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of topsoil after completing these replacement activities. This excess topsoil <br />along with suitable subsoil and spoil will be distributed on the remaining <br />affected acreage (which were disturbed prior to requirements for topsoil <br />salvaging) at a minimum replacement depth of 10 inches. <br />Peabody has committed to performing and submitting an annual soil balance to <br />the Division for the life of the mine. This submittal will allow both Peabody <br />and the Division to review topsoil replacement depths on a timely manner and <br />make adjustments as necessary. <br />In summary the minimum replacement depth will be 10 inches for rangeland <br />post-mine land use reclamation areas (north of County Road 124A-A and east of <br />County Road 2650, west half of the new facilities area and new disturbance <br />areas within Mining Area 2 and 3), 6 inches for reclaimed portions of Mining <br />Areas 2 and 3 (a 4 to 8 inch replacement depth was approved under interim <br />permit 75-36) and 15 inches for the dryland pasture post-mine land use <br />reclamation areas (north of County Road 124A-A and west of County Road 2650). <br />Suitable subsoil, spoil, excess topsoil or topsoil substitute replacement <br />depths will be 10 inches for the pre-law facilities area, pre-law shop area, <br />pre-law spoil piles/pits associated with I4ine Areas 4 and 5, NPDES sites, <br />explosive storage area and associated access roads. The individual soil <br />replacement categories are shown by mine area on Exhibit 13-1b, Post-mine Soil <br />Replacement Depths (Volume 10, Tab 13). <br />The Division has determined that given the available topsoil and favorable <br />spoil characteristics, the proposed replacement depths should be able to <br />establish a good seedbed favorable for sustained plant growth. <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />XII. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e), 4.15 and 4.18(4)(1) <br />Information pertaining to the baseline vegetation inventories is presented in <br />Volume 8, Tab 10 and to post-mining vegetation in Volume 10, Tab 13. <br />Two vegetation inventories have been conducted at this site. The first survey <br />was conducted in 1979 by Mariah Associates (Mariah) for inclusion into the <br />original permit application submitted in 1980. The second inventory conducted <br />in 1986 by Western Resource Development Corporation (WRDC), was for those <br />areas within the permit area previously not studied but now requiring an <br />investigation due to anticipated mining activities. These new mined areas are <br />included within Permit Revision No. 1 application. <br />Five vegetation communities were identified by these two inventories (listed <br />in order of abundance): annual grains/hay (agricultural), grassland <br />(pasture), upland sagebrush, riparian, and juniper. The agricultural areas <br />are primarily monocultures of alfalfa encompassing 44.54 acres or 36.7% of the <br />areas inventoried. Grassland (24.69 acres or 20.3%) is the vegetation type on <br />lands no longer subjected to agricultural activities (ie.: abandoned areas). <br />The upland sagebrush occurs on well-drained slopes not converted to <br />agricultural production of 21.56 acres or 17.8%. The riparian and juniper <br />communities comprise a small portion of the area (3.75 acres or 3.1%). <br />_2 P_ <br />