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52.04 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SDRFACE OR IINDERGROUND MINING ACTIVITIES -- MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. 2.04.9 Soils Resource Information. (Cont'd.) these areas. It was done in a manner to maximize the quality and quantity of the topsoil removed, stockpiled and replaced so as to minimize handling and compaction in areas where re- vegetation efforts were scheduled to be done. Steep slopes make topsoil removal and replacement very diffi- cult. On these steep slopes the only economical and safe means of excavation is working a dozer down the face. Topsoil cannot be removed by cutting directly down the slope because of the instability of the machine in this position. It must instead be salvaged from the berm on the down slope side of the earth moving equipment. Any other means of exca- vating on steep slopes would make safe operations impossible. See Figure 2.04-11 in the Soils Appendix, Volume 9. Harner & Associates, Inc. was contracted by CWI in July, 1986, to complete soils inventories and analyses of the proposed Or- chard Valley West Mine and access road sites. Samples were obtained from various sites througout the 280-acre study area. In general, soils in the OVWM site are deep, well-drained and vary widely in slope. Soils of the area were mapped by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and are shown on Map 9-3 in Volume 9. For a more detailed map and narrative of the soils of the OVWM site, refer to the Harner & Associates Report in the Soils Appendix in Volume 9. The portals of the rock slopes would be constructed in predis- turbed cut slopes of the Orchard Valley Mine site. No topsoil exists on these slopes as construction of the Orchard Valley Mine site was completed by mid-1976, prior to regulation gov- erning topsoils, and no topsoil was removed nor stockpiled prior to excavation or fill construction. A narrow strip of oakbrush across the slopes above the pro- posed belt and intake portals sites indicates undisturbed soils may exist. Laboratory analyses in 1981 of samples from two test pits, one near the substation and one below the bath- house (see Map 8-1 ), show soils of the "A" horizon as a good plant growth medium, Should excavation to face-up the rock slopes portals extend into "undisturbed" soils, the "A" & "B" horizons, approximately 24 inches, would be removed and stored, Revised 08/01/84 . Revised 10/12/86 Added 07/13/87 Revised 10/01/87 68 1