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. .., . .7 !"l:"\,! !.,. 'J '.1 ~. ~ .A WILDERNESS - See Wilderness Study Process and the RMPIEIS, in this chapter. COAL PLANNING. The unleased federal coal estate in the planning area, consisting of 2,982 acres under federal surface and 6,812 split-estate acres, would not be available for leasing without amendment to the approved resource management plan. The remaining federal mineral estate within the planning area has very little or no potential for the occurrence of coal resources. A RMP amendment lor coal leasing would be prepared after a coal lease applicatiou was fLIed by an individual or company interested in developing and mining the area. The amendment would consist of an identification of areas with potential for development, application of 20 criteria to identify those areas which are unsuitable for mining, an analysis of the tradeoffs necessary to protect other resources and uses that are unique or important, and consultation with effected surface owners. The amendment would be accompanied by an environmental analysis of the impacts of the mining and development, including the social and economic impacts to local communities. The one existing coal lease in tbe planning area would be continued in aU alternatives, and approximately 5,000 tons of coal annually would be produced from the lease. SOLID, NON-ENERGY LEASABLE MINERALS - The fcderal mineral estate in !he Gunnison Planning Area would not be available for the leasing of solid, non-energy leasable minerals, subject to valid existing rights, without amending the approved resource management plan (RMP). Available data indicates no known deposits of these minerals, and to determine at this time which lands would be open or closed to the Icasing of these minerals would be premature. A RMP amendment would be prepared after an expression of interest in the leasing of these minerals is received from an individual or company interested in developing and mining solid, non-energy minerals. The amendmeot would result in a decision !hat would identify the lands in the expression of interest that would be open or closed to the leasing of these mineralS. The amendment would be accompanied by the appropriate environmental assessment of the impacts of the mining and development, including the social and economic impacts to !he local communities, based on the best available data. The only known valid existing right in !he Planning Area pertaining to INTRODUCTION these minerals is a Preference Right Lease Application (pRLA) involving 1,667 acres of public land for the purpose of developing a deposit of alunite (potassium aluminum sulfate) in sections, 17, 18, 19, and 20, Township 43 North, Range 4 West, N.M.P M. The lands in the PRLA are situated in Hinsdale Count)' approximately three miles south of Lake City, Colorado, in the vicinity of Red Mountain. U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LANDS OVERLYING FEDERAL MINERAL ESTATE - The BLM wiU actually issue oil and gas leases within lands administered by the Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (USPS). BLM only administers subsurface or down- hole activities occurring on oil and gas leases on USPS surface estate. Lands administered by the USPS will have leasing decisions made in a USPS Land and Resource Management PlanlEIS, or revision. . The BLM is a cooperating agency providing oil and gas expertise to the team preparing these plans. BLM provides the USPS with projections of future oil and gas activity and impact analysis of subsurface construction. The USPS plans analyze impacts from oil and gas leasing and development to National Forest System Lands and describe where the USPS will or will not consent to lease. The specific and cumulative impacts that would occur from potential leasing and development on National Forest Lands would be analyzed in the USPS plan. The cumulative impacts on USPS lands within tbe Gunnison Resource Area from potential oil and gas leasing and development occurring on adjacent BLM- managed lands in the planning area would be insignificant. The BLM is responsible for the leasing and development of lands administered by the National Park Service that are eligible for that purpose. National Recreation Areas are withdrawn from mineral leasing by regulation. Lands within the Gunnison Resource Area in the proposed Curecanti National Recreation Area are considered to be National Park System Lands, and are thus withdrawn from mineral leasing. The cumulative impact on these lands from potential oil and gas leasing and 1-7