2010-03-15_PERMIT FILE - C1981035 (10)

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2.04.3 - SITE DESCRIPTION AND LAND USE • The areas of the King II Mine slated for surface disturbance lie within the confines of the bottom at the confluence of two dry drainage basins. This drainage basin valley bottom subsequently opens into Hay Gulch approximately 0.5 miles from the location of surface facilities and underground mine portals. The area has been historically used by European settlers for ranching and by Native Americans prior to that for hunting and gathering. There has been no change of land use during the last five years. Current land uses of the permit area include rangeland, fish and wildlife habitat, and undeveloped land. These will be the land uses to which the property is returned after completion of coal mining and reclamation. The two vegetation communities found within the surface disturbance areas are pinyon juniper woodland found on the sideslopes of the drainage basins and a rabbitbrush /big sage mixed shrubland on the bottomland of the drainage basin. The pinyon juniper woodland is dominated by the two tree species, a woody shrub understory below the canopy and sparse succulent and herbaceous vegetation. This community is found on rocky, shallow, xeric soils. Given the soils and xeric nature of this vegetation communities • location, there is little palatable herbaceous forage produced (50 -100 pounds /acre) for grazing or browsing animals. Wood production may be estimated at 10 -50 full cords per acre; however access is a problem, with steep slopes and no roads. The overall ecologic condition of this community is fair to good, given the lack of intense use by livestock or humans. There is little opportunity for development of varied land uses other than range, wildlife habitat, and /or firewood production. The rabbitbrush /big sage mixed shrubland is located on level coluuvial bottomland between the sideslopes of the drainage basin. This community was quantitatively sampled and described for the vegetation baseline requirement of Rule 2.04.10. This vegetation community is in poor to fair condition, largely due to overgrazing and lack of management of undesirable plant species. Given the relatively small area of this community ( -50 acres) within the permit area, and the lack of irrigation, the potential for production of large quantities of forage is limited. The existing land uses of range and wildlife habitat will be maintained, and enhanced through revegetation with predominantly native desirable species post- mining. Though Hay Gulch lies within the permit area, no surface disturbance related to the mining operation is proposed, with the exception of the continued monitoring of an alluvial monitoring well. Hay Gulch is not identified as prime farmland by the Natural Resource Conservation GCC Energy, LLC King II Mine Section 2.04.3 Page 1 October, 20087-2 - /