2010-05-07_PERMIT FILE - C2009087 (14)

Home Browse Search

• Sage Creek Mine Baseline Soil Survey Produced for Sage Creek Coal Company, a Peabody Energy Subsidiary 1.0 INTRODUCTION Sage Creek Coal Company, a Peabody Energy Subsidiary, plans to develop an underground coal mine, known as the Sage Creek Coal Mine, within Routt County southeast of Hayden, Colorado. The project area is located on lands within or adjacent to the currently permitted Seneca II Mine and Foidel Creek Mine. The Soils Study Area is approximately 12,075 acres in size and includes several potential surface - affected areas including the primary mine -portal area, several additional mine portal /pothole excavation areas, several vent shaft sites, a coal mine waste rock storage area, and a potential transportation corridor. At the time of the survey, the potential surface- affected areas consisted of approximately 240 acres. The transportation corridor extends several miles from the south end of the Seneca II Mine permit area to the mine facilities area at Twentymile Coal Company's (TCC) Foidel Creek Mine. Much of the transportation corridor overlaps the Foidel Creek Mine permit area. The permit application package includes the complete legal descriptions and maps of project area lands. • The purpose of this study is to document the baseline soils on the project study area. The identification and proper management of the topsoil resources in the study area is essential for the success of reclamation in the affected areas and the achievement of the post - mining land use. The information presented in this report is designed to aid in the formulation of a practical and successful reclamation plan. 2.0 METHODOLOGY The soil resources of the project study area were investigated during the fall of 2008 by Jim Nyenhuis, Certified Professional Soil Scientist/Soil Classifier (ARCPACS #2753), with 30 years experience conducting detailed soil surveys for mining projects in the Western United States, including the nearby Yoast, Seneca II -W South, and Big Elk baseline soil survey projects as well as regraded spoil and reapplied topsoil description and sampling at Yoast and Seneca II -W. The soils study was designed in accordance with Rule 2.04.9 (Soils Resource Information) of the Colorado Revised Rules and Regulations (9/14/05). Standard soil survey methods were used throughout the soils resource assessment. Soils mapping, description, classification, and sampling were conducted in accordance with the standards and procedures of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (Soil Survey Staff, 1993 and 1999; Schoeneberger et. al., 2002, and Tugel et. al. 2008). Because the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (CDRMS, formerly CDMG) does not • 1