Laserfiche WebLink
• Stripping Frozen Topsoil <br />The scanned Table 2.05.4(2)(d)-1A from the Natural Resources Conservation Service-Soil <br />Survey of San Miguel Area, Colorado, pg 197 shows the average monthly temperatures from <br />1961-1990 for Uravan Colorado area, which is near Nucla.. It can be seen that the average <br />daily temperatures are above freezing from February through November. The average daily <br />temperature for December and January are only two-four (2-4) degrees F below freezing so it is <br />believed that the frost line below the ground surface would be minimal and will not penetrate <br />through the Prime Farmland Lift A horizon. The only concern one would ever have is the <br />operational possibility of pulling up chunks of frozen Lift A and B topsoil together with <br />equipment because of the frost. One wouldn't want to dilute topsoil Lift A with big chunks of <br />topsoil Lift B. For a single lift topsoil removal or a mixed topsoil stripping situation, then that <br />concern goes away. It should be noted that New Horizon stacks Lift A, Lift B and Mixed topsoil <br />into separate but large piles with a dozer. The larger the topsoil pile, the more dirt insulation <br />there is protecting the interface to Lift B directly under the pile. The conclusion is, that stripping <br />(dozing, load, haul, dump, and regrading) topsoil in freezing conditions is perfectly acceptable <br />• at the New Horizon Mine. By the rare chance there is a micro occurrence of an extremely sub <br />freezing period of time, for many weeks, the actual rip, doze and stacking of any Lift A will be <br />curtailed but stacking of Lift B or Mixed topsoil could continue. Finally, there would be a high <br />probability the dozer(s) wouldn't be able to start or operate under those extreme freezing <br />conditions anyway. <br />Stripping Saturated Topsoil <br />The scanned Table 2.05.4(2)(d)-1A from the Natural Resources Conservation Service-Soil <br />Survey of San Miguel Area, Colorado, pg 197 shows the average monthly precipitation from <br />1961-1990 for Uravan Colorado area, which is near Nucla. The monthly average ranges from <br />0.62"-1.53" per month. The yearly average is only 12.60" of precipitation per year. WFC just <br />doesn't see a problem with the ground getting saturated beyond a couple inches by rainfall, at <br />any one time. The average snowfall per month as seen in Table 2.05.4(2)(d)-1A is also <br />insignificant for the Nucla area. As mentioned above, Lift A, Lift B and Mixed topsoil will be <br />• (Revised Nov 2008) 2.05.4(2)(d)-23