Laserfiche WebLink
• 3.2 TOPSOIL <br />i <br />3.2.1 Removal <br />BeEure an area is dis[urbed by drilling, blasting, mining or other surface dis- <br />turbance, the topsoil is removed as appropriate. The first step in the topsoil <br />removal operation is the stripping of any brush ur trees that would interfere <br />with the use uE the topsoil. This is generally accomplished with a dozer which <br />pushes the vegetation onto a previously disCurbed area, such as the open pit or <br />nearby drill benches. Alternatively, the material may be ground up into a mulch- <br />Like consistency and picked up with the topsoil, or burned. <br />After removing the brush or trees, topsoil is removed from the areas to be dis- <br />turbed. In any given year, enough topsoil is removed from an acea to allow <br />drilling and blasting activities to advance through June of [he following year. <br />A buffer zone is added to Che removal area each year to accommodate unplanned <br />activities and to avoid potential contamination of topsoil adjacent to drilling <br />and blasting activities. <br />Topsoil is usually removed with scrapers. In addition, dozers or similar~equip- <br />ment are used to maintain roads and to otherwise assist in the topsoiling <br />operation. <br />Where B horizon material is saved, it is picked up and moved along with the A <br />horizon and not separa[ed. Mixing of the A and B horizons as a practice has been <br />found acceptable to the Office of Surface Mining Appendix G). Complete discus- <br />sions on the rationale of topsoil depths and criteria fur topsoil replacement are <br />provided in Sections 2.6 and 4.9. <br />Once the topsoil is removed, it is transported by scrapers either to regraded <br />spoil Eor replacement or to a stockpile fur temporary storage. <br /> <br />3-19 <br />REVISED FEB 13 '87 <br />