2011-10-20_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2010089

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C- 2010 -089 NHN Mine PAR No. 2B 2.04.9 — Soils Resource Information 20- Oct -2011 Page 3 of 7 2. As described in the second paragraph of the Introduction to Section 2.04.9 of the PAP, WFC made a formal request of the Norwood Office of the NRCS, and obtained previously completed soil surveys of the area. Given issues that have arisen concerning soil resources and reclamation at the nearby New Horizon Mine, the Division will be soliciting input from the NRCS State Soil Scientist regarding the soils resource availability and the proposed reclamation plan for the New Horizon North Mine. (No response is required from Western Fuels, at the present time.) 3. The next -to -last sentence of the first paragraph under the 1978 -1984 NRCS Soils Survey subsection should be reworded, as follows: "According to a February 11, 2008 letter from the NRCS Soils Scientist in Montrose, addressing the nearby New Horizon Mine, this survey was probably completed to an Order 11 survey intensity." 4. Table 2.04.9 -1 on page 4 of Section 2.04.9, presents laboratory analysis results from the 1979 undisturbed soil samples. Please add an additional column at the left side of the table that clarifies which sample locations, S 1 thru S6, are represented by the Samples listed. 5. Table 2.04.9 -2 presents the results of topsoil stockpile sampling conducted in 1979. The Division was unable to locate stockpile number SP -5 on the map. Please add this site (if location is known) to Map 2.04.9 -3, Topsoil Salvage. 6. The second sentence of the last paragraph on page 26 of Section 2.04.9 refers to Map 2.04.9- 1. The Division believes the intended map is 2.04.9 -2. Please revise this reference, if appropriate. 7. As described in the Western Fuels 2008 Soils Survey subsection (beginning on page 22, and continuing on page 26, of Section 2.04.9), 183 soil test pits were dug by backhoe within the proposed permit area. The soil was excavated down to bedrock, or just below, and a formal soil pedon description was taken at each test pit. Descriptions were prepared for each site, and the information was used to refine the NRCS soils map for the area, as shown on Map 2.04.9 -2 Soils Map. The text goes on to state that physical and chemical properties of each soil type were subjected to the criteria of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WyDEQ) Topsoil [and Overburden] Guideline, as requested by the Division in pre - application meetings. Please incorporate tables in the application listing the various parameters, procedures, and suitability criteria that have been used, similar to what is presented in Appendix I of the WyDEQ guideline. 8. Additional comments on Map 2.04.9 -3 — Topsoil Salvage Map a) In the Glasier portion of the proposed permit area, there is a triangle- shaped symbol associated with certain soil sample sites (GLP -xx). Please add this symbol (and its explanation) to the Legend. b) The symbol for the existing NH -1 mine area pen is difficult to distinguish from the proposed NHN topsoil disturbance boundary. Please use a dashed line for the NH -1 permit boundary, rather than a solid line.