Section 3-1 - Prime Farmlands (a) When prime farmland occurs on proposed affected lands, a mining and reclamation plan shall include the following additional information: - (i) A plan for separation and replacement of prime farmland soil and a description of the proposed method and type of equipment to be used for removal, storage, and replacement.
- (ii) A map showing the location of areas to be used for the separate stockpiling of the prime farmland soil when the soil cannot be immediately replaced.
- (iii) A plan for revegetation of the final graded prime farmland in accordance with Chapter 5, Section 2(b), which shall include conservation practices for periods between cropping periods.
- (iv) Available agricultural studies or other applicable scientific data which demonstrates that the proposed method of reclamation shall restore equivalent or higher levels of yield.
- (v) A range of soil densities for each prime farmland soil shall be determined and the results provided in the application.
- (vi) Premining productivity of the prime farmland or from representative reference areas under a high level of management.
(b) Any written suggestions from the local Conservation District to revise the plan to assure more complete and adequate reclamation shall be submitted to the Administrator before the application can be considered complete. The Soil Conservation Service shall be considered to function as the Secretary of Agriculture's representative in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Conservation District and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.