1987-12-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981017 (221)

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intsnoun wimoi�, 5 above. Statistical comparison was made between the inventoried area and the reference area following the methods of Cook and Bonham (1977). Soil Survey. The soil survey of the gas well access road corridor followed the standards established by the Soil Conservation Service (S.C.S.) for use in the National Cooperative Soil Survey, with the exception of soils mapping as discussed below. These standards have been published in various sources, such as the Soil Survey Manual (Soil Survey Staff, 1951) and the National Soils Handbook (Soil Survey Staff, 1983). Revisions to the Soil Survey Manual, including the revised horizons concepts and nomenclature, were integrated into the study (Soil Survey Staff, 1980 and 1981). A soils map which is typically part of a soils assessment was not produced. The steep, frequently eroded slopes result in large horizontal variability. This variability, coupled with the narrowness of the corridor, would make a soils map of little functional value. Instead, the kind of soil occurring at each 100-foot center-line survey station of the corridor was noted. Soil texture, consistence and depth, presence of rock fragments, and other characteristics affecting the quality and quantity of topsoil were evaluated. Soils were assigned to map units with map unit components being phases of soil families. Each soil type was classified down to the family level according to the criteria in Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 1975). Soil Sampling and Analysis. Upon completion of the soil survey, two representative pedons of each soil were chosen for sampling. Sample procurement followed recommended S.C.S. procedures (S.C.S., 1972). Each soil pedon was sampled in 6-inch increments down to 18 inches. Brief field notes were made at each sampling location. A total of 12 samples were collected.