey contracted by the operator. Parcels of 98E soils also occur in <br />locations to the north of 2700 Road, both east and west of BB Road; these areas were <br />not included in the 1988 survey but were included in the 1998 survey. In 1992, the <br />NRCS District Conservationist made a determination that the Barx fine sandy loam soil <br />within the mine permit boundary was not Prime Farmland, due to the lack of an <br />adequate and dependable supply of water (see Attachment 2.04.9 -6 of the permit <br />application). The permit boundary did not extend to the west of 2700 Road at that time. <br />Lands located to the east of 2700 Road were mined and reclaimed with the <br />understanding that 70B, D70B, and 98E map units were not Prime Farmland, however <br />they were salvaged and replaced using two lift operations, to preserve the high <br />productivity potential of the soil (see Map 2.05.4 -4). <br />Soil handling practices were changed as the operations advanced to the west of 2700 <br />Road, and single lift soil handling practices were implemented, even on the 98E soil <br />46 <br />Z99L-P98 -0L6 aewnl ueii of <br />