Hello,
I am trying to determine if I would be able to a project claim this credit for a project my office is working on. The project is located on a previously developed urban site, has aridic soils, and is composed of Avondale Clay Loam. The USDA lists this soil under "Prime Farmland, If Irrigated". Any advice? Thanks is advace!
Colin Day
Institute for the Built Environment
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
January 16, 2013 - 8:13 pm
Colin, the by-the-book answer would be no. However, there is a clear case to be made to waive this requirement here. I think you would need to get a CIR or LEED Interpretation to know one way or the other.
If you proceed with this and get any guidance from GBCI, let us know!
Katherine Carlin
4 thumbs up
April 30, 2013 - 4:17 pm
I have a similar issue. Colin, did you get an answer without having to submit a CIR? Thanks.
Colin Day
Sustainable Building Associate, LEED GAThe Institute for the Built Environment
April 30, 2013 - 5:49 pm
Katherine,
The project in question is on hold ad infinitum, so I never had to pursue a clear response to this inquiry. My feeling is that if the project is on previously developed land in an urban core, as this one is, it is probably not an issue If you come to some conclusion, please let me know!
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
November 4, 2013 - 3:14 pm
Another idea is to speak with a USDA official and get some clarification or a different ruling on their letterhead.
Ara Massey
Sustainability Directorhord|coplan|macht
28 thumbs up
January 29, 2014 - 4:49 pm
Per the Code of Federal regulations definition cited in the credit requirements prime farmland would have to be available for use as farmland and not available for build-up land:
"Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, and is also available for these uses (the land could be cropland, pastureland, rangeland, forest land, or other land, but not urban built-up land or water)"
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=cc8915a4be7787633f66cadcd7776c1...
Perhaps I am mistaken but it would seem that this would mean a previously developed site would not meet the definition of prime farmland?