2013-02-15_REVISION - C1981020 (2)

Home Browse Search

2.4 and 3.2, stockpile locations are shown on Figure 2.2 -1, and topsoil redistribution is addressed in permit section 3.4 and Table 3.3 -1. The sequence of topsoil and subsoil salvage, stockpiling, and placement specific to the phased development of the coal waste disposal site is described under Site Preparation and Construction, in Section 2.2.5. No topsoil was stripped prior to the 1977 exploration permit road and mine bench disturbances. Construction of the road consisted primarily of minor widening of an existing farm road and cutting an extension of the road up a steep canyon side slope to the coal outcrop /mine bench area. This extension of the road, as well as development of the existing face -up occurred in an area of thin soils along steep slopes. A combination of these steep slopes and thin soils made topsoil salvage difficult. Soils were mapped at an order Ito II level of intensity in the area to be disturbed and order III in other proximate areas (see Figure 4.7 -2, Volume II and Table 4.4 -2s Volume VI of the application). These soils were classified to the series and subgroup level, respectively. Sufficient suitable soil was determined to be available in the coal waste disposal area to replace a 6 inch top- dressing over a 3.5 foot thickness of non -toxic cover soil. Topsoil from initial salvage operations during the fall of 2004 was stored in a designated topsoil stockpile located on the north side of the haul road, adjacent to the waste disposal site. Subsoil suitable for non -toxic cover material has been stored in a designated cover soil stockpile on the south side of the haul road in the same vicinity. The major portion of the topsoil and cover soil material in these stockpiles was utilized for final reclamation of the coal waste disposal pile in 2007; a sufficient quantity of material has been retained for future reclamation of the coal waste site sediment pond. Although no topsoil was salvaged from the mine bench and road areas prior to initial disturbance, minor amounts of suitable soil material have sloughed off road cut slopes and accumulated in culvert inlet sumps during the life of the operation. This material was stored in two small stockpiles, one designated topsoil pile adjacent to the lower road, west of the coal waste disposal area, and a second dirt/topsoil stockpile located on the mine bench. The location of both stockpiles, as well as the location of the waste disposal site topsoil stockpile, is indicated on Figure 2.2 -1. Soil from both of these sources was used for final surfacing of the regraded mine bench areas in 2007. The material from the mine bench and lower road stockpiles will be used as topdressing for final reclamation of the mine bench area. Sufficient soil material is available from these sources to replace a 6 inch topdressing on the reclaimed bench area (approximately 3 acres). There will be no topdressing applied to regraded segments of the upper access road. Sampling conducted by the operator has documented the suitability of near - surface materials in the area of the mine bench and upper access road for use as plant growth medium. Existing road fills and berms that will provide the material used in final reclamation of the road segment support a vigorous growth of the seeded stabilization grasses, as well as volunteer grasses and shrubs. 25