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SCC will continue [o closely monitor soil handling operations during the 2003 field season. Only suitable <br />sources of soil within the disturbance area will be salvaged to ensure the reclaimed areas are restored to the <br />desired postmine land uses. SCC will obtain variances pursuant to Rule 4.06.2(2) and Permit C-82-057 <br />whenever suitable soil cannot be salvaged exclusively from any map unit because of equipment limitations <br />or operator safety concerns. <br />Soil Pit -Soil Fertility <br />Shallow postmine soil pits are excavated periodically near representative revege[ation monitoring sites to <br />evaluate plan[ rooting characteristics, determine soil fertility, ensure spoil suitability, and compare soil/spoil <br />data with site-specific revegeta[ion data. The pits are selected using an intensity of one pi[ per 25 acres of <br />reclamation. Postmine 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 vegetation. The <br />permanent vegetation has generally established sufficiently after three [o four years to evaluate interactions <br />between rooting depths and soil/spoil quality (Schafer et al., 1979). See soils tab for complete discussion <br />and data. <br />Spoil Sampline in the Lennox Coal Outcrop Area and the Graded Wadee Spoil <br />• No final grading or revegetation activities occurred in the Lennox Coal outcrop areas during the 2002 field <br />season. Therefore, no spoil samples were collected. The 1998 Annual Reclamation Report contains results <br />of soil and graded spoil analysis conducted at the Seneca II-W Mine site. <br />2002 Soil Replacement Thickness <br />SCC is required by Permit C-82-057 and Section 4.06.4(2)(b) of Colorado's Regulations for Coal Mining to <br />document and record [he soil replacement thickness for each reclamation block using a minimum sampling <br />intensity of one hole per five acres. The soil replacement thickness information is used to adjust soil salvage <br />depths, if necessary, and for bond release purposes. Sampling is conducted on a 500-foot grid. <br />Soil Replacement Technique <br />Soil was replaced on approximately 29.2 acres at the "A" pit. <br />Soil Balance <br />SCC is submitting the soil balance with the Annual Reclamation Report as required by Permit C-82-057, <br />Tab 21, Pages 5, 32, and 33, and as recommended by Section 32.04.13(2) of Colorado's Regulations for Coal <br />Mining. The soil balance is completed to ensure soil is salvaged, stockpiled, and replaced as recommended <br />and approved in the permit, and, if necessary, to readjust the soil salvage and redistribution thickness. The <br />• soil information is also used to update the soil volume information previously submitted with the 1999 <br />Annual Reclamation Report (SCC, 2001) and confirm the mean soil replacement thickness for the first two <br />five-year permit terms. <br />2 <br />