2013-04-10_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (13)

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RULE 2 PERMITS 2.04.9 Soils Resource Information The objectives of this section are to meet the requirements of the Colorado Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Rule 2.04.9 et seq. by furnishing soils information for the Collom permit expansion area in sufficient detail to determine the following: General distribution, properties and productivity of soils, both present and potential within the Collom mining area; Distribution, suitability, and average salvage depths of soils within the disturbed areas associated with mining; and, Quantity of suitable salvageable soil for use in the reclamation of disturbed areas associated with the mining activities. To meet the requirements of Rule 2.04.9 et seq. both general and detailed soils resource information /data where assembled, collected, and analyzed for each mining area as presented in the Baseline Survey of Soil Resources, Collom Mining Area (Tetra Tech, 2006; Exhibit 9, Item 8). A soil resource evaluation and Order II soil resource inventory, including soil sampling and laboratory analysis, were completed for areas that would potentially be disturbed by development of the Collom permit expansion area, including areas both inside and outside the proposed mining permit boundary. The survey area for this Order I1 survey mapping included approximately 13,605 acres as shown on Map 5D. An Order III survey (displaying much less detail) was completed on approximately 3,240 acres within and adjacent to the proposed Collom permit expansion area, but outside the Order II survey boundary. Together, these surveys comprise the Soils Survey Area and encompass a total of 16,845 acres. The Order III mapping area was primarily immediately adjacent to the boundary of the Order II mapping. This area was generally completed by extrapolating soils information collected in the adjoining Order II area including use of nearby soil pedon data. The soil survey was conducted according to guidelines provided by the National Soil Survey Handbook (USDA 2003). Additional reference documents included: Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey Manual, Handbook 18 (USDA 1993), Soil Taxonomy (USDA 1999) and Keys to Soil Taxonomy (USDA 2006). Map unit boundaries were identified by field observation and interpretation of aerial photographs, topographic maps, and other geographic models. Soils information for all other current Colowyo areas are contained in the existing Colowyo permit documents. The Moffat County and Rio Blanco areas were previously mapped by the NRCS to a level of detail commensurate to an Order III survey (USDA 2005a; 2005b). The databases and digital maps from these surveys were used to develop a conceptual model. These maps were used in combination with aerial photographs to identify likely changes in soil conditions within the Soils Survey Area. The attendant survey reports were used to identify soil series present in the area to ensure that this survey correlates to the existing surveys as much as practicable. Only 43 series present as major components of the NRCS map units within five miles of the Soils Survey Area were identified in the Order 11 survey. Soil profiles were described using methods and abbreviations identified in the Field Book for Sampling and Describing Soils (NRCS 2002), with modification as noted. Complete or partial pedon descriptions were recorded for each of the observed pedons on forms developed for this survey. Complete pedon descriptions were recorded at the most representative pedon sites with a select number of these pedon sites sampled for series representation. All sites excavated with a backhoe were described to a depth of 60 inches or to the bedrock contact, whichever occurred first. However, manual excavations and attendant excavations were only completed to the depth necessary to identify the soil series or family and depth of Collom — Rule 2, Page 49 Revision Date: 9/28/11 Revision No.: PR -03