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TOPSOIL THICKNESS AND FERTILITY TESTING AND RESULTS <br />Topsoil thickness and fertility testing was done at Mine site, including the Portal Area and RDA, after <br />the above described reclamation in 2002. At the RDA, similar testing was done during the earlier <br />contemporaneous reclamation activities. Thickness and fertility testing were spot checked in 2015. A <br />summary of all available measurement results are shown on Table 1. Test locations are shown on the <br />accompanying maps "Southfield Mine -Topsoil Test Sites -Portal Area " and "Southfield Mine -Topsoil <br />Test Sites -Refuse Disposal Area (RDA)" <br />At the Mine site, topsoil sampling completed in 2002 indicated 6 inches of topsoil at the Portal Area, <br />and 12 inches at the RDA and Pond 3 area. Sampling of previously reclaimed RDA areas indicate an <br />average thickness of at least 12 inches of topsoil. Spot samples taken in 2015 indicate an average <br />topsoil thickness of between 12 and 13 inches at the RDA, and approximately 5.5 inches at the Portal <br />Area. The topsoil tests at the Portal Area, taken in 2015, show that the topsoil has compacted over time <br />and is representative of the approximately 6 inches of topsoil placed in 2002. <br />EFCI sampled and completed laboratory analyses from topsoil sampled at the test sites shown on <br />Table 1, and a -summary of the available laboratory data is shown on Table 2. Topsoil fertility test <br />results do not indicate any deficiencies in critical soil nutrients or any potential salinity problems that <br />could limit vegetative establishment. Vegetation establishment has in fact been successful as <br />demonstrated in the 2013 and 2014 vegetation sampling results included with this application. <br />