APPCOR10277 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Ann Baldridge - 4 - February 4, 1985 General Descirption of the Existing Environment (Land Use and Soils) The current and historic land use of the area in which the proposed operation is located is grazing land for livestock and habitat for wildlife. Regional land use patterns are oriented in three relatively distinct bands. Irrigated cropland is closely associated with the floodplain of the Yampa River. To the south, non-irrigated crops are grown on the sloping upland surfaces. The area nearest the proposed operation is mostly hilly and mountainous terrain and used primarily as rangeland for sheep and cattle and wildlife habitat. The soils found within and adjacent to the mine plan area are typical of soils found in the cold, semi-arid regions of the Western United States. The soils are generally moderately deep (20 to 40 inches) to shallow (10 to 20 inches) and have developed in weathered, interbedded fine sandstone, siltstone, and shale, and in local slopewash and colluvium. Most of the soils are Borollic Vertic Camborthids, Lithic Cryoborolls, and Pachic Cryoborolls. Most of the soils found in the mine plan area contain at least six inches of suitable topsoil material. The best sources of topsoil material are the Splitro silt loam, the Winevada Loam, and the Cochetopa Loam which comprise approximately 60% of the area to be disturbed. Salvage depths range from 6 - 64 inches, resulting in an overall soil replacement depth of 1.7 feet over regraded areas. The tie-across haul road corridor area will have an overall soil replacement depth of 1.1 feet. ations and Reclamation Plan Mining operations begin by first removing all woody vegetation with bulldozers. Remaining vegetation is incorporated into the topsoil to help increase soil organic matter. Suitable soil material is removed by self-loading scrapers, push scrapers, or other rubber tired equipment to be directly hauled to regraded areas or stockpiled in designated topsoil storage areas. Following final backfilling and grading operations, the area is retopsoiled. The redistributed topsoil is then tested for fertilization requirements and other soil amendments as required. II. Land Use - Rules 2.04.3, 2.05.5, and 4.16 The predominant pre-mining land use on the proposed permit area is classified as rangeland/grazing for domestic livestock and wildlife. Secondary uses consist of a small industrial area (one active oil well) and minor water resources (three stock ponds). These uses are depicted on Exhibit 4-1 and described in Volume I, Tab 4. After mining, Seneca Coals Ltd. plans to return the land to rangeland/grazing for domestic livestock and wildlife. This is compatible with the adjacent lands which are predominately rangeland and wildlife habitat. Post-mining land use is discussed in Volume IX, Tab 13 of the application.