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New Horizon Mine, and will be transferred into the NHN Mine permit. The disturbed and <br />reclaimed portion of the Nucla / NH1 Mine acreage is 65.55 acres, as delineated on permit Map <br />2.04.9-1. <br /> <br />Between 1978 and 1984, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conducted an <br />Order II soil survey of the entire San Miguel Area. The report of the survey reflects conditions <br />that existed in 1986, and is available on-line at www.WebSoilSurvey.com. The soils map <br />developed by the NRCS appears on Map 2.04.9-1 (as modified by WFC to incorporate the Nucla <br />/ NH1 Mine disturbance and reclamation). The NRCS survey identified seven soils mapping <br />units within the proposed NHN permit area. NRCS Mapping Unit and Soil Profile Descriptions <br />are provided in Section 2.04.9 of the permit application, as are tables (2.04.9-4 and 2.04.9-5) <br />which give the typical ranges of Physical and Chemical Properties, respectively, for the seven <br />soils identified by the NRCS. <br /> <br />The applicant conducted a detailed baseline soil survey of the entire NHN Mine permit area in <br />2008. For this effort, a total of 183 backhoe pits were dug, located as shown on permit Maps <br />2.04.9-2 and -3. Of these, 118 pits were dug at locations undisturbed by mining activities, while <br />65 were located within the area disturbed and reclaimed by Peabody. At each undisturbed <br />location, a formal soil pedon description was taken. The completed Pedon forms are found in <br />Appendix 2.04.9-1. Each pit was photographed, and 28 samples from 11 sites were collected for <br />laboratory analysis. Table 2.04.9-6 lists the chemical and physical properties of those samples. <br />For test pits located in the disturbed and reclaimed area, only depths of topsoil to be salvaged <br />were noted. <br /> <br />While the NRCS in 1986 identified seven soil mapping units within the NHN Mine permit area, <br />WFC has refined the level of detail of the soils map for the NHN Mine area based on more <br />accurate contour data and the increased intensity of soil sampling. One NRCS soil, 71 <br />Nyswonger silty clay loam, was not found to be present. WFC’s formal Order I level of soil <br />survey retains the original NRCS soils names, but separates the complexes into individual <br />mapping units. This has resulted in a slightly different nomenclature, but one that is founded on <br />the NRCS soils descriptions. <br /> <br />WFC has mapped eight soil units in the NHN Mine permit area: Aquolls, 0 to 3% slopes; 77 <br />Pinon, 3 to 12% slopes; 78 Pinon, 5 to 30% slopes; 78 Ustic Torriorthents, 5 to 30% slopes; 81 <br />Progresso loam, 3 to 6% slopes; 82 Progresso loam, 6 to 12% slopes; and Rock Outcrop- <br />Orthents Complex, 40-90% slopes. Soils redistributed upon the reclaimed Peabody disturbance <br />are mapped as REC. <br /> <br />Suitability of the various soils for salvage was determined using criteria of the Wyoming <br />Department of Environmental Quality (WyDEQ) “Suitability Ratings for Soils as Sources of <br />Topsoil Material”. All of the soils were rated “good” with respect to soil reactivity, electrical <br />conductivity, saturation percentage, sodium adsorption ration, Selenium, and Boron. Texturally, <br />the samples were classified as “good” to “fair”. With respect to Moist and Dry Consistence, <br />most of the samples corresponded with the “good” to “fair” suitability classes. The most limiting <br />parameter, coarse fragment content, was estimated in the field and is recorded on the pedon <br />forms. Suitable depths of topsoil salvage for each test pit location, together with estimated <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />