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• In addition to soil sampling, a complete soil profile description was completed at each <br />backhoe pit location. Soils description followed standard Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service (NAGS) field methods (Schoeneberger et.al., 2002). Digital <br />photographs were taken of each pit and adjacent landscape. All soil and spoil laboratory <br />data was reviewed and approved by IML soils laboratory supervisor Ms. Karen Barten. <br />All soil and spoil samples were analyzed by IML. The analytical pazameters for the soil <br />backhoe pits included: pH; saturation percent, electrical conductivity (EC); sodium <br />adsorption ratio (SAR calculation from meq/L for calcium, magnesium, and sodium); <br />texture (percent sand, sih, and clay - by hydrometer method), and NPK (nitrate-nitrogen, <br />phosphorus, and potassium, ppm). The overburden spoil samples from the backhoe pits <br />were also analyzed for these parameters, except phosphorus and potassium, as well as <br />Boron (B), Selenium (Se), and acid-base potential (ABP) which included sepazate <br />analysis/calculation for: total sulfur percent, total sulfiu acid-base (tons/1000 tons), <br />neutralization potential (tons/1000 tons), total sulfur acid-base potential (tons/1000 tons), <br />and pyritic sulfur acid-base potential (tons/1000 tons) for any samples with a total sulfur <br />ABP of less than minus five (<5.0). The analytical parameters for the "final regraded <br />spoil" samples included pH, EC, SAR, saturation percent, texture, nitrate-nitrogen, and <br />ABP. <br />All field and laboratory data were evaluated for suitability based on standazd threshold <br />values for significant parameters, primarily EC, SAR, and AB potential. References for <br />suitability evaluation include "Criteria for Evaluating Overburden, Underburden, and <br />Regraded Spoil Suitability" (Seneca Coal IIW Mine, Table 6-3, revised January 2002), <br />and "Criteria to Establish Suitability of Topsoil, or Topsoil Substitutes, and Overburden" <br />(Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Tables I-2 and I-4, revised <br />November1996). Unsuitable values include pH (<5 or >9), saturation percent (<25 or <br />>85), electrical conductivity (EC>12), sodicity (SAR >18 or 22 depending on clay <br />texture), and nitrate-nitrogen (>60ppm). Clay, sandy clay, or silty clay texture with <br />greater than 50 percent clay content is also considered unsuitable except with <br />amelioration (Seneca Coal II W Mine, 2002). <br />3.0 RESULTS <br />Reaoolied Topsoil and Regraded Saoil Laboratory Results: <br />Several sets of laboratory data are attached to this report. Set 1 samples were delivered to <br />IML on March 29 and reported on April 13, 2006. They include 3 final-grade spoil <br />samples from Yoast (Yoast #1 thru #3) and 3 from 2W (2W #l thru #3). Set 2 samples <br />were delivered on May 11 and reported on May 30, and include 3 final-grade spoil <br />samples from Yoast (Yoast #4 thru #6) and 3 from 2W (2W #4 thru #6). Set 3 samples <br />were delivered on June 9 and reported on September 26, and include 8 final-grade spoil <br />samples from Yoast (Yoast #7 thru #14) and 3 from 2W (2W #7 thru #9). Set 4 samples <br />were delivered on August 9 and reported on September 13, and include 10 final-grade <br />• spoil samples from Yoast (Yoast #15 thru #24) and 16 from 2W (2W #10 thru #25). Set 5 <br />samples were delivered on October 6 and reported on November 2, and include 8 final- <br />3 <br />