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TAB 21 <br /> MINESOIL RECONSTRUCTION <br /> Introduction <br /> This chapter outlines Peabody's plan for reconstructing mined-land soils and spoil. The <br /> plan addresses those reclamation activities that are conducted during and immediately <br /> after backfilling and grading (Tab 20), but prior to revegetation (Tab 22). The <br /> objectives of the plan are to reconstruct plant growth and aquifer mediums that are <br /> capable of supporting the postmining land uses. The plan objectives are achieved by <br /> insuring that a sufficient thickness of suitable spoil is replaced in the pit bottom and a <br /> minimum of four feet of suitable plant growth material, including topsoil, exists, on the <br /> surface of graded lands prior to the commencement of revegetation activities. The plan <br /> presents an account of the plant growth material and aquifer medium requirements based <br /> upon current and projected disturbance acreages and plant growth material and aquifer <br /> medium availability based on topsoil depth mapping and overburden assessments. The plan <br /> also describes the procedural aspects of removal , storage, redistribution, and testing of <br /> topsoil materials. <br /> Overburden/Spoil Handling Plan <br /> Nucla Mine Overburden and Interburden Characteristics. Peabody began utilizing a <br /> scraper/dozer mining operation at' Nucla Mine in 1987. Previously, normal dragli,ne <br /> spoiling combined with dozer blending adequately mixed the unsuitable zones (predominantly <br /> pH and ABP) which were identified in the overburden and interburden (see Tab 6, Appendix <br /> 6-4). The scraper/dozer operation typically mixes spoil less effectively and efficiently <br /> compared to dragline/dozer mining operations. However, the scraper/dozer operation <br /> generally allows suitable and unsuitable material to be efficiently and effectively <br /> segregated. Consequently, based upon the chemical and physical analyses obtained from <br /> Phase I , deep core hole locations 1C, 3C, 697E, and 775E (see Tab 6, Geologic Information, <br /> Appendix 6-4) and Phase II, shallow drill hole locations 873E, 874E, 875E, and 876E (see <br /> Tab 6, Geologic Information, Appendix 6-4), the following overburden and interburden <br /> suitability classes, units, and handling procedures were formulated: <br /> 21-1 Revised 04/11/88 <br />