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Baseline surveying of soils was not performed in the King I Mine facilities area due to <br /> previous disturbances. Instead, a survey by the Soil Conservation Service was <br /> performed for adjacent, undisturbed areas. This survey identified three soil mapping <br /> units as described in Section 2.04.9 of the King I permit volume and depicted on Map <br /> King I-006. Map King I-006 and Map King II-006 show ten soil mapping units <br /> identified in the permit area. Approximately 1.5 acres are to be disturbed at the King I <br /> Mine as a topsoil borrow area at the end of the life of the mine. <br /> The owner of the land in the surface facilities area of the King I Mine has allowed <br /> access and rights for a topsoil storage area (a.k.a. Plant Growth Medium shown on <br /> Map King I-007) to be used for reclamation purposes. Topsoil and suitable growth <br /> medium have been analyzed and the results are provided in Appendix 6 of the <br /> permit application. <br /> The applicant has not requested approval of alternative procedures for topsoil <br /> protection following removal, and no such approval is proposed (4.06.1(2)). <br /> The Division waived the requirement for clearing of small shrub and grass-type <br /> vegetation cover prior to topsoil removal. The applicant has demonstrated that <br /> inclusion of vegetation cover in salvaged topsoil is necessary or desirable to ensure <br /> soil productivity consistent with the post-mining land use (4.06.2(1)). <br /> No variance from topsoil removal has been requested (4.06.2(2)(a)). <br /> The Division has determined selected overburden materials shall be used for, or as a <br /> supplement to topsoil. The resulting soil is equal to or better than the available topsoil. <br /> This determination is based on physical and chemical analyses and field-site trials <br /> approved by the Division (4.06.2(4)(a)). <br /> V. Sealing of Drilled Holes and Underground Openings <br /> Information pertaining to the sealing of drill holes and portal and ventilation <br /> openings is presented in Section 2.05.4 of the PAP. <br /> All portal and ventilation entries will be permanently sealed by backfilling each <br /> opening with underground development waste, common fill, and sediment from the <br /> two sediment ponds for a distance of 50 feet from the entrance. Once backfilling is <br /> completed, each entry will be collapsed with explosives. An adequate demonstration <br /> that sufficient quantities of fill material exist on site to complete both portal and mine <br /> bench backfilling activities is presented. <br /> Any coal exploration drill holes, vent holes, and groundwater monitoring wells (not <br /> transferred to the landowner) in the permit area will be backfilled, sealed at water <br /> bearing zones, and capped with concrete plugs to meet reclamation requirements. <br /> 19 <br />