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11 n ?iHl 3 ~JU w ranging from 4 to 8 percent, sulfur content generally less than 1 percent, and energy content between 3.8xl06 to 5.7xl06 joules per ki logram of coal (Hornbaker and Hol t, 1973). Since the early 1900's, about 120 small coal mines have operated in the basin; however, current coal-mining operations involve 4 strip and 2 underground mines. Other major economic activities in the basin include agriculture, timber, and recreation. Annual coal-mining production in the Yampa River basin generally ranged between 0.5 to 1.0 mill ion tonnes from the early 1900's until 1961. Since that time, annual production has increased substantially, reaching 4.0 million tonnes in 1975. Production in the basin is estimated to at- tain 18 mill ion tonnes per year by 1990, with the bulk provided from lands for which mineral rights are controlled by the Federal Government, accord- ing to a recently completed Northwest Colorado Coal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (U.S. Bureau of land Management and U.S. Geological Sur- vey, written commun., 1976). Current (1975) uti 1 ization of coal produc- tion in the basin is as follows: conversion to electric power (14 per- cent), local market~ng primarily for heating (about 1 percent), and the remainder being transported out of the basin by unit train (85 percent). Projected utilization of future coal production, discussed later in this paper, indicates that a greater proportion will be used for in-basin coal convers ion. Coal-resource development can have a wide range of environmental im- pacts, depending upon such factors as methods and scale of coal mining, appl icable regulations on land rehabil itation, processing and transporta- tion methods, and alternatives chosen to convert to other energy forms. Population in the basin, attracted by this development, is anticipated to more than double in 15 years (from 18,000 to as many as 38,000 inhabit~ ants). Secondary impacts related to population growth will affect water resources in terms of increased demands on water suppl ies, waste-water- treatment facil ities, and water-based recreation. Decisions leading to policies dictating the types and extent of re- gional coal-resource development need to consider the various resultant environmental and economic impacts. Coal development wi 11 lead to in- creased discharge of residuals (noneconomic byproducts) to water, air, and land. A res iduals-management approach, to be effective, must consider op- tions of the various treatment technologies and costs in order to comply with State and Federal environmental controls on air quality, water qual- ity, and disposal of solid wastes (Bower and Basta, 1973). Attempts to treat or to reduce liquid-residual discharges will affect both the quan- tity and quality of the basin's water resources. Given the limited avail- abil ity of water in the basin, increasing competition for this resource is anticipated in the near future among agricultural, energy-related, and municipal-industrial uses. The objectives of the Yampa River basin assessment are given by Steele, James, Bauer, and others (1976b). The basin assessment emphasizes: relations between energy development and environmental qual ity, specifi- 3 "