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particularly important since the applicant is requesting a variance from the federal requirement that all of the A horizon (or a minimum of 6") be removed and segregated, 715.16 (a)(2). b) In order to grant such a variance detailed information concerning the proposed depth of topsoil salvage must be provided for all portions of the disturbed area. Baseline soils data must be used in order to justify the proposed topsoil salvage program. c) The staff met with John Havlin from the CSU soil testing lab to dis- cuss points which should be included in your baseline soil sampling program. These follow: d) The soils map which was provided needs to be refined and field-tested in order to more accurately delineate the boundaries between soil types. e) The depth and thickness of the A,B, and C horizons must be logged for a sufficient number of holes to portray the existing variability of soil depth within the permit area. f) Areas of existing disturbance (i.e., the old McCallum mine) must be shown on the map. g) The extent of the saline and sodic areas must be mapped. Unfortunately, these areas appear to coincide with those localities where the applicant has indicated the availability of deep topsoil for reclamation. The9~ soils will need to be kept separate from other, more desireable, soils. h) The depth of the saline and sodic soils will also need to be determined. i) The soil sampling program should include the proposed haul road. The same information is required as for the mine area: a more accurate map, depth and thickness of soil horizons, soil chemistry, proposed depth of topsoil salvage and replacement. VIII. Vegetation a) What is the source of the species list provided for the Bourg property pp.46-47? b) A plant community prominent on the Bourg property which was not included in the baseline vegetation study is that which occurs on the areas of saline and sodic soils. The soils survey which was requested should ad- equately map the extent of this community. However, in addition, the staff requests [hat a species list be prepared for the saline and sodic areas, divided by the life form, and arranged approximately in order of dominance (as determined by visual cover estimates). Similar lists should be prepared for the high, medium and low density sagebrush areas on the property. This information would supplement the information provided in the list on pp. 46-47. c) Reference areas will need to be established for the Bourg property. IX. Reclamation Costs a) The staff would prefer to wait until the reclamation plan is in close to its final form prior to calculating the bond. However, a few prelim- inary comments follow. b) Bond will be calculated for that period of time when disturbance is the greatest, determined on the basis of the year-by-year maps which have been provided, and the data in Table three. This would appear to be year four. c) The applicant should provide an estimate of the total cost of reclam- ation at the time of maximum disturbance. The horseshoe dump will contain (7)