2011-03-14_REVISION - M1977493 (63)

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CM0000129 Permit Amendment (AM-06) - Climax Mine 0 noted. Organic matter levels were low. Potassium, zinc and iron levels were tolerable. The pH ranged within levels suitable for good grass growth and salt levels posed no problems for revegetation. Climax has continued to conduct annual topsoil, subsoil, biosolids and rock cap soil testing to determine appropriate amendments for final reclamation. Soil pH, nutrient and organic matter deficiencies are currently being ameliorated by amending waste rock cap materials with salvaged soil materials, lime products such as agricultural lime and quick lime, and composted biosolids. 1-6 Soil Handling Estimated soil salvage depths by soil map unit are contained in Tables 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 with a mass balance summary contained in Table 1-4. The tables contain a listing of the soil map units, series and inclusions predicted to be affected by mining activities within select areas within the affected area boundary. The average replacement depth of the A-horizon and suitable B-Horizon soil material is 12 inches for the entire affected area. Variable soil replacement depth is being considered to establish appropriate soil depths for a particular vegetation type. In most instances, soil salvage will not be differentiated by specifically mapped soil unit boundaries. Soils with similar physical and chemical parameters that are best suited for a vegetation type associated with a particular postmining land use (upland grass, alpine, forest or riparian) may be salvaged together and either stockpiled or direct hauled. Due to the mixing of these similar soils during the stripping and stockpiling operations, the respread soils may not exhibit exactly the same physical and chemical constituents as the in-situ soils. However, this mixture of soils will exhibit similar chemical and physical characteristics to the in-situ soils and will be well suited to support similar land uses. Topsoil and suitable subsoil materials will be salvaged prior to mining associated disturbances and is discussed in Exhibit E, Section E-6.1. Soil salvage, placement and storage activities will be conducted using a variety of mobile equipment. Topsoil materials will be either stockpiled separately from subsoil materials or direct hauled for final placement. Soil salvage depths will be determined by horizon, organic matter content, coarse fragment content and equipment accessibility. 1-7 References U.S. Forest Service, 1995. Soil and Ecologic Land Unit Survey, Holy Cross Area, Colorado. U.S.D.A. White River National Forest. U.S. Forest Service, 1995. Soil and Ecologic Land Unit Survey, Northern San Isabel and Western Pike National Forests, Colorado. U.S.D.A. San Isabel and Pike National Forests. Exhibit 1 1-3 May 2010 • C7