APPCOR11389

• Permit No: C2006085
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 11/9/2006
• Doc Name: Soils and Vegetation Reviews
• From: Sandy Brown
• To: Kent Gorham
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

~' STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
COLORADO
DIVISION O F
RECLAMATION
M[NING
- &-
SAFETY
Bill Owens
TO: Kent Gorha Governor
m
FROM: Sandy Brown Russell George
DATE: November 9, 006 Executive Director
RE: Northfield Permit A lication
PP Rnnald w. cananv
Division Director
Soils and Vegetation Reviews Natural Resource Trustee
I have reviewed the soils and vegetation sections of the Northfield Permit application, submitted
by Northfield Partners LLC (NP), for preliminary adequacy. Each section is addressed below.
Soil Information -Rule 2.04.9
NP recently took soil samples from 7 holes on the proposed disturbed area. Analysis was
conducted at the CSU soil lab by horizon. The baseline sampling as presented in Section
2.04.9 of the permit application and in Exhibits F and I is acceptable.
2. The last sentence in the first paragraph on page 2.04-22 is not cleaz. I believe it says that
at least the top six inches of topsoil will be salvaged prior to disturbance. Please clarify
this sentence.
3. The soils map, Map 2, is 1"=600'. It is difficult to see what the soil types are on this
map. Please provide a larger scale map, minimum 1" = 500 feet as required by Rule 2.10,
that clearly delineates the soil types and sampling locations.
Topsoil -Rule 4.09
4. Please provide the proposed seed mix for use on the topsoil stockpile.
5. NP has committed to salvage six inches of topsoil. Based on the soil sampling, it appears
that the soil deeper than 6 inches is a suitable growth medium. Reclamation experience
shows that replacing 12 inches of topsoil on the surface after grading will improve plant
growth. The Division recommends that at least 12 inches of topsoil be salvaged. Please
note that the objective of reclamation is to mimic the surroundings and blend the
reclaimed site with undisturbed azea. Therefore, rocks and gravelly material from the
surface should not be discarded, but should be salvaged with the soil cover.
6. NP has committed to survey and determine the volume of the stockpiled resource on page
2.05.4-6. Please add to this commitment that the volume of topsoil will be reported to the
Division and included in the permit application.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines