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All topsoil stockpiles are within the mine perimeter fence or outside of fenced pastures, <br />and iheref ore, stockpile disturbance by domestic livestock will be precluded. If noxious <br />weeds occur, they will be controlled using approved weed control methods and registered <br />chemicals on [he stockpiles so the likelihood of noxious weed infestations on reclaimed <br />areas will be reduced (see weed and Pest Control Later in this tab). <br />Once the topsoil is replaced, and potential or existing slippage areas are identified, <br />contour tillage and hay bales or small check dikes will be used as needed to direct water <br />away from the area of repair. <br />Shallow postmine soil pits will routinely be excavated near revegetation monitoring sites <br />to determine plant rooting depths, test and evaluate the topsoil/spoil fertility, and <br />compare topsoil/spoil profile data with site•specif is revegetation data. The minimum <br />fertility analyses will include pR, particle size, organic matter, total nitrogen, and <br />phosphorus. If the results of these tests indicate a fertilizer or other soil amendment <br />is needed, and if the species being planted will not compensate for the soil limitations <br />(e.g., legumes replenish nitrogen), then appropriate soil amendments will be added. <br />As seen in the Topsoil Management Plan and Scheduling section (Tab 9, Attachment 1), <br />topsoil to be redistributed will come from stockpiles or will be transferred directly to <br />graded areas from in-place topsoil which is ahead of mining. Direct hauling of topsoil <br />wilt be done as much as possible. when a topsoil stockpile is placed, it wilt not be <br />moved until materials are needed for distribution on graded areas. After a stockpile is <br />distributed and the area is no longer needed for stockpiling, a cover crop and/or the <br />permanent seed mix will be seeded in the first planting season after stockpile removal. <br />Peabody does not propose to use any selected overburden materials as topsoil substitutes. <br />This is based upon topsoil balance figures for the life-of-mine operation contained in Tab <br />9, Attachments 9-4, 9-5, 9-7, and 9-8 which show a mean thickness of approximately 12 <br />inches of topsoil will be available for replacement. Soil replacement thickness after <br />1993 will typically range between 9 and 15 inches. Current literature and on-site data <br />show that 6 to 15 inches of topsoil underlain with chemically end physically suitable <br />spoil material will be sufficient to 1) establish a proper seedbed and rooting medium and <br />2) achieve a compatible relationship between production, diversity, and plant community <br />composition. It topsoil substitutes are required by the regulatory authorities, the <br />13-11 Revised 01/15/93 <br />