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removed and segregated from other materials. Topsoil material which has been removed will either be replaced <br />directly on regraded azeas or stockpiled for later replacement. <br />4.06.2 REMOVAL. <br />Suitable topsoil materials as identified by the baseline soil sampling program described by Section 2.04.9, Soil <br />Resources Information, have been and will continue to be removed from all areas to be disturbed by mining and <br />related operations. CEC plans to utilize tracked dozers to remove any large shrubs and woody plant species which <br />might interfere with soil recovery activities. Following these limited clearing operations, tractor-scrapers or front end <br />loaders and trucks will be utilized to recover all suitable topsoil material. Topsoil recovery areas will be located so as <br />to provide an adequate buffer between actual disturbed azeas and undisturbed areas. Maintenance of an adequate <br />buffer will help to prevent contamination of the topsoil resource. <br />Since CEC is an underground mining operation, the availability of regraded azeas for immediate topsoil redistribution <br />is limited. As such, most removed topsoil will be placed in topsoil stockpiles. <br />Generally, no effort will be made to remove grasses, fortis, and smaller shrub and woody plant species prior to topsoil <br />recovery. Recovery of as much vegetative material as is operationally practical, and incorporation of this material <br />into the topsoil during topsoil removal operations will effectively provide mulch material within the replaced topsoil <br />and will provide a source of indigenous plant propagules to establish an initial vegetative culture on reclaimed areas. <br />4.06.3 STORAGE <br />As stated earlier, most topsoil removed from disturbed areas will be placed in topsoil stockpiles <br />• These topsoil stockpiles will be located in stable areas which are separated from actual mining operations in order to <br />prevent any unnecessary compaction or contamination of the topsoil resource. The location, configuration, and <br />orientation of topsoil stockpiles have been selected and designed to minimize wind and water erosion. Any topsoil <br />stockpiles which will not be disturbed for periods greater than six (6) months will be protected by establishing a <br />vegetative cover, Planting of temporary vegetation will occur in either the spring or the fall and will be supplemented <br />by voluntary growth resulting from the indigenous plant propagules incorporated in the topsoil material during <br />removal activities. The seed mixture shown on Table 57, Topsoil Stockpile Seed Mixture (in Section 2.05.3, <br />Operation Plan), will be utilized to establish a rapid growing cover on long-term topsoil stockpile areas. Revegetation <br />will be accomplished by seeding stockpile areas using a rangeland seed drill wherever possible. In limited instances, <br />broadcast seeding may be necessary where operational considerations preclude the use of drill seeding equipment. <br />In order to clearly identify topsoil stockpile areas and prevent any unnecessary traffic or disturbance, these areas will <br />be clearly posted with durable signs and markers identifying them as topsoil stockpile areas. Other than necessary <br />revegetation efforts and any necessary maintenance, including repair of surface erosion, topsoil stockpile areas will <br />not be disturbed until the topsoil material is required for topsoil replacement and reclamation activities. <br />Prior to any redistribution of topsoil, the regraded surface will be left in a roughened condition to avoid slippage of <br />the topsoil. Topsoil replacement activities will be controlled utilizing either grade stakes or grade strips to ensure <br />uniform placement depth. Tractor-scrapers or front-end loaders and trucks will be utilized for topsoil replacement <br />and motor graders will generally be utilized for distribution of topsoil material. During topsoil replacement and <br />grading activities, mechanical manipulation of the topsoil will be minimized to the extent possible in order to prevent <br />• any unnecessary compaction and minimize potential damage to incorporated indigenous plant propagules. Where <br />possible, topsoil will be replaced along the contour and the topsoil surface will be left in a roughened condition in <br />order to minimize erosion. <br />Permit Renewal No. 3 4.01-7 7/15198 <br />