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<br />State Reg. <br />overburden ranges from 3.2 to 9.0 while in the underburden, it <br />ranges from 3.3 to 9.3. The pH levels in the Wadge overburden <br />areas are neutral to basic while the pH levels in the Wolf <br />Creek areas are more acidic. The pH levels are lowest in shale <br />layers and in sandstone and siltstone layers immediately above <br />an acid shale layer. The Wolf Creek overburden zone from 0 to <br />30 feet above the coal is the most acidic material present in <br />the permit area. The Wolf Creek spoils will be sampled and <br />tested according to procedures stated on Pages 6-29, 6-30, <br />b-33, 6-34, 6-153, 6-153a, and 6-164 of this application. <br />The highest pH levels are associated with the sodic underburden <br />in the Wadge and Wolf Creek areas. This material will not be <br />disturbed by mining and, therefore, no reclamation problems are <br />anticipated. <br />3.3 Saturation Percentage <br />The saturation percentage ranges from 31.4 to 81.4 percent and <br />from 23.9 to 122.2 percent in the overburden and underburden, <br />respectively. The saturation levels generally range between 35 <br />and 45 percent. The highest values (75-85 percent) are <br />associated with coal strata. No reclamation problems exist <br />with saturation percentages in this range. <br />3.4 Soluble and Exchangeable Sodium <br />The soluble sodium concentrations in the overburden range from <br />0.2 to 47.1 meq/1 w7rile in the underburden values range from <br />0.5 to 26.2 meq/1. The exchangeable sodium levels in the <br />overburden range from 5.2 to 2110 ppm while in the underburden, <br />values range from 0.1 to 886.9 ppm. Sodium is a minor cation <br />in the overburden and the dominant cation in the underburden. <br />Since the sodic underburden will not be disturbed, no <br />reclamation problems are expected from the sodium levels found <br />in the overburden. <br />6-145 Revised 10/1/86 <br />