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Doc Date:12111/2001 III IIIIII I IIIIII III <br />sss <br />• e7rv4.s SOILS <br />Topsoil removal and redistribution will affect the physical, chemical and biological qualities of a soil. Pro- <br />cedures designed to mitigate soil damage and allow for rapid stabilization are highly desirable. Trapper <br />Mine will endeavor to manage topsoil resources to minimize the negative effects of salvaging, stockpiling <br />and replacing soils to the extent practicable. <br />4.9.1 Salvaging <br />Where dense stands of mountain shrub occur, brush must be eliminated or pulverized before topsoil can <br />be salvaged. This process may occur using a conventional dozer blade, heavy industrial disc, industrial <br />grade rotoclear or other suitable equipment or techniques such as prescribed burning. These tech- <br />niques have the advantage of retaining root stock and organic material in the topsoil. Thus, re-sprouting <br />of plants and enhancement of the nutrient pool in the topsoil is improved. <br />Separate stripping of soil pedogenic horizons is not practiced at Trapper Mine. The A horizons are gen- <br />erally thick with a fairly high organic matter content but weak structural aggregate stability. The B hori- <br />zons have moderate structural aggregate stability and contain most of the weathered, translocated clay <br />minerals. This layer is capable of providing a 'bank' of slowly releasable plant nutrients. A more fertile, <br />• erosion resistant and stable seed bed surface is provided by mixing the A and upper B horizons during <br />normal stripping operations than would be obtained by attempting soil horizon reconstruction. This is <br />based on the fact that the A horizon generally is composed of fine sands and silt, and the heavier textural <br />characteristics of the B horizon tends to reduce wind and water erosion that would occur from the loose, <br />fluffy consistency produced when the A horizon is disturbed. The tower B and C horizons are generally <br />not salvaged because these layers are generally very clayey, infertile and have weak soil structure. This <br />procedure is supported by the Office of Surface Mining which concluded that the current soil salvaging <br />and topsoiling procedures, used by the operator, as stated above are not detrimental to reclamation <br />(see correspondence in Appendix G). <br />PR-3 <br />• 4-249 0 <br />;are