Laserfiche WebLink
West Elk Mine <br />Topsoil Salvage Monitoring Plan <br />A qualified Mountain Coal Company representative will be on site during all topsoil stripping <br />operations to assure that no unsuitable topsoil material is salvaged and that all suitable material <br />necessary for reclamation is stockpiled. To the extent practicable, the surface soil layer will be <br />removed at a time when the physical and chemical properties of the topsoil can be protected and <br />erosion can be minimized. Annual Reclamation Reports will include a statement similar to "The <br />depth of topsoil stripped was more/less/the same as predicted from the baseline soil surveys." If the <br />topsoil stripped is significantly less than predicted (e.g., would lead to an overall topsoil deficit than <br />that necessary to replace a minimum depth of 12 inches of seedbed quality material on the surface <br />disturbed areas of the main mine facilities, a minimum of 9 inches on the refuse disposal area and a <br />minimum of 12 inches on the Sylvester Gulch Facilities Area, MCC will provide a volumec <br />comparison. <br />Topsoil Replacement and Sampling <br />Replacement of the seedbed material is an integral part of seedbed material handling. The seedbed <br />material is replaced to a minimum depth of 12 inches on the surface disturbed areas of the general <br />mine site, and a minimum of 9 inches on the Lower Refuse Pile and the Refuse Pile Expansion area <br />on all rough graded, finished surfaces. See Exhibit 42A regarding topsoil salvage and replacement <br />for the Lone Pine Gulch fan facility area. Before the seedbed material is replaced, compacted areas <br />may be scarified or ripped to eliminate any slippage surfaces, establishing a suitable bond for the <br />overlying seedbed material. Mountain Coal Company replaces the topsoil with mechanical <br />• equipment (either scrapers or truck and front end loader). Compaction is prevented as much as <br />possible by limiting traffic after topsoil placement. If topsoil compaction should occur, the area is <br />ripped or disked before seeding begins. <br />Prior to reclamation seeding, sampling will be conducted to determine the accuracy of topsoil <br />placement to the depths specified in this plan. All disturbed portions of the surface facilities area <br />and refuse disposal area will be sampled following soil redistribution. Redistributed soils will be <br />sampled for depth on approximately 200 -foot centers. A hand auger or truck mounted drill auger <br />will be used to determine depth of redistributed soil material at each sample site. To assure that the <br />topsoil will support the revegetation efforts, composite soil samples will be collected and analyzed <br />for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Appropriate measures will be taken by MCC to <br />correct nutritional deficiencies by the application of soil amendments and/or fertilizers. A map of <br />sample locations will be submitted in the annual reclamation report along with the sampling results <br />and added amendments. <br />Topsoil Preparation <br />Following the distribution of seedbed material and final grading, the newly shaped surface is <br />prepared for planting. Surface preparation loosens and roughens the surface by disking, harrowing, <br />or dragging, thereby increasing infiltration and reducing surface runoff. The micro -relief increases <br />soil/water availability in the small depressions, creates shaded areas, and reduces wind action in the <br />depressions. <br />1.05-56 Revised Nov. 1996 PR07; Rev. Jam 1997 TR79; Rev, Sept. 1997 MR 227; Rev. Apri72006 PR10 <br />