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• Soil Horizon Nomenclature. In 1982, the USDA-Soil Conservation Service adopted a new <br />system of soil horizon nomenclature (Guthrie and Witty, 1982). All soil series being <br />mapped within ongoing sail surveys would be revised before publication. Soil series not <br />being mapped on current SCS soil surveys would not be revised at this time. <br />As a result some soil series descriptions might need horizon nomenclature revision in the <br />study area in order to be consistent with SCS standards and methods. The PCC Seneca II <br />Mine East Wadge Extension soil survey was conducted in accordance with the standards of <br />the National Cooperative Soil Survey. This horizon nomenclature revision, as necessary, <br />was completed as part of this final report. <br />Soil Series Correlation. A71 study area soil series were correlated with existing SCS <br />soil series criteria. Current soil series and map unit descriptions, Form 5's (Soil <br />Interpretation Record), and range site descriptions, for soils previously mapped on the <br />study area, were obtained from SCS and placed in PCC's field and office notebook. This <br />information facilitated soil series correlation. <br />• Prime Farmland Determination. The Colorado State Office of SCS in Denver was contacted <br />for information concerning prime farmland within the study area. In 1982, they issued a <br />revised publication entitled "Important Farmland Inventory - Colorado" (SCS, October <br />1982). This document, as well as a supplementary publication entitled "Important <br />Farmlands of Colorado - State Summary and Map" (SCS and Colorado State University <br />Agricultural Experiment Station, 1980) were reviewed. <br />Evaluation of Soils for Reclamation Potential. The soils and parent materials on the <br />study area were rated for suitability based on criteria presented in Table 9-6-2, Criteria <br />for Evaluating Soil Suitability. These suitability criteria were approved by CMLRD in the <br />scope-of-work. Recommended topsoil salvage depths were generated for each sampled pedon <br />and each component of a mapping unit. Salvage depths were determined following a detailed <br />evaluation of pH, electrical conductivity, saturation percent, soil texture, sodium <br />adsorption ratio, calcium carbonate percent, and coarse fragment percent. Secondary <br />suitability criteria including depth to bedrock, depth to ground water, consistence, <br />organic matter content, and slope steepness were also utilized to determine topsoil <br />salvage depths. <br />• Topsoil salvage depths were based on average depths to the suspect parameter or average <br />9-6-14 Revised 05/16/88 <br />