2012-03-07_PERMIT FILE - C2010088 (16)

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3.0 RESULTS For soil purposes, the Train Loadout Area is within a "mesic" soil temperature regime and a "typic- addic" soil moisture regime. Based on data from the nearby Fruita weather station, the average annual precipitation for the project area is estimated to be about 9 to 10 inches, the average annual air temperature is about 54 degrees F., and the average frost -free period is about 165 to 175 days (Spears and Kleven, 1978). Elevations within the gently sloping project area are about 4,470 feet (MSL). The project area is currently used as wildlife habitat and minor rangeland in the western part and is Disturbed Land in the eastern part. Excluding the Reed Wash delineation and the "land farms" disturbed lands, the project area is characterized by the presence of one dominant soil, Billings loam to silty clay loam. Billings is a very deep ( >40 to 60 inches or more to bedrock), well to moderately well drained, fine -silty soil mapped on the gently sloping alluvial plain of the project area and is dominated by greasewood vegetation. The capability class is Vlls -2 (nonirdgated) and the Range Site is "Salt Flats ". The Train Loadout Area Soils Map is attached to this report. It was complied on a recent color photobase map with contour overlay at a scale of about 1"= 500 feet. The boundary lines for the project area (approximately 103 acres) and the proposed unit train loadout rail loop and facility site are included on the map as well as all map unit delineation lines. All soil sample sites are numbered, were GPS located, and are plotted on the soils map. Table 1 (List of Map Units and Soil Salvage Summary, Unit Train Loadout Area) lists the soil map units within the project area, their soil sample location numbers, and summarizes their salvage depths and limitations to deeper salvage. Projected disturbance acreage for each map unit in the affected area, as well as estimated cubic yard volumes of recommended salvageable soil, are contained in the project reclamation plan. The following text is a description of the three map units in the project area and their component soils, as well as an evaluation of their topsoil suitability and recommended salvage depths. Map Unit RW is delineated on the incised Reed Wash drainage channel bottomland which traverses the middle of the project area from northeast to southwest. Map Unit DL (Disturbed Land) is delineated in the eastern and southeastern parts of the project area and consists of the previously disturbed, constructed "land farms" area. Billings loam to silty clay loam is the single dominant soil on the project area and delineated on all nondisturbed, native soil areas, excluding Reed Wash. The map unit descriptions are presented below as follows: • Map Unit RW: Reed Wash Typic Torrifluvents, 0 to 2% slopes • Map Unit DL: Disturbed Land • Map Unit Bi: Billings loam to silty clay loam, 0 to 40/6 slopes 4 Exhibit 7 — 2010 Train Loadout Soil Survey