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Ann Baldridge - 5 - February 4, 1985
<br />The Division hereby approves the post-mining land use,
<br />rangeland/grazing for domestic livestock and wildlife (2.07.6(2)(1)).
<br />The application is in compliance with rules 2.04.3, 2.05.5, and 4.16.
<br />Information demonstrating compliance can be found in Volume IX, Tab 13,
<br />pp. 13-1 to 13-12; Volume I, Tab 4, pp. 4-1 to 4-18, Appendix 4-l, and
<br />Exhibit 4-1.
<br />XI Topsoil - Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(5), 2.05.4(2)(d), and 4.06
<br />The permit area is occupied by three soil orders; Mollisols, Entisols,
<br />and Aridisols. The presence of these three orders is characteristic of
<br />the soils found in steep, semi-arid regions of Northwestern Colorado.
<br />These orders represent soils that grade from recently developed soils
<br />with minimum horizon development to more developed soils with well
<br />developed diagnostic horizons. Specific soil types within these orders
<br />occur on predominantly three types of parent material-land form
<br />combinations, namely: 1)upper sideslopes, ridges, and swales of
<br />sandstone residuum; 2) toeslopes, sideslopes, rounded ridgetops of
<br />shale residuum and colluvium; and 3) toeslopes, sideslopes, ridges, and
<br />escarpments of sandstone and shale. Among the 22 soil types occurring
<br />within the permit area, major topsoil salvage limitations include clay
<br />textures, high coarse fragment content, steep slopes, shallow bedrock,
<br />salinity, and alkalinity.
<br />Seneca Coals, Ltd. proposes stripping topsoil in single lifts once the
<br />woody vegetation has been removed. Topsoil will either be
<br />re-distributed immediately on regraded areas or stockpiled in
<br />designated storage areas. The amount to be stockpiled depends on pit
<br />advance, season of the year, and reclamation activities taking place at
<br />the time of salvage. Stockpiled topsoil will be placed in stable areas
<br />and protected from wind and water erosion by planting a quick-growing
<br />vegetative cover. Single lift stripping will mix different soil
<br />horizons and thereby dilute heavy clay concentrations encountered in
<br />various subsoils.
<br />Seneca II W is in compliance with Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(5),
<br />2.05.4(2)(d), and 4.06. Information demonstrating compliance can be
<br />found in Volume V, Tab 9, pp. 9-1 to 9-37, Appendices 9-1 through 9-8
<br />and Exhibits 9-1 and 9-2; Volume VII, Tab 12, pp. 12-35 to 12-36 and
<br />Exhibits 12-1 and 12-2, and Volume IX, Tab 13, pp. 13-13 to 13-11 and
<br />Exhibit 13-1.
<br />XIV Prime Farmland -Rules 2.04.12, 2.06.6, and 4.25
<br />The Division has made a negative determination for the presence of
<br />prime farmlands within the proposed permit area. This decision was
<br />based on the evidence provided by the Soil Conservation Service that
<br />there are no prime farmland mapping units within the proposed permit
<br />area. This evidence can be found in Volume V, Tab 9, p. 9-20 and in
<br />Appendix 9-5.
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