Laserfiche WebLink
l <br />(a) Seed bed preparation: <br />Because of the lack of sufficient topsoil for <br />less growth-conducive medium is to be used a5 <br />areas. The concern arises where ripping to a <br />inches mixes gob and coaly material with the <br />growth medium, thus lowering its quality even <br />reclamation, a much <br />topdressing in many <br />depth of twelve <br />already marginal <br />further. <br />Recommendation: <br />For areas to to topdressed - Rip to 12 inches and rough grade the <br />area before applying top dressing to prevent mixing of the soil <br />materials. <br />For areas to be ripped and seeded only - Do not rip to a depth that <br />exposes gob. If this depth is less than six inches, then <br />topdressing must be added to attain a depth of six inches. <br />(b) U.S. Soil Conservation Service seed mix recommendations suggest an <br />application rate of approximately 40 pure live seeds (PlS) per <br />square foot when drill seeding is utilized. Somerset Mining <br />Company's proposed seed mix is nearly double this rate. In <br />addition, the percentage of grass seeds (in Seed Mix No. 1) is <br />probably too high and the shrub seed numbers too low to achieve <br />bond release criteria. <br />Recommendation: <br />See attached adjusted seed mix tables. This suggested seed mix is <br />just one of many mix options available to SMC. <br />(c) Section 2.6 contains a blanket statement of fertilization rates to <br />be utilized site wide. Without soil sampling for agricultural <br />parameters before seeding, localized growth-inhibiting problems <br />cannot be detected. <br />Recommendation: <br />Develop a soil sampling scheme .o be initiated before seeding and <br />commit to adding soil amendments as the analysis results dictate. <br />The Division highly recommends that some form of these recommendations <br />are incorporated into SMC's permit document through the technical <br />revision process. <br />Hydrologic Balance <br />25. In order to bring SMC's permit document into compliance with <br />Rule 4.10.3(2), please submit, in the form of a Technical Revision, <br />design plans for an upland diversion ditch that will safely divert the <br />100-year, 24-hour event around the East Yard coal mine waste pile. <br />26. According to runoff calculation data in Appendix 13 (page B-2), Pond <br />No. 8 collects drainage from disturbed areas of the Elk Creek yard. <br />Page B-101 states that Pond 8 was never constructed. Please submit a <br />technical revision that provides updated designs for Pond 8, which comply <br />with 4.05.6 and 4.05.9. Please also clarify whether this is an approved <br />NPDES discharge point. <br />-6- <br />