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• 4.3.5.1 Soil Testing and Amendments <br />Quantitative and qualitative soil sampling is utilized to monitor the <br />salvage and replacement of soil resources, and to evaluate fertility of <br />replaced materials. Three phases of quantitative measurements are taken <br />including salvage, replacement and annual. Qualitative sampling is <br />intended to evaluate the soils fertility for revegetation purposes and is <br />conducted prior to commencement of revegetation operations. These two <br />distinct sampling types are described separately below in more detail. <br />QUANTITATIVE SAMPLING <br />Salvage, replacement and annual monitoring provides a primary <br />quantitative auditing process, with each phase of measurement having a <br />particular emphasis geared towards satisfaction of specific regulatory <br />requirements. Operationally, the sampling methods are geared towards <br />evaluating the volumetric sufficiency of the salvage and reconstruction <br />process and are intended to provide the reclamation supervisor with the <br />managerial information needed to evaluate these practices, adjusting them <br />as deemed necessary. The three phases of measurements over time provides <br />• mine management with a running inventory of this valuable resource and <br />provides the information needed to ensure that operational practices will <br />meet mine-wide soil reconstruction requirements. <br />Salvage <br />This monitoring phase verified the adequacy of soil salvage <br />operations and was accomplished as described specifically in Subsection <br />4.3.2, Sequence of Operations. Salvage was monitored through the practice <br />of leaving small islands of topsoil during removal operations. Measurement <br />of removal depths, in conjunction with measurement of the acres removed, <br />allowed for an evaluation of total volumes salvaged. <br />Replacement <br />The replacement monitoring phase occurs after mine soils have been <br />reconstructed. This monitoring is designed to address depth replacement <br />control and provide Phase II bond release measurements showing that <br />replaced depths satisfy minimum requirements. Depth measurements may or <br />• may not be taken in conjunction with qualitative analyses and simply <br />involve the direct measurement of soil depth in vertical profile. <br />Renewal-3 9.3-10 June 13, 1997 <br />