PERMFILE49948

• Permit No: C1981022A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 1/27/2003
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.04 Miniumu Requirements for Information on Environmental Resources
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

SRYim - 2.O~1.9
Pemteabilities are moderately slow (Haplargids) to rapid (Tomorthenss) and available water capacity is
• moderate to low. Surface runoff u moderate. The erosion hazard is slight to moderate from water
and slight from wind, primarily due to surface stontness. Because of surface stoniness and high rock
content, vegetation is dommandy native and adaptive grasses with scamered trees and shrubs.
Associated uses include wildlife habitat and recreation.
Prime Farmlands Investigation
While a prime familands evaluation has not been done for the mine permit area, there are a number
of factors that generallypreclude consideration of this area for prime farmlands designation:
1) There are no lands within the mine pemtit area that are or have been historically used as
cropland
2) None of the soil mapping uniss delineated within the mine permit area are designated as
soil types associated with prilIle familands and most of the mapped soils are limited in
their utility for farming
3) The steepness of the terrain and stoniness of the soil over most of the permit azea
generally preclude agricultural activities
4) There is a lack of available water due to the semi-arid climate, limited surface flows in
area drainages, and elevation of most of the area relative to the North Fork
Given these considerations, anegative detemtination for prime farmlands is justified for this area.
• Site-Specific Soil Sampling and Analyses
In conjunction with the soil mapping and characterizanon programs previously described, a number
of soil samples were obtained and analyzed to evaluate soil physical and chemical properties and
suitability relative to salvage and use as a revegetation medium Soil s~mrple designations, sampling
areas, and mapping unit correlations are s++,,,rt,ar;>Pd by Table 2.04.9-T1; Soil Sampling Summary, and
sample locations are shown on the Regional Soils Map, (Map 2.04M~. Analysis results for the
collected soil samples are s++Mm=.+>Pd by Table 2.04.9-T2; oil Sample Analysis Results.
Soil Availability and Suitability
Consideration of soil availabihry and suitability relative to use of available soil materials to facilitate
effective reclamation and revegeta[ion of mine disturbance areas rrntst take into account site-specific
conditions and limiting fagots. The three primary factors affecting soil availability and suitability for
OMI'S operations are previous site disturbance, topographic and physical constrairtss on soil salvage,
and soil depth and material limitations. Miring operations in the mine permit area were initiated as
eazly as 1901, therefore much of the present disturbance area was disturbed prior to 1977, and soil
materials from disturbance areas were not salvaged and in many cases were mixed with and
contaminated by coolly materiak, coal refuse, and ash. The rugged topography and steep slopes in the
azea and associated protocol topographic and operational consideration (including extensive exposures
of rak outcrops and numerous large rocks and boulders on the surface) effegively limit the potential
for full recovery of available soil materiak and consequently, the volume of recoverable soils.
Significant variability in soil thickness and physical and chemical suitability corutrainss, including
textural limitations and high rock content, funher limit the availability of soil materiak for use in
reclamation.
• Because much of the existing disturbance ispre-law disturbance and no soil mareriak were salvaged,
there is an inherent soil material shortage. Available soil depth evaluatioru and soil material sampling
and analyses for existing disturbance areas, however, indicate that suitable sub-soils remain in some
PR04 2.0490 Revised August 2000