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topsoil have been stripped and stockpiled. Some limited azeas maybe disturbed in the <br />future and in these areas the suitable soil will be stripped and stockpiled. The majority <br />of the soils which have been salvaged or will be salvaged in the future vary in texture <br />from clay or silty loams to sandy loams. Most of the soils tested were silty clay loams. <br />Most soil material which has been or remains to be stripped is rated as fair, with the <br />major limiting factor being the somewhat high clay content. Effective rooting depth <br />vanes from 20 to 60 inches, with the most productive soils found in the bottomland <br />azeas. Soil reaction is neutral to slightly alkaline, with the exception of small scattered <br />sodic substrata. These small isolated areas probably formed in place from weathered <br />sodic shales. <br />In the areas where topsoil is available for replacement, the replacement depth will vary <br />from 6 to 18 inches (Permit Tables 58 through 62). The material is suitable for seedbed <br />material. Because of the lack of available topsoil in some of the previously disturbed <br />areas, the utilization of overburden material as a plant growth medium has been <br />approved. These areas include the No. SA Portal azea and portions of the old shop, <br />temporary office and some other azeas of the No. SA Portal azea (see Table 59 in the <br />permit application). <br />Stipulation No. 2 was formerly attached to the permit, which required RAG-EC to <br />submit results of overburden sampling to the Division for overburden proposed for use <br />as plant growth media. RAG-EC satisfied this stipulation with submission of the <br />required information in Technical Revision No. 8 in October 1987. <br />A. The Division has waived the requirement for clearing of vegetation cover prior to <br />topsoil removal. The applicant has demonstrated that inclusion of vegetation cover <br />in salvaged topsoil is necessary or desirable to ensure soil productivity consistent <br />with the post-mining land use (4.06.2(1)). Large shrubs and woody plant species <br />will be removed prior to topsoil salvage. Generally, no effort will be made to <br />remove grasses, forbs, and smaller shrubs and woody plants prior to recovery. The <br />Division has approved incorporation of this vegetative material into the topsoil <br />because it helps provide mulch material within the replaced topsoil and provides a <br />source of indigenous plant propagules to aid in establishment of initial vegetative <br />culture on reclaimed azeas. <br />B. The Division has determined selected overburden materials shall be used for, or as <br />a supplement to, topsoil. This variance applies to areas at the SA Portal, old shop, <br />and temporary office azea due to their disturbance prior to the Act and the lack of <br />salvaged topsoil at these locations. This determination is based on physical and <br />chemical analyses and field trials approved by the Division. Previously, Stipulation <br />No. 2 had been attached to the permit. This stipulation was complied with upon the <br />submission of Technical Revision No. 8. Details of the overburden analysis may <br />be found in Exhibit 41 (4.06.2(4)(a)). <br />IV. Sealing of Drilled Holes and Underground Openings <br />26 <br />