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XI: Soil Resources - Rules 2,04,9, 2,05,3(5), 2.05,4(2)(d) and 4,06 <br />Information pertaining to baseline soil inventory is presented in Section <br />2:04:9 of the permit application. Information pertaining to topsoil <br />replacement is presented in Section 2.05.4: <br />No baseline surveying of the soils was performed in the mine facilities area <br />due to previous disturbances: Instead, a survey by the Soil Conservation <br />Service was performed for adjacent; undisturbed areas: This survey identified <br />three soil mapping units as addressed in Section 2:04:9 and depicted on Map <br />C-6 of the permit application: No new areas are planned to be disturbed <br />during the renewal term: <br />The original findings document (February 4; 1982) specified that no topsoil <br />was salvaged since all surface disturbance occurred prior to any statutory <br />reclamation standards: During the permit renewal process, the Division <br />learned that some topsoil was salvaged prior to constructing the shop: The <br />topsoil was stockpiled in the upper reaches of the east draw and will be used <br />for reclamation purposes: <br />Rather than disturbing currently undisturbed areas to obtain topsoil or <br />transporting topsoil from local sand-and-gravel operators, National King Coal <br />has committed to utilizing on-site stockpiled topsoil and to analyzing the top <br />twelve to eighteen inches of the overburden (see page 13, Section 2.04.9): <br />This stockpiled soil and the on-site overburden are suitable materials for use <br />as a plant growth medium: <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section: <br />XII: Vegetation - Rules 2:04:10; 2.05:4(2)(e); 4:15 and 4:18(4)(1) <br />Information pertaining to baseline vegetation and revegetation is presented in <br />Section 2.04:10 and in Section 2.05.4; respectively: <br />No pre-mining vegetation inventory was performed since the site was disturbed <br />in 1941 prior to any requirements for such surveys: In lieu of this, National <br />King Coal provided a description of adjacent areas with vegetation types <br />similar to what is believed to have been disturbed: Three vegetation <br />communities were identified: mountain shrub; pinyon-juniper and introduced <br />pasture: The introduced pasture was disturbed by the combination haul/access <br />road; whereas; the mountain shrub and pinyon-juniper communities were <br />disturbed by the surface facilities area: <br />During the review of the adjacent areas; no known threatened or endangered <br />plant species were identified. Since there are no more areas planned to be <br />disturbed and no known threatened or endangered plant species were identified, <br />the Division finds; pursuant to Rule 2:07:6(2)(n); that the activities will <br />not affect the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or <br />result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat: <br />During the original permit review; National King Coal requested Division <br />assistance in establishing revegetation success criteria. The Division <br />developed a reclamation plan and success criteria based upon the description <br />of undisturbed, adjacent areas; the Soil Conservation Service's range site <br />-17- <br />