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<br />Topsoil Replacemerrt. Topsoil will be replaced only when the approved postmine contours are achieved <br />and when no additional disturbance is anticipated. Topsoil will not be replaced on temporary <br />reclamation sites such as haul road ditches, cut slopes and fill slopes: pond embankments and <br />spillways; and diversion ditches. Temporary reclamation sites will be seeded and stabilized as <br />described in Section 2.05.4(2](e), Revegetation. Topsoil will be replaced within the aforementioned <br />areas once final reclamation is achieved. Topsoil shalt be replaced along the contour, whenever <br />feasible, to minimize potential erosion and topsoil/spoil interface slippage problems. This practice will <br />be discontinued on steep slopes where the safety of the equipment operator is in jeopardy. Topsoil <br />which is replaced on mined areas will ba scarified on the contour to a depth of 12 to 24 inches with <br />a chisel plow or ripper. The operation of seed bed preparation will also reduce compaction, increase <br />infiltration, and promote surface roughness. Spoil and topsoil scarrfication is also discussed in the <br />Seed Bed Preparation section of the Revegetation Plan, Section 2.05.4(2](e). <br />Whenever practical, the saMaged topsoil will be immediately transported to leveled backfill areas and <br />placed on the regraded surface. The direct haul method is economically desirable and also maintains <br />a high topsoil quality by a direct transfer of viable seed, microbes, and roots: reduced compaction, <br />better preserved structure, increased aeration, and stable nutrient status, <br />Topsoil will not be handled when saturated either during the initial stripping, respreading, or final <br />grading. This may require handling of topsoil onh/ after irrigation water is cut off between October and <br />April. Handling sticky or plastic soils in a saturated state would reduce the quality of the topsoil by <br />degrading the physical characteristics and tilth of the soil. A hard, compact surface layer would result, <br />which would reduce or inhibit seed germination, seedling root establishment, and air and water <br />penetration. Most of the topsoil material recommended for salvage has a sandy loam to sandy clay <br />loam soil texture which have low to moderate consistency limitations (Section 2.Q4.9, Soils Resource <br />Information). Specific protective measures will be utilized to minimize wind and water erasion. Such <br />measures will include contour ripping.or chisel plowing of regraded spoil and replaced topsoil and rapid <br />establishment of vegetation. Long unbroken slopes will be avoided to minimize sediment runoff and <br />gulling. Seeding the topsoil stockpiles with native grasses and forms, including vigorous rooting and <br />nitrogen fixing plants such as alfalfa, will be done to prevent erosion and also improve the fertility and <br />physical tilth of the soil. The topsoil removal area at any one time shall be minimized to the extent <br />practicable to prevent both wind and water erosion. <br />WFC proposes the use of selected overburden or interburden materials as topsoil substitutes or plant <br />seedbed media. This is based on approximately 19 acres of land within the mining area that had <br />unsuitable topsoil in the beginning iSoil Unrt 810), and the lower than anticipated recovery of 80 <br />percent for the remaining Soil Units 1E, 1EW, 808, 30C, and D708. <br /> <br />