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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />Topsoil Removal <br />Soils information for the area to be mined has, in the past, been gathered by the Soil Conservation Service <br />and the Bureau of Land Management. Information supplied by these two agencies has provided sufficient <br />information concerning the soil resources available for reclamation at Colowyo. This information has <br />been confirmed by reclamation personnel at the mine who have been closely monitoring topsoil removal <br />operations since the initiation of mining in the fall of 1976. <br />Therefore, the amount of soil sampling and mapping is considered quite adequate for determining topsoil <br />volume estimates. Any additional mapping and sampling would have no beneficial effect on topsoil <br />volume estimates or reclamation operations at Colowyo. <br />The sequence of topsoil removal at the Colowyo Mine is shown on the Topsoil Handling Map (Map 28) <br />and explained in detail in section 2.05.3 and 2.05.4. <br />Overall, topsoil removal will include all of the A horizon and B horizon material available which is not <br />the heavy clay with the hard columnar structure and sticky, plastic properties less suitable for <br />revegetation. Based on the topsoil volume calculations, and 12+ years of topsoil experience, we have <br />confirmed that there is a sufficient quantity of more desirable horizons with loam and clay loam textures <br />making it unnecessary to remove undesirable heavy clay horizons. <br />In addition, there are areas of rock outcrops or shallow and stoney soils where little or no suitable topsoil <br />is available for removal. The shale or sandstone outcrops within the Work and Burnette mapping units <br />comprise an insignificant area within these two units. Therefore, topsoil volume projections for these <br />areas would not be affected to any significant amount. <br />During 2005, Colowyo modified the topsoil redistribution depth based on a volumetric analysis. This <br />determination is provided in Rule 2.05 and the revised distribution depth is discussed in Rule 4.06. <br />Rule 2 Permits 2.04.9-8 Revision Date: 5/11/18 <br />Revision No.: MR -187 <br />