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replacement is provided in Section 3.3. <br /> No topsoil was stripped prior to mine bench and haul road construction, as this disturbance <br /> occurred prior to the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). <br /> Topsoil was salvaged from subsequently disturbed areas including the sediment pond, riprap <br /> stockpile, and office facility areas, and,with the exception of one small area addressed below, will <br /> be salvaged from approved disturbance areas where construction has not yet been initiated. <br /> Figure 2.2-2(Surface Facilities Map), shows site specific mapping of soils at an Order I or H level <br /> of intensity. The mapping indicates that soils in the vicinity of the sediment pond and riprap <br /> stockpile were Rivra Gravelly Sandy Loam Variant,and Nihill Loam,and office facility soils were <br /> Glendive Sandy Loam. Soils to be affected by the proposed McClane to Munger haul road are <br /> mapped as Glendive Sandy Loam, and a small area of Rivra Gravelly Sandy Loam. A small area <br /> to be affected by the proposed realignment of the access road segment at the junction with the <br /> state highway is mapped as Havre Loam, saline phase. <br /> Twelve (12) to eighteen (18) inches of soil were salvaged from the sediment pond and riprap <br /> stockpile area,and 24 inches of soil were salvaged from the office area. <br /> Information in Tables 4.4-1 through 4.4-6 documents the suitability of affected soil types by <br /> horizon. Upper horizons of the affected soil types are generally good growth media, with the <br /> exception of the Havre Loam, which exhibits SAR values in excess of 40, within each sampled <br /> horizon below a depth of 1.5 inches. <br /> Because no topsoil was salvaged initially, portions of the reclaimed mine bench access/haul road <br /> may not be topsoiled upon final reclamation, and the mixed soils and overburden material in the <br /> bench and outslopes would be used as plant growth medium for final reclamation. Section 4.4.5.4 <br /> summarizes evaluation of the surficial and subsurface bench materials required by the Division <br /> through stipulations attached to the 1982 and 1985 permit approvals. Analyses submitted in <br /> response to the stipulations demonstrated that the material would be suitable for plant growth,and <br /> that no special handling would be required. <br /> Upon final reclamation, topsoil will be re-spread to a minimum depth of 24 inches in the office <br /> area, and 4 to 8 inches on other post-law disturbance areas and approximately 1 acre of the mine <br /> bench. Sediment that has been removed from the sedimentation pond during particular sediment <br /> cleanout events in the past has been demonstrated to be suitable plant growth material, and has <br /> been allowed to be placed in the topsoil stockpile. Pond cleanout material will be approved for <br /> use as topdressing on pre-law disturbance areas only upon submittal of chemical and physical <br /> analyses demonstrating its suitability. During periods of active mining,coal fines are a significant <br /> component of sediment delivered to the pond,and the sediment cleanout material is not a suitable <br /> plant growth medium at such times. The following stipulation is necessary. <br /> STIPULATION NO. 27 <br /> SEDIMENT REMOVED FROM THE SEDIMENT POND MAY BE USED AS A <br /> TOPDRESSING OR TOPSOIL SUPPLEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 4.06.2(4)(a), <br /> UPON SUBMITTAL OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL ANALYSES <br /> DEMONSTRATING THAT THE MATERIAL IS EQUAL TO OR MORE SUITABLE <br /> FOR SUSTAINING VEGETATION THAN AVAILABLE TOPSOIL OR OTHER PLANT <br /> GROWTH MEDIA. SUCH DEMONSTRATION SHALL BE BASED ON A <br /> REPRESENTATIVE COMPOSITE SAMPLE OF THE MATERIAL OBTAINED FROM <br /> 19 <br />