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<br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />Roy Romer, Governor <br />• <br />• <br />Q <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION <br />FRED R. BANTA, Dlreetor <br />July 25, 1989 ~~ ;"~ <br />Mr, Gary Wendt <br />Peabody Coal Company <br />1300 South Yale <br />Flagstaff, AZ 86001 <br />RE: Baseline Soil Survey for the Yoast Area <br />Dear Mr, Wendt: <br />ENVIRONMENTAL AffAIFIS <br />JUL 311989 <br />WESTERN DIVISION <br />PEABODY COAL COMPANY <br />The Division has reviewed your letter of July 5, 1989 concerning the proposed <br />soil survey on the Yoast area. Generally, the so11 baseline program appears <br />acceptable. However, we have four specific comments on the proposed sampling <br />intensity, sampling parameters and suitability criteria. <br />First, after consultation with experienced soil survey specialists of the USDA <br />- Soil Conservation Service, the Division believes that soil sampling <br />intensities should be increased. We suggest the following sampling intensity <br />guideline: <br />Size of Area (acres) No. of Samples <br />To eE OrSTUAt3ED <br />X25 1 <br />25-100 2 <br />101-'L50 3 <br />251-400 4 <br />401-600 5 <br />>600 6 <br />• <br />This guideline is based on a knowledge of the approximate sizes of most soil <br />taxonomic units in the area. We feel that this number of samples will assure <br />adequate soil characterization even if soil pedons at sample sites are not <br />completely representative. Soil sampling sites should also be Chosen in such <br />a manner that different aspects and slope positions of the same soil type are <br />represented. <br />Second, the Division believes that it is difficult to determine whether soils <br />are "Known unsuitaole soil types" if no samples are taken. It is our position <br />that soils which are suspected of being unsuitaole should, at the very least, <br />be sampled and tested for texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and <br />sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). This would provide a more oojective measure of <br />topsoil suitability. If the soil is unsuitaole after these tests, then <br />further tests would be unnecessary, <br />2-1 <br />215 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203.2273 Tel. (303) 866.3567 <br />