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400 <br />NSII - PART 11 <br />403.6 Other Interprctatiuns. <br />(a) Soil Recunstructi nn Ma[_r ri al for Drasti cal l_y Dis uirbed Areas. Soil <br />n'e ons[ruetion of area:. dr;is Licall}' disturbed, a:. in ::urfnce mining-, is the pro~rss <br />u( replacing layers of soil material or uncons~li~la sod geologic material or both in <br />a vNrlicu] sequnncr u( such quality and th icknes:: [hat they provide a favorable <br />medium [or plant growtl. <br /> Host new state strip mine programs emphasize that the land surface be restored to <br /> about its natural configure r.ion or better and [he soil be reconstructed to main- <br /> tain or improve its suitability for the intended use. Thus, a knowledge of the <br /> soil and underlying waterial is needed to plan proper reconstruction operations of <br /> mined land. This guide for soil reconstruction material evaluates the material as <br /> a medium for plant growth. It can be used to rate any segment of [he soil profile <br />• or unconsolidated geologic material that is thick enough to warrant considerations <br /> in planning soil reconstruction. For named kinds of soil, for example, it will be <br /> necessary for most purposes [o rate the A horizon, [he B horizon, and the C horizon <br /> separately. If [hey all rate "good" there may be little justification for keeping <br /> Chem separate for soil reconstruction. LC the A is rated better than the B or C, <br /> then it generally should be kept separate, depending upon its thickness and [he <br /> anticipated use of [he land. This guide does no[ cover quarry, pit, dredge, and <br /> older surface mine operations that require an off-site source of soil reconstruc- <br /> tion material--[he guide "Daily Cover for Sanitary Landfill" is useful [o evaluate <br /> the material used in restoration of these operations. <br />When the soil materials are properly used in reconstruction, a good rating means <br />vegetation is relatively easy to establish and maintain, the surface is stable and <br />resist erosion, and [he reconstructed soil has good potential productivity. <br />Dla serial rated fair can be vegetated and stabilized by modifying one or more <br />properties. Top dressing with better material or application of soil amendments <br />may be necessary for satisfactory performance. Pfa terial rated poor has such <br />severe problems that revegetation and stabilization is very difficult and costly. <br />Top dressing with better material is necessary to establish and maintain vegetation. <br />The major properties that influence erosion and stability of the surface and the <br />productive potential of the reconstructed soil are listed in the guide. <br />• Excessive amounts of substances that restrict plan[ growth such as sodium, salt, <br />sulfur, copper, and nickel create problems in establishing vegetation and therefore, <br />also influence erosion and [he stability of [he surface. Other substances such as <br />selenium, baron, and arsenic get into the food chain and are toxic to animals that <br />i eat the vegetation. Of all these substances, only sodium and salt are criteria in <br />[he guide. If relative Ly high levels of toxic substances are rn the reconstruction <br />material, the material should be rated poor. Laboratory tests may be needed to <br />properly identify toxic substances. <br />NSH Notice 24 - 3/31/76 <br />A,TT~c.lv'MEN~ 13 <br /> <br /> <br />