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• and fill slopes; pond embankments and spilNvays; and diversion dtches. Temporary reclamation sites will be <br />seeded and stabilized as described in Tab 22, Revegetation Plan. Topsoil will be replaced within the <br />aforementioned areas once final reclamation is achieved. <br />Topsoil shall be replaced along the contour, whenever feasible, to minimize potential erosion and topsoiUspoil <br />interface slippage problems. This practice will be discontinued on steep slopes where the safety of the <br />equipment operator is in jeopardy. <br />Whenever practical, the salvaged topsoil will be immediately transported to leveled backfill areas and placed <br />on the final graded surface. The direct haul method is economically desirable and also maintains a high <br />topsoil quality by a dived transfer of viable seeds, roots, and micro-organisms critical to plant nutrient <br />relationships; reduced compaction; better preserved structure; increased aeration; and stable nutrient status <br />(LibeRa, 1981; National Academy Press, 1981). Approximately five percent of the topsoil will be handled by <br />the direct haul method tluring the first permit tens (Table 214). Dived hauUlive handling Is always preferable, <br />however the pit configurations, haulage distances and topography (grade or steepness of haulage routes) of <br />the South mining area is not conducive to direct haulage of topsoil. The South Wedge mining area has <br />already been scheduled, topsoil stockpile locations delineated and the mine plan oriented toward this <br />approved plan. In addition the South Wedge mining area is long and narrow creating very long steep hauls in <br />order to direct handle the topsoil, therefore temporary stockpiling is more efficient method of topsoil handling. <br />• The Sage Creek/Wolf Creek mining area is more compact in nature, however the pits are aligned along dip <br />thereby creating a physical barrier for hauling from salvage areas to replacement areas. The gredes to haul <br />around the ends of the pits are extreme and are not conduclve'to dived haulage. In SCC's opinion, direct <br />haulage is best suited to Hailer more compact areas and must be planned for prior to commencement of <br />mining rather than toward the end of mining. In addition, overburtlen suitability sampling must be conducted <br />on the regraded spoils in the Sage Creek/Wolf Creek mining area prior to topsoil replacement thereby <br />creating further logisfipl complipfions. However SCC wilt dived haul topsoil whenever there is an <br />opportunity to do so without interfering with the ongoing sequencing of the operations. <br />Topsoil wilt not be handled when saturated either dudng the initial stripping, respreading, or final grading. <br />Handling sticky or plastic soils in a saturated state would reduce the quality of the topsoil by degrading the <br />physical characteristics and filth of the soil. A hard, compact surface layer would resuh, which would reduce <br />or inhibit seed germination, seedling root establishment, and air and water penetration. Most of the topsoil <br />material recommended for salvage has a sandy loam, loam, or sih loam, soil texture which do not have <br />severe consistency limitations (Tab 9, Soil Survey). <br />• <br />PR03 28 Revised 7102 <br />