I learned something Thursday

[TerryC]

The fellow that recently gave us permission to hunt his empty lot said the EPA required him to push the topsoil to the side. The lot at Howard and Kinnickinnic also had the topsoil pushed away. I wonder.... does anybody know if this is "routine" today or only certain areas? If only certain areas, do I really want to be scrounging around the pile? TTC

 

[toolman61]

Maybe it used to be a auto repair shop or something? Call the city and ask them why. Maybe theres a logical reason. Good luck, might even ask the lot owner why they did this. Be safe HH Tom

 

[hogge]

Always search the pile! Doesn't matter to me what the place was....unless it was a nuclear plant or where GE buried PCB's. They've already done 1/2 the work for you!

 

[surfin]

Commonly if a piece is going to be developed you will push the topsoil aside so it wont mix with the good clays and other harder soils below. This makes for a stronger base. Now if the land was developed prior then it could be a spill occurred there of some sort and the want to churn the dirt every 2-3 yeaars to let the sun bleach out the oils.

Surfin

 

[tymcmurray]

I woold think that pushing the topsoil aside gives
you two benefits.
1. piles are easier to detect
2. the remaining soil starts you out lower and
therefore gives you deeper finds.
As for the EPA involvement, I was looking at investment
properties a couple of years ago and the EPA was requiring
a "skim" process on most commercial properties where
inustrial liquids were used........ no big deal.

 

[TerryC]

I woold think that pushing the topsoil aside gives
you two benefits.
1. piles are easier to detect
2. the remaining soil starts you out lower and
therefore gives you deeper finds.
As for the EPA involvement, I was looking at investment
properties a couple of years ago and the EPA was requiring
a "skim" process on most commercial properties where
inustrial liquids were used........ no big deal.

Ok Ty,
I'll buy the skim process. Sounds like something they would want to do. I already know it gives you 4-5 inches of free depth. A lot nearby has so far offered up 14 wheats and 4 silver dimes. I attribute that to the topsoil being pushed away. Since the wheats are now only about 4 or 5 inches below the surface, the topsoil on top would have made them borderline signals. Thanks for the reply... all. TTC