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Topsoil Redistribution Plan <br />Prior to any mining-related disturbances, all available topsoil will be removed from the site to <br />be disturbed as discussed in Section 2.05.3, and will be redistributed or stockpiled as <br />necessary to satisfy the needs of the reclamation timetable as described herein. <br />Final grading before topsoil placement will be conducted in a manner that minimizes erosion <br />and provides a surface for the topsoil that minimizes slippage. If spoil compaction is a <br />problem, the spoil will be ripped with a dozer to minimize compaction, assure stability and <br />minimize slippage after topsoil replacement. Where possible, development of concave <br />landforms (to encourage snow entrapment) will be developed on a case-by-case basis at the <br />discretion of the field supervisor. Such landforms will still have positive drainage in <br />accordance with overall permitted designs. Topsoil will then be redistributed and graded to <br />an average or variable replacement depth following the general rule of thin topsoil (0-8) <br />inches on ridge tops to gradually thicker topsoil moving down the slopes to the drainage <br />bottoms for the grazingland land use targeted areas. Criteria for sagebrush steppe areas is <br />defined further on in this section. <br />Prior to 2005, essentially all reclamation units were covered with an average of 18 inches of <br />topsoil. One exception to this was the CSU/DMG Shrub study area, which received various <br />treatments of replaced topsoil at 0", 6", and 18" as described in Section 4.15. <br />Starting in 2005, Section 12 of the Annual Report presents a summary of topsoil stockpile <br />volumes and a table showing the average topsoil replacement depth for each reclamation <br />polygon. <br />Topsoil will normally be reapplied by hauling, in trucks, from topsoil stockpiles or from <br />areas where topsoil has been removed for mining advance, to the regraded spoil areas and <br />then redistributed with dozers. Alternate methods may also include placing topsoil on slopes <br />with a dragline followed by redistribution with dozer, or using a scraper to redistribute the <br />topsoil. When necessary to ensure replacement to the required depths, replacement depths <br />will be staked on the regraded spoil. <br />Reapplied topsoil will be left in a rough condition to help control wind and water erosion <br />prior to seeding. Seedbed preparation, other surface manipulation practices and seeding will <br />be completed primarily during the fall months. Contour furrows, approximately 4-6 inches <br />deep at the deepest point and 20-25 inches wide, which have been used on slope areas very <br />successfully during the past several years, will be used to reduce erosion potential, conserve <br />moisture, and maintain site stability until vegetation is sufficiently established. The size of <br />the furrows may be increased if necessary to control erosion, and the distance between the <br />furrows will vary, but will be approximately 10 to 20 feet along the slope. Small rock check <br />dams may also be used where appropriate to aid in control of erosion both prior to seeding <br />and if necessary, after an area has been seeded. <br />Given recent changes to Federal legislation (30 C.F.R. §816.22(d)(1)(i)) as published in the <br />Federal Register (August 30, 2006, - pages 51683 - 51706), mine operators are now allowed to <br />use "non-uniform redistribution of topsoil in their reclamation plan to encourage plant <br />diversity...." Furthermore, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has requested Colowyo replace <br />topsoil in a non-uniform manner as indicated by their statement: (see complete CDOW letter in <br />2.05-46 Revision Date: 3/14/08 <br />Revision No.: TR-72