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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />4.06 Topsoil <br />4.06.1 General Requirements <br />Before the disturbance of any area, topsoil is removed and segregated from other material. Upon removal, <br />this material is either immediately redistributed on regraded areas or stockpiled in locations shown on the <br />Topsoil Handling Maps 28 and 28A. <br />4.06.2 Removal <br />All topsoil, as classified in section 2.04.9, is removed from areas to be affected by the surface coal mining <br />operations. The graphical representation of the topsoil removal is shown on the Topsoil Handling Map <br />(Map 28 and 28A). This map has been greatly simplified from that of the original application to reflect <br />actual on-the-ground operations. The techniques for removal of woody plant materials that otherwise <br />would interfere with the usefulness of the topsoil is discussed in Section 2.05.3 <br />The average thicknesses for each soils series: to be removed can be found in the legend of the Soils - <br />South Map (Map 6). Removal techniques for topsoil is described in Section 2.05.3. <br />A variance from topsoil removal was requested and approved by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety for the following areas; construction of small structures such as power poles, signs or <br />fence lines, areas of light traffic that do not destroy existing vegetation or cause erosion and areas where <br />removal would result in needless damage to soil characteristics such as sediment control ditches and small <br />water diversions. In most cases, especially on steep slopes, removal of topsoil prior to ditch construction <br />needlessly damages large areas of topsoil, along with the adjacent natural vegetation. Implementation of <br />the technique of cutting the ditches directly into the hillside without topsoil removal will limit needless <br />topsoil disturbance, reduce unnecessary destruction of adjacent vegetation and will facilitate reclamation <br />of the ditches at a future date. <br />It should also be clarified that consistent with Map 6, Soils - South, there will be small areas of rock <br />outcrop, rocky steep slopes, etc. where the topsoil depth is 0 inches. Where this occurs there will not be <br />an attempt to recover topsoil or otherwise disturb the area before disturbance by mining. <br />Colowyo does not plan to use overburden material for topsoil substitutes or as a supplement to topsoil. <br />Colowyo will remove topsoil before any mining operations commence and always maintain a buffer zone <br />between the area stripped of topsoil and the overburden drilling and blasting operations.. As depicted on <br />the Topsoil Handling Map (Map 28), the topsoil handling program will result in an orderly sequence for <br />the continuous removal, storage or reapplication of topsoil. The redistribution of topsoil will be done at a <br />time when the physical and chemical properties of the topsoil can be protected from alteration while <br />minimizing the potential for erosion. <br />Topsoil and vegetation matter is windrowed during initial sediment pond construction then typically re- <br />spread onto the outslope of the pond embankment to facilitate revegetation and erosion control. <br />The pond embankments are constructed utilizing in-place materials directly below the upper topsoil zone. <br />This colluvial material is "topsoil" in nature and will be utilized at a future date for pond reclamation. <br />Since the nature of the embankment material functions readily as a topsoil material no additional topsoil <br />will be required for final reclamation of the site. <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4.06-1 Revision Date: 6/23/08 <br />Revision No.: MR-91