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prior to there being any regulatory requirement to salvage topsoil, there is no topsoil available <br /> for reclamation of the King I surface facilities. "Plant growth medium" is salvaged from the <br /> side slopes of the valley-fill Refuse Pile as successive preparations are made for increases to <br /> the pile's height. The material is then stockpiled for future use in reclamation of the site. The <br /> results of soil analyses are provided in Appendix 6 of the PAP. <br /> Vegetation (4.10) <br /> The dominant vegetation in the King I and II Mine area is a mountain shrub community. <br /> Gambel Oak is the most prominent shrub along the side slopes, forming dense stands. On the <br /> plateau top above the King I Mine, the oak grows in clumps with open stands of grasses <br /> interspersed. A juniper pinyon community is found on the more xeric southern slopes, with <br /> scattered individuals of Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine encountered on more mesic northern <br /> slopes. A pinyon juniper woodland community predominates in the King II Mine area, <br /> extending from the edge of the flat colluvial bottoms up the side slopes of the dissected <br /> drainage basins. A Rabbitbrush/Big sage mixed shrubland community is also located in the <br /> King II Mine area on the relatively flat colluvial bottom that is present between the drainage <br /> basin side slopes. The valley bottom of Hay Gulch is occupied by introduced pasture. <br /> Fish and Wildlife (4.11) <br /> A variety of wildlife species utilize the permit area and surrounding areas. Colorado Parks <br /> and Wildlife has identified the general area of the mine site as critical deer winter range. <br /> Wildlife use is expected to increase upon completion of successful reclamation. <br /> No candidate or federally listed plant or animal species were identified within or adjacent to <br /> the permit area. <br /> Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br /> Underground room and pillar operations were historically used at the King I Mine and <br /> continue to be employed at King II. The coal is mined using two continuous miners. After <br /> coal is removed from the working face, shuttle cars are utilized to transfer the coal to <br /> conveyors, which in turn transport the coal to the surface. Surface operations incidental to the <br /> underground mining operation consist of crushing, stockpiling and loading coal. There are no <br /> coal washing facilities at the King Coal Mine. Coal mine waste is loaded into haul trucks and <br /> hauled to the King I surface facilities to be incorporated into the permitted refuse pile. <br /> Four different coal products are stockpiled periodically on the surface: lump, stoker, railroad, <br /> and mine run. Crushing the coal generates fines that are combined with the mine run coal <br /> and sold. Maximum annual production for the King Coal Mine was increased to 1,300,000 <br /> tons of coal in 2014. Coal is shipped from the site by trucks, which travel county roads to <br /> access State (both Colorado and New Mexico) and U.S. highway systems. <br /> Surface facilities at King II are depicted on permit Map King II-007 and include: office <br /> 8 <br />