2020-06-25_REVISION - C1981035 (25)

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Dunn Ranch LBA E.A. (King II Appendix 15, Section 3.3): "Information on vegetation presented in the previous EAs has not changed and is still applicable. Additionally, as the Proposed Action under review in this document is a continuation of the previous 2017 action, impacts previously described would generally be similar over an extended period of time (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Section 3.7). The construction of the low-cover crossing would disturb up to 10 acres of bottomland habitat." Dunn Ranch LBA E.A. (King II Appendix 15, Section 3.3): "Information on soils presented in the previous EAs has not changed and is still applicable. Additionally, as the Proposed Action under review in this document is a continuation of the previous 2017 action, impacts previously described would be similar over an extended period of time (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Section 3.5). Any soils disturbed through the construction of the low- cover crossing would be restored through the implementation of the design features." Excavation Construct King III Portals at 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 8v 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 excavation to construct the King III portals and access roads at the coal seam outcrop, along the east side slope above the stacker and south edge of the topsoil pile, would be located within 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 An access road, along with buried utility lines, will be continued from the northwest corner of the Substation and around the north side of the #2 Stacker coal pile to connect with the aforementioned portal access roads (See maps King II-007 (TR-29), King II-007A (TR-29) and King II-007M (TR-29)). This road lies within previously disturbed areas. Vegetation and reclamation are discussed elsewhere in this document. GCC Energy, LLC King II Mine Section 2.04.10 Page 4 June 12, 2020 (PR-10)