Laserfiche WebLink
• Soil Pit-Soil Fertility-Revegatation Monitoring. <br />Shallow postmine Boil pits are excavated periodically near representative revege[a ti on <br />monitoring sites to evaluate plant rooting characteristics, determine soil fertility, <br />ensure spoil suitability, and compare soil/spoil data with site-specific revegetation data- <br />The pits are selected using an intensity of one pit per 25 acres of reclamation. Pos[mine <br />soil pits are placed within reclamation blocks that have been soiled and seeded for a <br />minimum of three years. Similar minimum time frames are used for monitoring postmine <br />vegetation. The permanent vegetation has generally established sufficiently after three to <br />four years to evaluate interactions between rooting depths and soil/spoil quality (Schafer <br />e[ al., 1979). <br />No soil or spoil samples were collected from shallow postmine soil pits during [he 1995 <br />field season. The first 25 acres of permanent reclamation on final graded spoil was <br />completed during 1997. Therefore, sampling Erom shallow postmine soil pits will be <br />initiated during the 1996 or 1997 field season. <br />Soil Replacement Technique. <br />The soil replacement area for [he 1995 field season is shown on Exhibit 95.2b. Soil was <br />• replaced on 15.0 acres of final graded slopes in the 'A' pit area, this soil came from <br />stockpile N which had started to slide and needed to be moved. The areas covered Erom <br />stockpile N are shown in Exhibit 95.2b (15.0 acresl- All advance topsoil removal in the ^A" <br />pit area was imported into stockpile GG. <br />Soil Balance. <br />SCC submits the soil balance with the Annual Reclamation Report as required by Permit C-82- <br />057, Tab 21, Pages 5, 32, and 33, and as recommended by Section <br />32.04.13(2) of Colorado's Requlatione Eor Coal Mining. The soil balance is completed to <br />ensure soil ie salvaged, stockpiled, and replaced as recommended and approved in [he <br />permit, and, iE necessary, [o readjust the soil salvage and redistribution thickness. The <br />soil information is also used eo update the soil volume information previously submitted <br />with the 1994 Annual Reclamation Report (SCC, updated by revisions and responses December <br />1995.) and confirm the mean soil replacement thickness Eor the first five-year permit term. <br />Soil Salvage and Storage. <br />The disturbance area from which soil was salvaged and the soil stockpile sites as of <br />• December 31, 1995 are shown on Exhibit 95.2a- During 1995, soil was imported to stockpile <br />SS[e GG. Soil was exported from Stockpile Site N, completely depleting its reserve. <br />3 <br />