2009-06-09_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A ‎(6)‎

• Permit No: C1980007A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/9/2009
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.05.4 Reclamation Plan
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

• information about each unit aze presented in the Soils Resource Information Section. Any reference
to "topsoil", therefore, will mean only those soil horizons considered suitable for use as seedbed
quality material. Topsoil will be removed ahead of surface disturbance activities. Any vegetative
cover that would interfere with topsoil removal will be removed first. There will be no disturbance
(except as approved by the regulatory authority) in the riparian azeas as indicated on the reclamation
schedule maps (Map 56 and Map 57). Every effort will be made to minimize the azeas of
disturbance and to strip the topsoil only as needed for construction or refuse disposal activities.
Table 36 presents the topsoil material which has been salvaged to date.
Map 56 identifies two additional types of areas relevant to topsoil salvage; natural azeas and
rehandle azeas. Natural azeas are inclusions or native undisturbed vegetation within the confines of
the portal, facilities and load-out azeas. These areas have not been disturbed and remain as relict
azeas of native vegetation and soils, providing cover for wildlife and natural screening of the mine
operations. Rehandled areas aze those azeas where the topsoil was disturbed and reconditioned and
reseeded during construction operations or where topsoil was stripped and replaced subsequent to
construction operations at the mine site. Both types of azeas were mulched and reseeded. These
azeas will not require additional re-topsoiling during final revegetation activities, and aze not
included as disturbed azeas for the purposes of topsoil redistribution.
Existing baseline soil depth information will continue to be visually verified in the field during
topsoil salvage. Stripping operations will be closely monitored in the field to ensure that all useable
topsoil is salvaged. Specific horizons will be visually delineated during topsoil stripping. Topsoil
• salvage volumes will be established through visual observation. A topsoil salvage monitoring plan
is provided in the Topsoil Salvage Monitoring Plan Section.
Since it is necessary to stockpile topsoil from the plant facilities site during the life of the mining
operation, the stockpiles have been designed and maintained so as to minimize wind and water
erosion and to preserve the seedbed material in useable condition. All topsoil stockpiles are marked
with appropriate signs. Topsoil stockpiles that will not be redistributed for five or more yeazs will
be seeded with the permanent seed mix (Table 37), excluding shrubs, and not the temporary seed
mix. Stockpiles in place for less than five yeazs will be seeded with the temporary seed mix
described in Table 39. Trees, boulders, and other waste will be sepazated and removed before
topsoil stockpiling. Subsoil materials at the West Elk Mine aze typically not suitable for use as
topsoil in reclamation. These materials aze suitable for use in construction and for use asnon-toxic,
non-combustible cover as described by the regulations. Subsoil stockpiled for reclamation at the
Lower Refuse Pile and in Sylvester Gulch will be used only for reclamation. Subsoil stockpiled at
the north soil storage area will be utilized for reclamation of the Refuse Pile Expansion (RPE) area.
Disturbed areas will be covered with topsoil and revegetated only after activities have ceased in that
specific azea. When necessary, temporary erosion control measures, such as straw mulch, rock
talus, jute netting or excelsior matting, will be used on disturbed azeas that will be inactive for
periods too short to establish grass cover. Areas that will be inactive for a yeaz or more, reclamation
will be handled by planting special seed mixtures. See the Revegetafion Maintenance Section for a
more complete description of temporary reclamation.

Revised Jan. 1996 RV03;
2.05-51