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structures are shown on Permit Map 26. Stream buffer exemption signs have been <br />posted at appropriate locations. <br />III. Topsoil <br />Baseline soils information is presented in Section 2.04 and Exhibits 12 and 13 of the <br />permit application. Maps 19 and 19a show the locations of the soil mapping units. The <br />topsoil handling and management plan is given in Section 2.05.3 of the permit <br />application. Final reclamation plans, including soils information, are given for the <br />Williams Fork Strip Pit in Exhibit 24. Topsoil stockpile locations are shown on the <br />structures and renewable resources map (Map 25). These locations are verbally <br />described on Tables 58 through 62. <br />The permit area has had a long history of surface and underground mining resulting in <br />many areas of disturbance where no topsoil was salvaged. In other areas, subsoil and <br />topsoil have been stripped and stockpiled. Some limited areas may be disturbed in the <br />future; in these areas, the suitable soil will be stripped and stockpiled. The majority of <br />the soils which have been salvaged or will be salvaged in the future vary in texture from <br />clay or silty loams to sandy loams. Most of the soils tested were silty clay loams. Most <br />soil material which has been or remains to be stripped is rated as fair, with the major <br />limiting factor being the somewhat high clay content. Effective rooting depth varies <br />from 20 to 60 inches, with the most productive soils found in the bottomland areas. Soil <br />reaction is neutral to slightly alkaline, with the exception of small scattered sodic <br />substrata. These small isolated areas probably formed in place from weathered sodic <br />shales. <br />In the areas where topsoil is available for replacement, the replacement depth will vary <br />from 6 to 18 inches (Permit Tables 58 through 62). The material is suitable for seedbed <br />material. Because of the lack of available topsoil in some of the previously disturbed <br />areas, the utilization of overburden material as a plant growth medium has been <br />approved. These areas include the No. 5A Portal area and portions of the old shop, <br />temporary office and some other areas of the No. 5A Portal area (see Table 59 in the <br />permit application). <br />Stipulation No. 2 was formerly attached to the permit, which required BTU EC to <br />submit results of overburden sampling to the Division for overburden proposed for use <br />as plant growth media. BTU EC satisfied this stipulation with submission of the <br />required information in Technical Revision No. 8 in October 1987. <br />A. The Division has waived the requirement for clearing of vegetation cover prior to <br />topsoil removal. The applicant has demonstrated that inclusion of vegetation cover <br />in salvaged topsoil is necessary or desirable to ensure soil productivity consistent <br />with the post-mining land use (4.06.2(1)). Large shrubs and woody plant species <br />will be removed prior to topsoil salvage. Generally, no effort will be made to <br />remove grasses, forbs, and smaller shrubs and woody plants prior to recovery. The <br />Division has approved incorporation of this vegetative material into the topsoil <br />because it helps provide mulch material within the replaced topsoil and provides a <br />Eagle Mine Complex 27 Permit Renewal 05 <br />C-1981-044 May 22, 2009