PERMFILE46135

• Permit No: C1981020A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 5/13/2002
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.0 MINE PLAN
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

2.4-1
2_4 TOPSOIL MANAGSMBNT
• Topsoil is defined in Section 701.5 of the Surface Coal Mining and
Reclamation Operations Permanent Regulatory Program, March 13, 1979
as meaning "the A soil horizon layer of three major soil horizons."
Topsoil in the Rules and Regulations, Colorado Mined Land
Reclamation Board, July 1978 is defined as "the material at the
surface of the earth which has been so modified and acted upon by
physical, chemical, and biological agents that it will support
rooted plants necessary to achieve reclamation goals."
The primary goal of this topsoil management program incorporates the
first and is based upon the later definition and is to realize
effective conservation and utilization of plant growth medium for
the postmining land use. No topsoil was salvaged prior to bench
excavation or road construction and/or improvement discussed in
Section 2.2. In accordance with criteria existing at the time of
disturbance, no salvageable topsoil existed at the bench area and
along the excavated portion of the road route, especially on steeper
slopes. Portions of the route did exhibit some weed and grass
growth. A great portion of the access road, located within an area
exhibiting marginal topsoil, was established over the existing road
on the canyon floor.
All suitable topsoil materials from future areas to be affected, in
compliance with new criteria, will be removed as a separate
• operation and stockpiled prior to effecting a disturbance, as
discussed in Section 2.4.2. Topsoil will be stockpiled in the
vicinity of the disturbance, mulched and seeded to wheatgrasses in
order to minimize erosion, and adequately marked to preclude
disturbance prior to reclamation, see Section 2.2.6 and 3.2.3.
2.4.1 Topsoil Availability
The availability of topsoil materials associated with disturbances
within the permit area has been assessed as part of the baseline
soil survey program and reported in Section 4.7.5. Within the area
to be affected by the operation, soil availability for use in
reclamation is shown on Figure 4.7.2.
2.4.2 Topsoil Removal and Handling
Topsoil will be removed from any affected area ( access/haul road
extensions, additional facilities areas and stockpile areas) when
suitable topsoil exists in recoverable thicknesses. Removal will be
by rubber tired scrapers or some other equipment adequate to
segregate suitable topsoil from unsuitable soil to a depth of B
inches, see Section 3.2 for more information. Topsoil will be
stockpiled in the vicinity of the disturbed area through placement
by scrapers utilized for removal. Placement will be in 12 inch
lifts if the volume of material warrants. Additional machinery such
as dozers and loaders will be used in the stockpile area in order to
• achieve the design configuration.
MU l/22;33