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quantity and quality occur as a result of the operation. <br />As of December 2007, coal production has ceased, the mine portals have been sealed and <br />backfilled, and final reclamation has been largely completed (remaining projects are limited <br />to reclamation of waste disposal site sediment pond and associated temporary drainage <br />structures, and some remaining road narrowing, culvert removal, and low water crossing <br />construction). After successful reclamation is achieved, the hydrologic functions of the area <br />will be restored. <br />The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />IV. Topsoil <br />Narrative information dealing with baseline soil characteristics and depths available for <br />reclamation is located in Section 4.7 of the application. Narrative regarding soil resource <br />information specific to the disturbance associated with the coal mine waste disposal site is <br />found under Site Preparation and Construction, in Section 2.2.5. Analytical data and <br />suitability criteria are presented in permit Tables 4.7-1 through 4.7-7. Soil mapping <br />information, including mapping units, sample locations, and stripping depths is shown on <br />permit Figure 4.7-1, with supplemental sample locations for the coal waste disposal site <br />shown on permit Figure 4.7-2. Topsoil removal and storage is addressed in permit Sections <br />2.4 and 3.2, stockpile locations are shown on Figure 2.2-1, and topsoil redistribution is <br />addressed in permit section 3.4 and Table 3.3-1. The sequence of topsoil and subsoil <br />salvage, stockpiling, and placement specific to the phased development of the coal waste <br />disposal site is described under Site Preparation and Construction, in Section 2.2.5. <br />No topsoil was stripped prior to the 1977 exploration permit road and mine bench <br />disturbances. Construction of the road consisted primarily of minor widening of an existing <br />farm road and cutting an extension of the road up a steep canyon side slope to the coal <br />outcrop/mine bench area. This extension of the road, as well as development of the existing <br />face-up occurred in an area of thin soils along steep slopes. A combination of these steep <br />slopes and thin soils made topsoil salvage difficult. <br />Soils were mapped at an order I to 11 level of intensity in the area to be disturbed and order III <br />in other proximate areas (see Figure 4.7-2, Volume II and Table 4.4-2s Volume VI of the <br />application). These soils were classified to the series and subgroup level, respectively. <br />Sufficient suitable soil was determined to be available in the coal waste disposal area to <br />replace a 6 inch top-dressing over a 3.5 foot thickness of non-toxic cover soil. Topsoil from <br />initial salvage operations during the fall of 2004 was stored in a designated topsoil stockpile <br />located on the north side of the haul road, adjacent to the waste disposal site. Subsoil <br />suitable for non-toxic cover material has been stored in a designated cover soil stockpile on <br />the south side of the haul road in the same vicinity. The major portion of the topsoil and <br />cover soil material in these stockpiles was utilized for final reclamation of the coal waste <br />29