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overburden ranges from 3.2 to 9.0 while in the underburden, it ranges <br />from 3.3 to 9.3. The pH levels in the Wadge overburden areas are neutral <br />to basic while the pH levels in the Wolf Creek areas are more acidic. The <br />pH levels are lowest in shale layers and in sandstone and silts tone layers <br />immediately above an acid shale layer. The Wolf Creek overburden zone <br />from 0 to 30 feet above the coal is the most acidic material present in <br />the permit area. The Wolf Creek spoils will be sampled, tested, and <br />handled according to procedures stated on Pages 6-29, 6-30, 6-33, 6-34, <br />6-153, 6-153a, and 6-164 of this application. <br />The highest pH levels are associated with the sodic underburden in the <br />Wadge and Wolf Creek areas. This material will not be disturbed by mining <br />and, therefore, no reclartiation problems are anticipated. <br />3.3 Saturation Percentage <br />The saturation percentage ranges from 31.4 to 81.4 percent and from 23.9 <br />to 122.2 percent in the overburden and underburden, respectively. The <br />• saturation levels generally range between 35 and 45 percent. The highest <br />values (75-85 percent) are associated with coal strata. No reclamation <br />problems exist with saturation percentages in this range. <br />3.4 Soluble and Exchangeable Sodium <br />The soluble sodium concentrations in the overburden range from 0.2 to 47.1 <br />meq/1 while in the underburden values range from 0.5 to 26.2 meq/1. The <br />exchangeable sodium levels in the overburden range from 5.2 to 2110 ppm <br />while in the underburden, values range from 0.1 to 886.9 ppm. Sodium is a <br />minor cation in the overburden and the dominant cation in the underburden. <br />Since the sodic underburden will not be disturbed, no reclamation problems <br />are expected from the sodium levels found in the overburden. <br />L <br />6-145 Revised 8/17/90 <br />