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"r!,!,~" u..........v.... '. any nOle at these parcels, except near parcels MP-5. MP-3 and MP-9. Old abandoned copper prospects lie on Junction Butte and in Elliot Creek near parcel MP-5, but have been long abandoned. The mineralization is weak, and no work has occurred at these prospects in over 30 years. Uranium.was prospected and drilled fcr in the 1950s by the U.S. atomic energy commission near parcels MP-3 and MP- 9 near.Sulphur Gulch. No mining ever occurred and any mining claims in the area have been abandoned. These' occurrences are not economically valuable. Parcels NP-l and NP-3 are located adjacent to coal land use priority areas as identified on the 1985 RMP Land Use Priority Map. A portion ofNP-l is currently designated as a coal priority area. The proposed action would identify all of these lands as a wildlife land use priority. The current economies of mining, shipping, and selling coal from North Park are poor, and the proposed wildlife land use priority would not impact coal development in the area. With the closing of an operating coal mine and the removal of the. coal transportation railhead, the long term prospects for coal development in North Park are anticipated to remain poor. HYDROLOGY AND WATER RIGHTS Affected Environment: The parcels of land being addressed in the proposed action are all located in either Middle or North Park, Colorado. The RMP discusses the general hydrology of the two Parks. Water rights associated with the acquired parcels are discussed in the specific land acquisition environmental assessments. The parcels need to be inventoried for unadjudicated waters that could be filed on by the BLM for water rights. Parcel MP-9 has been inventoried and a water right fi ling has been prepared. The filing will not occur unless a grazing permit is issued for. this parcel, so that livestock use can be quantified and claimed. . Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: The proposed land use priorities do not impact the water rights held by the BLM or by others. The BLM's ability to implement some land use actions would be affected by water rights as the BLM is subject to Colorado's administration of its appropriations doctrine. The proposed land use priorities do not affect the hydrology of the parcels. Any future proposed management actions or land use proposals. .with mitigation or best management practices. could be compatible with water resources. LAND ST A TUSIREAL TY AUTHORIZATIONS Affected Environment: Prior to acquisition by the BLM, all of the parcels of land being addressed by the proposed action were previously owned and/or administered by an enitity other than the Bureau of Land Management. All the involved lands were inholdings or located adjacent to existing public lands. The lands are undeveloped, with the exception of various road and utility easements which were included in the deed to the United States. These encumbrances do not adversely affect use of the lands by the United States. Environmental Consequences of Prcposed Action: The acquired lands are open to the cperation of lhe public land laws and mineral laws, unless withdrawn or otherwise designated. They would be managed according to principles of multiple use and sustained yield and any plans developed by the BLM. The prcposed action would facilitate establishing land use prescriptions and priorities for any future land acquisitions in the environmental document prepared for each specific acquisition. This would improve the efficiency of the land exchange/acquisition program. 14