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with none found to be higher than 1 inch; the absence of gravel deposition on soil <br />pedestals; the presence of a fairly uniform distribution of gravel size particles on small <br />areas with minimal vegetative cover; and the lack of headcutting and the presence of <br />vegetation in existing erosional features. <br />Since final reclamation was completed, rill and gully repair on the reclaimed pit area has <br />been required. Recent repairs have been limited to pre-existing gullies formed at <br />breaches of the lateral ditches originally placed to prevent concentrated flow features. <br />The ditches were removed in 1994, 1995, and 1996. With the exception of a gully caused <br />by drainage from an adjacent road, there are no signs of recent erosion in any of the pit <br />area owned by the Eiltses. <br />The absence of recent erosional features and minimal sediment deposition indicate that <br />reclaimed lands are not contributing excessive suspended solids to streamflow or runoff <br />outside the permit area, and that the soil of the reclaimed area is stable. <br />The Division estimated soil loss from reclaimed areas using the Revised Universal Soil <br />Loss Equation (RUBLE). The assumptions and results of the calculation were as follows: <br />R = 35 The Routt County range is 30 to 40. <br />R = .37 for Winevada-Splitro Complex <br />.24 for Routt Loam <br />LS = 6.625 Based on maximum of 17.5 over 400' <br />C = .023 Based on 73~ cover (1994 sampling); no <br />appreciable canopy; predominantly grass. <br />Range is .0.13 for 80~ cover to .042 for 60~ <br />cover. <br />P = .8 Assuming reclaimed area is comparable to <br />contour farming. <br />The calculations were: <br />Winevada-Splitro: (35) (.37) (6.625) (.023) (.8) = 1.58 <br />Routt Loam: (35)(.24)(6.625)(.023)(.8) = 1.02 <br />An acceptable soil loss tolerance level, from the "Soils of Colorado" National Resource <br />Conservation Service publication (1983), for the Winevada-Splitro and the Routt Loam <br />are 2 and 5 tons per acre per year, respectively. Based on observations of vegetative <br />cover at the site and the above calculations and established limits, soil loss at the <br />Meadows No. 1 Mine should be within acceptable limits. <br />Observations of sediment levels in the sedimentation ponds, which treat all pit area <br />runoff, indicate that there is little or no sediment contribution from the disturbed areas <br />over recent years. <br />Meadavs No. 1 Mine 7 Phase Ifl Bond ltclcax <br />