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<br />inches to weathered sandstone. Therefore, Wyoming Fuels will <br />limit stripping to a depth of 1.25 feet, or to the weathered <br />sandstone layer. Equipment limitations can be expected to reduce <br />stripping depth accuracy by approximately six inches. A more <br />detailed description of the soils can be found in Appendix E of <br />the permit application, including all soils maps. <br />Coal from the Sudduth coal seam of the Coalmont Formation <br />will be mined in an open pit haulback method. All suitable top- <br />soil will be removed in advance of mining. The thickness of the <br />"A" horizon is less than 6 inches throughout some of the proposed <br />disturbed area, so additional subsoil will be removed (without <br />segregation) to faciliate revegetation. Where possible. topsoil <br />that is removed will be immediately redistributed on active rec- <br />lamation areas. No soils balances were provided with the appli- <br />cation. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of topsoil handling and <br />stockpiling is not possible (see Chapter III of this TEA). Top- <br />soil that needs to be stockpiled will be protected from wind and <br />water erosion by seeding. <br />Wyoming Fuels estimates sufficient soil will be available to <br />cover the reclaimed area to a depth of about 21 inches. The <br />total disturbed area for Pits 1 and 2 is 139.9 acres. The appli- <br />cant has calculated that 223.4 acre feet of topsoil will be <br />removed (See figure lE of the permit application) in order to <br />reclaim the remaining 124.3 acres of affected lands. <br />~~ <br />Topsoil in the area of Pit 1 has been stripped and stock- ` <br />piled. -Topsoil stripping in the area of Pit 2 has begun..-;IJh <br />According to the schedule on page 58 of the permit application, <br />24.1 acres will have been seeded by 1982. Topsoiling and revege- <br />tation will continue in 1983 and end in 1986. <br />It is anticipated that over the total life of the mine, <br />about 42 acres of big sagebrush and about 25 acres of alkali <br />sagebrush will be disturbed. (p. 5, Appendix F, Volume II of the <br />-45- <br />