20041529 Ver 1_More Info Received_20090323

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DR. J.H. CARTER III & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Environmental Consultants
P.O. Box 891 • Southern Pines, N.C. 28388
[phone] 9 Fax [phone] y
20 March 2009
Ms. Tammy L. Hill
NC Division of Water Quality
401 Wetlands Unit
2321 Crabtree Blvd., Suite 250
Raleigh, NC 27604
SUBJECT: SOIL TEST RESULTS FOR SOUTHERN PRODUCTS AND SILICA, INC.
Dear Ms. Hill:
This letter serves as an addendum to the 2008 Wetland Mitigation and Reclamation Report for
Southern Products and Silica, Inc., Hoffman, Richmond County, North Carolina (2008 Report),
submitted 6 February 2009. We reported that 3 soil samples were collected from the Mushroom Fan
mitigation area and were sent to the North Carolina (NC) Department of Agriculture (NCDA) for
analysis. These samples were compared to 2 samples taken from Reference Forest Ecosystem (RFE)
# 1. Results from the NCDA Soil Test Report, dated 17 February 2009, are listed in the following
table.
Table 1. Results from soil sampling analysis on the Mushroom Fan and within Reference Forest
Ecosystem (RFE) #1, Southern Products and Silica Company mine, Hoffman,
Richmond County, North Carolina.
M USHROOM FAN RFE #1
S,W.PLE ID T7F-1 MF-2 F-? RFF.1-1 RF1E1-2
PARAMETER
Class mineral mineral mineral N/A N/A
pH 5.2 5.0 4.5 N/A N/A
Cu index 15 10 15 10 5
Zn index 8 5 5 70 38
Mn index 6 6 8 69 44
P index 7 5 5 21 21
K index 6 5 7 53 52
Base saturation 32.0% 23.0% 19.0% N/A N/A
Endangered Species Surveys • Environmental Assessments 9 Land Management • Wetlands Mapping and Permitting
The NCDA report was missing class, pH and base saturation data for the RFE #1 samples and
the agronomist comments stated that there was insufficient soil to provide a complete analysis for
some samples. All soil boxes were filled in a similar fashion, however, the samples taken from RFE
#1 were extremely wet. It is possible that the boxes broke in transit. Results from soil testing in 2002
reported that RFE #1 was organic, with a pH of 3.9 and a base saturation of 33%.
In order for the NCDA to make recommendations, we had to choose the "crops" that we are
managing. There was no crop category for a wetland restoration site, so we chose "mature hardwood"
and "mature pine" as the best fit crops in order to receive soil recommendations from the NCDA. The
agronomist's recommendations included application of dolomitic lime (an average of 0.73 ton/acre),
monitoring of Cu and Zn levels in the crop and application of a standard range of fertilizers for the
chosen crops.
The pH of the soil in RFE #I is more acidic than the soil samples taken from the Mushroom
Fan, which had pH values of 5.2, 5.0 and 4.5 (Table 1). Also, soil test results from 2002 indicated that
the pH of soil in RFE #2 (pH value of 4.3) was also more acidic than the Mushroom Fan samples. The
native soils in the wetlands and mining areas onsite are mapped as Johnston mucky loam and Paxville
fine sandy loam (Soil Survey of Richmond County, NC, United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service 1999). The Johnston soil series has a reaction range
of strongly acid to very strongly acid, with a pH range of 4.5 - 5.5 throughout the profile (0 - 62
inches). The Paxville soil series has a reaction range of slightly acid to extremely acid in the A-
horizon and strongly acid to extremely acid in the lower horizons, with a pH range of 3.5 - 6.5 in the
upper 12 inches and 3.5 - 5.5 below 12 inches (12 - 50 inches) (USDA 1999).
The goal of the mitigation area is to restore the Streamhead Atlantic White Cedar Forest and
Cypress-Gum Swamp natural communities that occurred here prior to mining. These natural
communities typically occur on wet, acidic soils (Classification of the Natural Communities of North
Carolina, Third Approximation, Schafale and Weakley 1990). Based on past soil testing results from
RFE #1, the characteristics of the native soils and natural communities at this location and the progress
of the Mushroom Fan mitigation area towards success, we will not apply dolomitic lime or fertilizers at
this time. (Additionally, past soil testing results from RFE #2 are consistent with RFE #1 results and
native soil characteristics). Changing the acidic characteristic of the soil may create conditions
unsuited to the goals of the mitigation effort. It may reduce the ability for vegetation adapted to the
desired natural communities to thrive; meanwhile, it may enhance growing conditions for vegetative
species that are not desired.
We will continue the Mushroom Fan soil testing schedule in the 5th year of monitoring. Please
contact me with any questions or comments regarding this matter. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jennifer M. Archambault
Wildlife Biologist
Enclosure: NCDA Soil Test Report, 2/17/2009
CC: Emile B. Hughes - US Army Corps of Engineers
Floyd Williams - NC DENR, Land Quality Section
Ken Averitte - DWQ Fayetteville Regional Office
C.K. Smith - Southern Products and Silica, Inc.

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