Laserfiche WebLink
West Elk Mine <br />Mountain Coal Company recovers and handles topsoil in a manner that maximizes recovery and <br />minimizes dilution as far as is technologically and economically feasible. Seedbed quality material <br />is the final reclaimed soil surface. Table 36 presents the topsoil availability in the surface facilities <br />and refuse disposal areas. <br />Topsoil in the affected areas is stripped and either applied to surfaces ready for reclamation or <br />stockpiled for other use as shown in that table. Subsoil, not fully suitable for seedbed material, is <br />also excavated, as necessary, for construction purposes. Topsoil consisting of all of the A horizon <br />and part of the B horizon of each soil series present is stripped before construction begins and <br />replaced following operational activities. <br />Evaluation of the soils present in the permit area indicates the upper portions of the B horizon are <br />suitable for use as seedbed quality material. Lower portions of the B horizon were unsuitable due to <br />the presence of heavy clay and/or coarse rock fragments. Mountain Coal Company can meet the <br />final land use and bond release criteria without segregating A from B horizon material since both <br />are good seedbed quality. This is also true for the soils in the Sylvester Gulch Facilities Area <br />(Exhibit 27A). <br />The amount of stripped topsoil has been calculated to be adequate to cover the surface disturbed <br />area of the main mine facilities with a minimum depth of 12 inches of seedbed quality material, the <br />refuse disposal area with a minimum depth of 9 inches (or approximately half of the total soil cover <br />per the approved variance), and a minimum of 12 inches to be replaced on the Sylvester Gulch <br />• Facilities Area. A Topsoil Assessment conducted in 1981 and verified in 1984 confirmed the <br />availability of sufficient quantities of topsoil to reclaim the disturbed areas at West Elk. Another <br />topsoil survey and balance was completed in 1993, again confirming sufficient topsoil quantities. <br />Therefore, there is no need to salvage subsoil in the form of underlying B and C horizon materials. <br />Any topsoil remaining after the above described amounts have been replaced over the disturbed <br />areas, will be applied to slope faces and other areas subject to high erosion hazard potential before <br />final seeding operations begin. <br />Table 39 Temporary Stabilization Seed Mix <br />Common Name <br />Species Name <br />Variety <br />Character' <br />Seeds/Lb. <br />Seeds Sq. <br />FL <br />Seed Rate <br />lbs. <br />LS)Iac' <br />Graminoids <br />Bluebunch wheat ass <br />A o Ton s icatum <br />Secar <br />N, C, B <br />145,000 <br />4 <br />1.20 <br />Pubescent wheatgrass <br />Agropyron !rico horum <br />Topar <br />1, C, S <br />90,000 <br />10 <br />4.84 <br />Smooth brome <br />Bromus inermis <br />Manchar <br />1, C, S <br />140,000 <br />15 <br />4.67 <br />Western wheat ass <br />A smithii <br />N, C, S <br />125,000 <br />7 <br />2.44 <br />Forbs <br />Cicer milkvetch <br />Astragalus cicer <br />Monarch <br />i, C, L <br />130,000 <br />10 <br />3.35 <br />Small borne[ <br />San isorba minor <br />Detar <br />I, C <br />42,000 <br />4 <br />4.I5 <br />Totals <br />50 <br />20.65 <br />Notes <br />1. Character codes: N = native, I = Introduced, C = Cool -season, B = Bunch grass, S = Sod -Fortner, L = Leguminous <br />2. Rates proposed are for drill seeding broadcast rate or hydroseeding 2X the rate. <br />2.05-54 Revised Nov. 1996 PR07; Rev. Jan. 1997 TR79; Rev. Sept 1997 MR 227, Rev, April 2006 PRI0 <br />