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<br /> <br />Letter to Joseph de Raismes 9 Mav 3. 1995 <br />of surface materials at the site, with the exception of anecdotal <br />information from Dwight Kimsey regarding alkalinity i.n the area of <br />historical clay extraction. If any phytotoxic soils ~rre identified <br />or suspected, those areas will receive special consideration in <br />terms of the top dressing to be applied. Please refer to the <br />Division's April 14 and 28, 1995 inspection reports for a further <br />discussion of this topic. <br />You have further suggested, in item number 9 of the list of <br />concerns, that the Division should inspect the site following <br />grading and prior to topsoil replacement. Such an insi~ection is not <br />always possible, since these two earth moving operations often take <br />place concurrently. xowever, the Division did inspect the site on <br />April 14, 1995 and observed both grading and topsoil replacement <br />operations taking place. The Division made certain specific <br />recommendations that are to be implemented by the operator, and the <br />Division verified that the reclamation was proceeding in a <br />circumspect manner. The Division again inspected the site on April <br />28, 1995, and discussed in some detail the disposition of the <br />remaining topsoil stockpiles, and the methods to ensure that it .will <br />be put to the most beneficial use at the site. <br />Also, in item number 9, you have raised a concern witkc the seed mix <br />for site reclamation. Your use of the phrase "heavy reliance on <br />crested wheat grass" is disconcerting, and begs the question as to <br />whether or not you are in possession of the actual seed mix <br />proposed. In that regard, I have enclosed a copy of the seed mix, <br />and, as you can see, crested wheatgrass comprises on 1}' S percent of <br />the total mix. The crested wheatgrass was included because it will <br />establish and survive well on droughty, gravelly soils, and will <br />provide protection against soil erosion early in the plant <br />successional process. It is expected that crested wheatgrass will <br />eventually be completely displaced at the site by the native species <br />that comprise 90 percent of the seed mix. The small percentage of <br />yellow sweetclover included in the seed mix will provide another <br />species that will quickly provide ground cover. Also, the yellow <br />sweetclover will fix nitrogen, and is already present at the site <br />and in the surrounding area regardless of this seeding. Alkali <br />sacaton was included in the seed mix because it has a good chance of <br />establishing in bottom lands and saline clays that may be present at <br />the site. There is no negative aspect to the inclusion of alkali <br />sacaton in the seed mix, even if it only establishE:s on a small <br />portion of the total area seeded. <br />In addition, you state in concern item number 9 that seed-to-soil <br />contact is not adequately addressed in the reclamation procedures <br />proposed for the site. A number of methodologies to incorporate the <br />seed into the soil were discussed with the operator during the April <br />14, 1995 inspection of the Jenkins Site. Concerns were raised that <br />harrowing would be difficult on the rocky soils, and that dragging <br />