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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 />P!o 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-o' 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 stock filed in the u er reaches of the_east_draw_and_will_be used <br />o-f r rec amation purposes. ~ „"LL,, 7 w~ ~, Z~-- ('~~'~,t-R„~ ~ <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 re vegetation 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 />