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<br />4. Barx soils have been indicated on Exhibit C Mining Map where they are thought to occur as <br />a thin veneer, if they occur all, along the south boundary of the permit area. A generalized <br />soils map from SCS soils survey report has been added into Exhibit I, however, detailed field <br />observations and SCS's qualifying statements show that there is room for detailed on-site <br />interpretation. Barx alluvial soils logically occur on the flat bench-top stratigraphically <br />above, and apparently deposited upon, the Clapper. Clapper soils also lie on the bench top <br />and spill down-slope on the north bench face as talus. Apparently the Barx overlies the <br />Clapper slightly at the south boundary. At the north boundary of the "tertiary exc area" it is <br />appropriate to exercise site-specific discretion and assume the area marked " 3" soil group on <br />the Soils Map should be further down the slope, and out of the permit area. <br />Exhibit C -Pre-Mining & Mining Plan Map <br />5. Closer examination of site conditions has revealed that below the (average) 3-inch root <br />depth of the existing vegetation the surface soil has a significant content of caliche. This, in <br />our opinion warrants our separation of the (average) 3-inch depth of "topsoil" from the <br />underlying relatively inert sub-soil. You may recall the care taken to isolate topsoil in the <br />demonstration stripping in the southwest quarter of the site during our on-site inspection with <br />you. This description has been clarified in the enclosed Exhibit I Soils Description. <br />6. The Initial Mining Phase indeed has three highwalls, two of which (south & west) are <br />bonded to be permanently backfilled with stripped overburden. Although the bond accounts <br />for the entire 1,350 lineal feet of those walls, as it must, in actuality those walls shall be <br />progressively backfilled as overburden is stripped to avoid repetitive handling. The third <br />(north) highwall, although intended to be only temporary for the long range plan, is bonded, <br />as it must be, for cut & fill slope reduction (Exhibit L, Page 28, Item ®). Existing stockpiled <br />overburden is already available for that effort also. <br />It is impossible to know in advance just how well these overburden reserves will balance, <br />but the guiding principal is to minimize the expensive movement thereof by hauling direct to <br />disposal (whether to backfill or disposal waste). Even in the (last priority) disposal terrace <br />(or gulch), soils are not disposed of irretrievably, should a need for additional back-filling <br />arise. <br />7. Being situated on the north slope of the bench, the existing surface of the footprint of the <br />disposal terrace is primarily talus from the gravelly deposits above, and has no significant <br />rock-free soil. No stripping of the surface is necessary before placing disposal fill. Any <br />