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SOIL CHARACTERISTICS <br />The proposed affected area has been previously disturbed by historic mining activity and is <br />situated at an elevation of about 9,000 feet on a west - facing slope. The area of the historic <br />Crystal Hill open pit has been denuded of soil and cover and consists of rock outcrops. Historic <br />waste dumps found outside of the open pit have been reclaimed by grading and seeding. <br />As part of the previous operator's mine permit application, Impact Environmental Consultants, <br />Ltd., a Denver -based research and service group, conducted a field survey to confirm the <br />observations of a U.S. Soil Conservation Service report which included the proposed permit <br />area. In November 1980, the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) made a site visit, and <br />provided a written report on the soils of the area. <br />The mapping units SCS described are complexes consisting of two or more soils series. The four <br />mapping units identified by the SCS in the Crystal Hill area are the Jodero -Lolo complex, the <br />Tolman Rock Outcrop complex, the Bushvalley - Tellura complex, and areas of Rock Outcrop. For <br />the most part, these designations are coincident with hillslope gradients. <br />The results of the SCS and Impact Environmental Consultants, Ltd. surveys were used to <br />develop a soils map for the area. <br />In the Impact Environmental Consultants, Ltd. survey, locations of soil series covering greater <br />than one acre were delineated and their characteristics, as described by the SCS, verified. A <br />hydraulic auger was used to sample soils when possible and a hand shovel was used to sample <br />less accessible sites. Ten samples were taken at sites within the permit area and were sent to <br />the Colorado State University Soil Testing Laboratory at Fort Collins for analysis. <br />Impact Environmental Consultants', Ltd. Survey led to identification of two additional soil types: <br />Seitz very stony loam and the Comodore -Rock Outcrop complex. Their test program results <br />otherwise confirmed the SCS observations. The soil mapping units reflect the Impact <br />Environmental Consultants, Ltd. Revisions to SCS information found during this on -sight survey. <br />Detailed descriptions of the soils based on both SCS and Impact Environmental Consultants, Ltd. <br />Data follow. <br />JODERO LOAM <br />This soil mapping unit is formed in alluvium of mixed sources, and is found in narrow valley <br />bottoms of zero to three percent slopes. It is a deep soil, easily reseeded in reclamation <br />operations. It is an end - member of the Jodero -Lolo complex soil series described in the next <br />paragraphs. <br />JODERO -LOLO COMPLEX <br />This mapping unit consists of deep, well- drained soils developed on nearly level to moderately <br />sloping (zero to 65 percent grade) low terraces adjacent to streams; elevations range from <br />