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West E!k Mine <br />Mountain Coal Company recovers and handles topsoil in a manner that maximizes recovery and <br />• minimizes dilution as far as is technologically and economically feasible. Seedbed quality material <br />is the final reclaimed soil surface. Table 36 presents the topsoil availability in the surface facilities <br />and refuse disposal areas. <br />Topsoil in the affected azeas is stripped and either applied to surfaces ready for reclamation or <br />stockpiled for other use as shown in that table. Subsoil, not fully suitable for seedbed material, is <br />also excavated, as necessary, for construction purposes. Topsoil consisting of all of the A horizon <br />and part of the B horizon of each soil series present is stripped before construction begins and <br />replaced following operational activities. <br />Evaluation of the soils present in the permit area indicates the upper portions of the B horizon are <br />suitable for use as seedbed quality material. Lower portions of the B horizon were unsuitable due to <br />the presence of heavy clay and/or coarse rock fragments. Mountain Coal Company can meet the <br />final land use and bond release criteria without segregating A from B horizon material since both <br />aze good seedbed quality. This is also true for the soils in the Sylvester Gulch Facilities Area <br />(Exhibit 27A). <br />The amount of stripped topsoil has been calculated to be adequate to cover the surface disturbed <br />area of the main mine facilities with a minimum depth of 12 inches of seedbed quality material, the <br />refuse disposal area with a minimum depth of 9 inches (or approximately half of the total soil cover <br />per the approved variance), and a minimum of 12 inches to be replaced on the Sylvester Gulch <br />Facilities Area. A Topsoil Assessment conducted in 1981 and verified in 1984 confirmed the <br />• availability of sufficient quantities of topsoil to reclaim the disturbed areas at West Elk. Another <br />topsoil survey and balance was completed in 1993, again confirming sufficient topsoil quantities. <br />Therefore, there is no need to salvage subsoil in the form of underlying B and C horizon materials. <br />Any topsoil remaining after the above described amounts have been replaced over the disturbed <br />azeas, will be applied to slope faces and other areas subject to high erosion hazard potential before <br />final seeding operations begin. <br />Table 39 Temporary Stabilization Seed Mix <br /> <br /> <br />Common Name <br />Species Name <br />~'ariery <br />Character' <br />Seeds/Lb. <br />Seeds Sq. <br />Ft. Seed Rate <br />lbs. <br />(PLSllace <br />Graminoids <br />Bluebunch wheatgrass Agroppron spicanrm Secar N. C. B 145,000 4 1.20 <br />Pubescent wheatgrass .4gropyron rrrcophontm Topar 1, C. S 90.000 10 4.84 <br />Smooth brume Bromus inermis Manchar 1, C, S 140.000 I S 4.67 <br />Western wheatgrass dgrop}•ron smnlni N. C. S 12>,000 7 2.4a <br /> <br />Forbs <br />Cicer milkvetch ,4srragalus titer ,Monarch I, C, L 130.000 10 3.35 <br />Small burner Sanguisorba minor Derar 1, C 42.000 4 4.15 <br /> <br />Totals 50 30.65 <br />Notes <br />1. Character codes: N = native. I = Introduced, C =Cool-season, B =Bunch grass, 5 =Sod-formes L =Leguminous <br />2. Rates proposed are for drill seeding, broadcast rate or hydmseeding 2X the rate. <br />2.5-54 Revisedb'ov. 1996PR07; Revised Jan. /997TR79: Revised Sep 19971IR1?7 <br />