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May Day Idaho Mine Complex 112(d) Permit Application <br />4.0 Analysis <br />Soil samples of disturbed areas were collected to determine the need for any amendment or <br />fertilizer during reclamation. Composite soil samples were collected from the following <br />locations (Figure I -1): <br />• Benches at May Day No. 1 (May Day -1), May Day No. 2 (May Day -4), Idaho (Idaho -1, <br />Idaho -2), Lamb (Lamb -1) and Chief (Chief -1) Operational Areas; <br />• Potential Locations for Augmentation Ponds at the Idaho Operational Area (SS -1, SS -2); <br />• Mine Rock on the outslope of benches May Day No. 1 (May Day -2), May Day No. 2 <br />(May Day -3) and Lamb (Lamb -2) Operational Areas; <br />• Access Road (Access Road -1, Access Road -2, Tailings -1). <br />Soil samples were placed in a plastic sample bag and transported under chain of custody to <br />Green Analytical Laboratories in Durango, Colorado for analysis of pH, organic matter, <br />phosphorus, nitrogen and exchangeable cations. <br />5.0 Results <br />Analytical results are presented in Table 1. Analytical reports are presented in Attachment I -2. <br />The analytical results are similar for all samples. The soil is moderately alkaline (pH 7.2 -7.6) <br />except for soil formed on the colluvium on the upper Access Road which was moderately acid <br />(pH 5.8). Organic matter values were less than 4% in samples collected from the disturbed <br />. areas. Organic matter greater than 4% was reported at the proposed location of the Idaho <br />Augmentation Pond and the colluviums on the upper Access Road. <br />The cation exchange capacity (10 -17 meq /100g) indicate fine grained material content that <br />support the field texture class. Calcium is the dominant cation, and sodium is very low ( <1 <br />meq /100g). Calculated sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) supports that sodium is not significant in <br />these soils. <br />Nitrogen concentrations are <0.7% in all samples indicating the potential for fertilization during <br />reclamation. The NRCS has recommended the addition of 20 lbs of N /acre within the first two <br />years of seeding (Attachment Q. <br />6.0 Implications for Operation <br />Based on this field investigation, the following operational procedures are recommended for the <br />handling of soil during mining and reclamation activities: <br />• Salvaging of topsoil is not required; and <br />• Minimal fertilization may be required within the first two years of seeding during <br />reclamation. <br />• <br />May Day Idaho Mine Complex 112(d) Permit Application <br />September 21, 2010 <br />4 <br />