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• Topsoil Removal <br />Soils information far the area to be mined has, in the past, been gathered by the Soil <br />Conservation Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Information supplied by these <br />two agencies has provided sufficient information concerning the soil resources available for <br />reclamation at Colowyo. Phis information has been confirmed by reclamation personnel at <br />the mine who have been closely monitoring topsoil removal operations since the initiation of <br />mining in the fall of 1976. <br />Therefore, the amount of soil sampling and mapping is considered quite adequate for <br />determining topsoil volume estimates. Any additional mapping and sampling would have no <br />beneficial effect on topsoil volume estimates or reclamation operations at Colowyo. <br />The sequence of topsoil removal at the Colowyo Mine is shown on the Topsoil Handling <br />Map (Map 28) and explained in detail in section 2.053 and 2.05.4. <br />Overall, topsoil removal will include all of the A horizon and B horizon material available <br />which is not the heavy clay with the hard columnar structure and sticky, plastic properties <br />less suitable for revegetation. Based on the topsoil volume calculations, and 12+ years of <br />topsoil experience, we have confirmed that there is a sufficient quantity of more desirable <br />horizons with loam and clay loam textures making it unnecessary to remove undesirable <br />heavy clay horizons. <br />• In addition, there are areas of rock outcrops or shallow and stoney soils where little or no <br />suitable topsoil is available for removal. The shale or sandstone outcrops within the Work <br />and Burnette mapping units comprise an insignificant area within these two units. Therefore, <br />topsoil volume projections for these areas would not be affected to any significant amount. <br />Afrer lengthy discussion with the Division during the initial permit application, Colowyo had <br />committed to a topsoil monitoring plan as summarized in the Colowvo Findings and <br />Proposed Decision to Approve Permit File No C-019-81, September 28, 1982. <br />"'Colowyo has committed, within the application, to include information in an annual report <br />verifying that enough topsoil is being salvaged each year to replace a sufficient amount of <br />soil on regraded areas. The monitoring program will serve to refine or verify the accuracy of <br />topsoil volume estimates by providing accurate yearly topsoil balance assessments. If, in the <br />future, the Division determines that the monitoring has established, that sufficient topsoil is <br />available throughout the life-of--the-mine to allow successful reclamation given the present <br />topsoil salvage plan, the monitoring requirement may be suspended."' <br />• <br />2.0=1.9-16 <br />