2020-01-17_PERMIT FILE - C1981035A (6)

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Excavation to Locate the Coal Seam Outcrop Along the East Side Slope Vegetation communities for both the bottom of the mine facilities area and the side slopes were mapped and described. There were two communities; the rabbitbrush/big sage mountain shrubland and pinyon juniper woodland. The rabbitbrush/big sage vegetation community was located within the colluvial bottom between the side slopes of the hillsides and the pinyon juniper is located exclusively on the side slopes above the colluvial bottom. Quantitative sampling was undertaken for the rabbitbrush/big sage, and a qualitative description was provided for the pinyon juniper of the side slopes. It was determined that disturbance in the pinyon juniper vegetation type would be less than three acres overall, making it a minor vegetation community under Division guidance documents, and not required to have quantitative sampling. Map King II-006 also shows the vegetation community locations and the description of the vegetation is contained in Appendix 7(1). Please see Savage and Savage, Inc. memo, Baseline Soil & Vegetation Survey Boundaries and Extent, December 11, 2019 at Appendix 7(2) for further discussion and a boundary and extent image of the survey area. Anticipated minor excavation to locate the coal seam outcrop along the east side slope above the stacker and south edge of the topsoil pile would be located within the The pinyon juniper vegetation community. The pinyon juniper vegetation present in the project area is comprised of an open woodland, with a discontinuous open woody overstory, scattered shrub understory and sparse herbaceous layer. Non-vegetative ground cover is a mix of conifer needles, twigs, and sandstone fragments. The disturbance proposed should not warrant concern about significant impacts to the pinyon juniper. GCC Energy, LLC King II Mine Section 2.04.10 Page 3 December 18, 2019 (MR-50)