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4.06 TOPSOIL <br />4.06.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS <br />The Southfield Mine is in reclamation only status since operations permanently ceased <br />in 2000. EFCI commenced reclamation activities at the mine site in 2001, demolishing <br />surface facilities and sealing mine openings. By 2001, backfilling, regrading, and <br />topsoil replacement was completed according to plans approved by the DRMS. <br />Permanent seeding was completed on all reclaimed areas by October, 2003. All <br />previously stockpiled topsoil at the mine site has been redistributed in accordance with <br />approved plans. <br />The coal loadout site located near Florence, Colorado, was similarly reclaimed in 1997, <br />including permanent seeding completed during the same year. All previously stockpiled <br />topsoil at the loadout site has been redistributed in accordance with approved plans. <br />Prior to construction of mine facilities including roads, sedimentation ponds, <br />structures, portals, storage areas, the loadout area, and the coal refuse pile, available <br />topsoil materials were removed and stockpiled for future use in reclamation. It should <br />be noted that much of the facilities area had been disturbed by previous mining <br />activities. Consequently, available salvageable topsoil was limited in this area. <br />The only ongoing surface disturbance at the Southfield Mine is progressive expansion <br />of the coal refuse stockpile. In order to accommodate future expansion of the <br />stockpile, EFCI plans to strip an additional 10.7 acres. Detailed descriptions of topsoil <br />handling plans are presented in Sections 2.05.3, Operations Plan - Permit Area, and <br />2.05.4, Reclamation Plan. <br />EFCI. is proposing modification of topsoil handling plans as a result of further <br />evaluation of the suitability of soils and other surficial materials as revegetation media, <br />and in consideration of specific operational problems with recovery of lower soil <br />horizons. The lower portion of the "B" soil horizon contains a significant percentage of <br />rocky material ranging from cobble to boulder sized material. The dominance of these <br />rocky materials makes recovery of the limited quantities of associated soil material <br />very difficult and mixing of the rocky fragments results in a less desirable soil product <br />relative to its value as a revegetation medium. <br />4.06 -1 <br />Revised 5/14/14 RN -06 <br />