Laserfiche WebLink
-30- <br />X. Topsoil -Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(5), 2.05.4(2)(d), and 4.06 <br />Soils Resources Information is presented on pages 2.04c70 through 2.04-90 <br />of Volume 1, and in Exhibit 9, Volume 2. Information on topsoil salvage <br />is found on page 2.04-86 and pages 2.05-3 through 2.05-7, 2.05-25 through <br />2.05-28 and 4.06-1 through 4.06-3. The topsoil redistribution plan is <br />presented on pages 2.05-43 through 2.05-44 and 4.06 through 4.06-5. <br />Additional information, including a yearly topsoil removal plan projecting <br />acreages to be stripped and volumes of soil to be salvaged each year of <br />the first permit term was provides in Volume 8 of Colowyo's Adequacy Resjx~nses. <br />The three major soil types at Colowyo are the Work Loam, the Burnette <br />loam and the Campspass Fine Sandy Loam. The Work and Burnette units are <br />generally deep, Loamy textured soils with moderate permeability and <br />high available water capacity. The physical and chemical properties of <br />these two soils are well suited for reclamation use. The Campspass soil, <br />however, is characterized by a sha,Dlow sandy loam A horizon less than 6 <br />inches in depth. The B horizon is a heavy clay Loam, with hard columnar <br />structure, wfiich Colowyo does not propose to salvage due to the. sticky, <br />plastic properties which make it less desirable for reclamation. If <br />respread directly on regraded spoils, the clayey soil could hamper <br />vegetation establishment due to the slow permeability and resultant <br />droughtiness. in addition, surface runoff from such soils would be <br />rapid and erosion hazard would be high from both wind and water. <br />In general, the topsoil handling plan calls for removal of A and B horizon <br />soil during the summer and fall ahead of pit advance. Topsoil will be <br />removed by dozers and loaded into haul trucks for transport to stockpiles <br />or regraded spoils. when the operation reaches a steady state, with <br />approximately the same acreage stripped, backfilled, and graded each year, <br />the majority of the topsoil will be directly reapplied to graded spoils. <br />Topsoil redistribution will involve scarification of spoils prior to spreading <br />of the topsoil with dozers. Following redistribution, the soils will be <br />chiseled to relieve compaction and contour furrows will be constructed to <br />minimize erosion. <br />Colowyo has proposed to salvage a1Z A and B horizon material available, <br />with the exception of the Campspass B horizon, which can be easily distinguished <br />in the field by its hard columnar structure. Colowyo states that ."based <br />on topsoil volume calculations it is felt that there is a sufficient <br />quantity of more desirable horizons with loam and clay Zoam textures making <br />it unnecessary to remove undesirable heavy clay horizons". Colowyo proposes <br />to redistribute topsoil at an average depth of 18"-24" on alI regrad~ surfaces. <br />