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RULE 2 PERMITS
<br />the area, Colowyo will prepare and submit a permit revision to the Divisionand OSM for review and
<br />approval.
<br />General Soils Resource Information — The identification and proper management of soil resources in
<br />the Lower Wilson mining area is essential for the success of reclamation of any future disturbed areas and
<br />the achievement of the post -mining land use. The objective of this section is to meet the requirements of
<br />Rule 2.04.9 et seq by furnishing soils information for the Lower Wilson mining area in sufficient detail to
<br />determine the following:
<br />(1) Distribution, properties, and present and potential productivity of soils within the Lower Wilson
<br />mining area (595 acres) and the Lower Wilson North Haul Road area (21 acres);
<br />(2) Suitability and recommended salvage depths of suitable soil materials available for use in reclamation
<br />of future disturbed areas associated with the Lower Wilson mining area and North Haul Road area.
<br />Detailed Order II Soil Survey Methods — Soils field work was conducted in accordance with the
<br />procedures and standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (Soil Survey Staff, 1993 and 1999; and
<br />Schoeneberger et.al., 2002). The soil resources were investigated by James Nyenhuis, Certified
<br />Professional Soil Scientist, during the summer of 2005. Previous soils inventory of the Lower Wilson
<br />mining area were at the less detailed Order III level and without soil sampling. The current survey was at
<br />the detailed Order II level of intensity, and included observation of soil profiles, collection and laboratory
<br />analysis of soil samples, and mapping of soils within the Lower Wilson mining area and North Haul Road
<br />area.
<br />Soil map unit boundaries were delineated in the field based on observations of soil profiles using a
<br />sharpshooter shovel and bucket auger, deep backhoe pits, and recent road cuts, as well as surface
<br />conditions, physiography and landscape position, geology, vegetation, and slope gradient and aspect.
<br />Recent, high quality, natural color photobase maps with contour overlay at a scale of 1"=500', supplied
<br />by Colowyo, were used during the soils mapping. The photobase map was subsequently digitized into
<br />AutoCAD. Area determinations of all polygons were completed and sorted by map unit symbol, and then
<br />totaled for use in determining acreages of each soil type and percent of total area. These areas and total
<br />acreages will be used to complete the topsoil volume calculations once a mine plan is developed for the
<br />area.
<br />Following soils mapping, representative locations were selected for sampling to most accurately represent
<br />the mapped soil series and to provide for adequate sample site distribution across the survey area.
<br />Representative profiles were selected on the basis of medial characteristics for physical and chemical soil
<br />parameters, parent material, landscape position, and vegetation.
<br />Standard "232" soil profile description forms were completed at each sample site. Twenty deep backhoe
<br />pits were dug across the Lower Wilson project area. They were sequentially numbered and their locations
<br />are plotted on Map 5C. Soils at all twenty locations were fully described and eleven profiles were
<br />sampled for laboratory analysis.
<br />At each soil site, the following information was recorded: sample site number, date, soil series name, map
<br />unit number, location, soil classification, vegetation, parent material, physiography, slope gradient (%)
<br />and aspect, erosion condition, moisture status at time of sampling, drainage class, depth to groundwater if
<br />encountered, salts or alkali if present, permeability, horizon designations and depths, soil color (dry and
<br />moist), texture, coarse fragment content, structure, consistence, roots, effervescence (presence of
<br />carbonates), and horizon boundary.
<br />South Taylor/Loxxer Wilson — Rule 2, Page 33 Revision Date: 4/7/17
<br />Revision No.: RN -07
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