Laserfiche WebLink
-31- <br />The Division noted in the-Preliminary Adequacy Letter of April 9 that soil <br />mapping and sampling was evidently done at the.'level of a» order III <br />soil suvey, and questioned whether this provided sufficiently detailed <br />information on which to 1xZSe the available topsoil volume estimates. <br />Colowyo responded that the soil mapping presented only a very general <br />estimate of actual topsoil volumes, but they indicated that Little <br />additional information would be gained from a more detailed Order II <br />level survey, due to the high variability of soil types aver the permit <br />area. Field inspections have revealed that this is probably very true, <br />as relatively small acreages of Barnette Loam soils in draws and depressions <br />contribute substantially to the available topsoil volume--with some <br />deposits of suitable topsoil up to 20 feet thick. <br />It appears from on-site observation of Colowyo's topsoil salvage and <br />the generalized volume information presented in the application that <br />Colowyo will be able to redistribute between 18" and 24" of good quality <br />topsoil on regraded surfaces, without salvaging the clayey Campspass B <br />horizon material. <br />Colowyo has committed, within the application, to include information in <br />an annual report verifying that enough topsoil is being salvaged each year <br />to replace a sufficient amount of soil on regraded areas. The monitoring <br />program will serve to refine or verify the accuracy of topsoil volume <br />estimates by providing accurate yearly topsoil balance assessments. <br />If, in the future, the Division determines that the monitoring has established, <br />that sufficient topsoil is available throughout the Zife-of-the-mine to <br />allow successful reclamation given the present topsoil salvage plan, the <br />monitoring requirement may be suspend~@d. <br />The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this <br />section. <br />XI. Vegetation - Rules 2,04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e)., and 4.I5 <br />Detailed vegetation information can be found on gages 2.04-91 through <br />2.04-108, Volume 1 of the application. The revegetation plan is presented <br />on pages 2.05-44 through 2.05-54. Methods for determining revegetation <br />success are inclvd~ on pages 4.15-I through 4.15-15. CSU revegetation <br />studies are included as Exhibit 10 in Volume 3 of the application. <br />A number of concerns were identified during the review with respect. <br />to the revegetation plan and determinations of revegetation success. <br />The majority of the concerns detailed in the Division's April 9, 2981 <br />Preliminary Adequacy Letter were satisfactorily resolved in Colowyo's <br />May 18, 1981 responses (see Volume 8). <br />Several introduced species are included in the seed mix and are approved, <br />based on information supplied by Colowyo and technical literature referenced <br />in the application indicating that the introduced species are desirable <br />and necessary to stabilize the reclaimed areas in the first few years <br />following revegetation. The species included in the mix are compatible <br />with the post-mining land use of livestock grazing and wildlife habitat <br />and with the plant and animal species of the region. None are listed as <br />poisonous or noxious plan.ts.~ <br />