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SOIL MANAGEMENT AND RECLAMATION SUCCESS <br />The focus of mine land reclamation has centered on the establishment of a diverse, <br />effective, and long - lasting vegetative cover that is capable of self - regeneration without <br />continued dependence on irrigation, soil amendments or fertilizer. Reclaimed land <br />vegetation must also be at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the <br />surrounding area (CO DMG Rule 3.1.10). Implementation of reclamation plans has <br />been universally successful on hard rock, industrial minerals, and coal mined lands in <br />the west. Most western surface mines reclaimed are documenting vegetation cover and <br />production numbers well in excess of pre - mining values. However, plant species <br />diversity within reclaimed areas is generally less than that found on adjacent <br />undisturbed lands. <br />Key to a successful reclamation plan is the effective management of soil. Historically <br />soil salvage plans maximized the volume of soil removed and replaced, while <br />minimizing variability in the replaced soil. This trend has slowly changed over time <br />with many mines reducing their soil salvage and replacement depths from several feet <br />to 18 inches or less in order to reduce unnecessary material handling. Numerous <br />research projects and papers have been published which attempt to define the optimal <br />soil replacement depth needed to maximize production (Barth 1983, Barth and Martin <br />1984, McGinnies 1980; McGinnies and Nicholas 1980; Merrill et al., 1998; Power et al., <br />1976; Schuman and Power 1981). Wyoming DEQ /LQD published Instruction <br />Memorandum No. 39 which concluded that "approximately 18 inches of soil is required <br />to optimize vegetative production on reclaimed lands" and "without further studies or <br />adequate demonstration, 18 inches will be used as the minimum level for mines with an <br />excess of topsoil" (WDEQ,1988). <br />Environmental requirements are continually subject to re- interpretation. The Billings <br />Reclamation Symposium brings together the nations preeminent reclamation <br />Appendix G 1 07/01/02 <br />