APPCOR11856

• Permit No: C2006085
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 6/8/2007
• Doc Name: Soils & Vegetation Review Memo
• From: Sandy Brown
• To: Kent Gorham
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
COLORADO
DIVISION OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
- &-
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Ir.
TQ: Kent C70rham Governor
FROM: Sandy Brown -/ t//~ Harris D. Sherman
CJ Executive Director
DATE: June 8, 2007
Ronald W. Cattany
RE: Northfield Permit Application Division Director
Soils and Vegetation Reviews Natural Resource Trustee
I have reviewed the responses Northfield submitted in response to our November 28, 2006
preliminazy adequacy review. I reviewed the questions I had on the soils and vegetation sections
of the Northfield Permit application. Each question is addressed below using the numbering
from your November letter.
Soil Information -Rule 2.04.9
18. No response necessary.
19. Northfield has clarified the depth of topsoil they propose to salvage. They are proposing
to salvage an average of 10 inches of topsoil. Please see comment 22. below.
20. The Soil Survey Map, Map 2, has been revised to a scale of 1 inch = 500 feet. The soil
types according to the NRCS classifications are not designated. However, the soil
sample locations are marked and Northfield has provided soil analysis by horizon for
each of the soil sample locations. Response accepted.
Topsoil -Rule 4.09
21. The proposed temporary seed mix for use on the topsoil stockpile was provided on Table
2.05.4-3. The proposed mix includes both yellow sweetclover and alfalfa. The Division
recommends removing the sweetclover from the mix as it tends to persist and spread.
With the removal of the sweetclover, the mix will be acceptable.
22. In their NP has committed to salvage ten inches of topsoil. The Division had
recommended a minimum of 12 inches to be salvaged and it is not clear why NP
proposed 10 inches. As stated earlier, experience shows that replacing 12 inches of
topsoil on the surface after grading will improve plant growth. The Division had also
recommended that rocks and gravelly material from the surface should not be discarded,
but should be salvaged with the soil cover. NP did not address this suggestion. The
gravelly material could be included in the 12 inches. Please explain why 10 inches was
proposed and discuss whether the surface rocks and gravelly material will be salvaged
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver Grand Junction Durango Active and InaRive Mines