2024-05-03_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (2)

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2.05-51 Rev. 11/96- PR07; 10/20 TR148 therefore, will mean only those soil horizons considered suitable for use as seedbed quality material. Topsoil will be removed ahead of surface disturbance activities. Any vegetative cover that would interfere with topsoil removal will be removed first. There will be no disturbance (except as approved by the regulatory authority) in the riparian areas as indicated on the reclamation schedule maps (Map 56 and Map 57). Every effort will be made to minimize the areas of disturbance and to strip the topsoil only as needed for construction or refuse disposal activities. Table 36 presents the topsoil material which has been salvaged to date. Map 56 identifies two additional types of areas relevant to topsoil salvage; natural areas and rehandle areas. Natural areas are inclusions or native undisturbed vegetation within the confines of the portal, facilities and load-out areas. These areas have not been disturbed and remain as relict areas of native vegetation and soils, providing cover for wildlife and natural screening of the mine operations. Rehandled areas are those areas where the topsoil was disturbed and reconditioned and reseeded during construction operations or where topsoil was stripped and replaced subsequent to construction operations at the mine site. Both types of areas were mulched and reseeded. These areas will not require additional re-topsoiling during final revegetation activities, and are not included as disturbed areas for the purposes of topsoil redistribution. Existing baseline soil depth information will continue to be visually verified in the field during topsoil salvage. Stripping operations will be closely monitored in the field to ensure that all useable topsoil is salvaged. Specific horizons will be visually delineated during topsoil stripping. Topsoil salvage volumes will be established through visual observation. A topsoil salvage monitoring plan is provided in the Topsoil Salvage Monitoring Plan Section. Since it is necessary to stockpile topsoil from the plant facilities site during the life of the mining operation, the stockpiles have been designed and maintained so as to minimize wind and water erosion and to preserve the seedbed material in useable condition. All topsoil stockpiles are marked with appropriate signs. Topsoil stockpiles that will not be redistributed for five or more years will be seeded with the permanent seed mix (Table 37), excluding shrubs, and not the temporary seed mix. Stockpiles in place for less than five years will be seeded with the temporary seed mix described in Table 39. Trees, boulders, and other waste will be separated and removed before topsoil stockpiling. Subsoil materials at the West Elk Mine are typically not suitable for use as topsoil in reclamation. These materials are suitable for use in construction and for use as non-toxic, non-combustible cover as described by the regulations. Subsoil stockpiled for reclamation at the Lower Refuse Pile and in Sylvester Gulch will be used only for reclamation. Subsoil stockpiled at the north soil storage area will be utilized for reclamation of the Refuse Pile Expansion (RPE) area. Disturbed areas will be covered with topsoil and revegetated only after activities have ceased in that specific area. When necessary, temporary erosion control measures, such as straw mulch, rock talus, jute netting or excelsior matting, will be used on disturbed areas that will be inactive for periods too short to establish grass cover. Areas that will be inactive for a year or more, reclamation will be handled by planting special seed mixtures. See the Revegetation Maintenance Section for a more complete description of temporary reclamation. Table 36 Approximate Topsoil Stockpile Volumes for West Elk Mine Site