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X. Backfilling and Grading — Rule 4.14 <br />The previously approved plan for backfilling and grading of disturbed areas is described in <br />Section 2.05.4 of the permit application. Maps King I-011 and King II -010 show approved <br />post -mining contours. <br />When no longer needed for the mine's operations, benches at King I will be backfilled to a <br />stable configuration that blends with the surrounding topography. Based on information <br />provided by GCC, pre -mining contour maps of the King I Mine do not exist due to the length <br />of time the mine has been in operation (more than 50 years). Backfilling of the King I Mine <br />will involve reducing all mine bench highwalls and the bench outslope crest to <br />approximately 1.5 h:1v and in most areas to 2.5h :1v, or less, to blend in with surrounding <br />areas. The portal area of the King II Mine and all other disturbed areas on this mine will be <br />reclaimed to approximate original contour. <br />XI. Revegetation — Rule 4.15 <br />A. Information pertaining to baseline vegetation and revegetation is presented in Section <br />2.04. 10 and in Section 2.05.4, respectively. <br />A pre -mining vegetation inventory was not performed on the King I Mine because the <br />site was disturbed in 1941, prior to any requirements for such surveys. In lieu of this, <br />NKC provided a description of areas next to the King I Mine having vegetation types <br />similar to what is believed to have been disturbed. Three vegetation communities were <br />identified: mountain shrub, pinon juniper, and introduced pasture. The introduced <br />pasture was disturbed by the combination haul road at the King I Mine; whereas, the <br />mountain shrub and pinon juniper communities were disturbed by the surface facilities <br />area. <br />The results of a pre -mining vegetation survey for the King II Mine are provided in <br />Appendix 7 of the King II Mine permit volume and on map King II -006. The survey <br />found two plant communities in the King II Mine affected area: a rabbitbrush/big sage <br />mixed shrubland community and a pinon woodland vegetation community. <br />No known threatened or endangered plant species were identified in the review of the <br />areas next to the King I Mine and the pre -mining survey for the King II Mine; <br />therefore, the Division finds, pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(n), that the activities will not <br />affect the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the <br />destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. <br />The Division has previously approved a revegetation grass/forb seed mix for the King <br />I Mine as set forth in Section 2.05.4 of the King I permit volume. The Division has <br />previously approved for reclamation of the King II Mine the seed mix specified in <br />Section 2.05.4 of the permit application. The mix is designed for establishing grasses, <br />23 <br />