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rN TRANSPORTATION <br />Access to the project area is off of paved Colorado State Highway 140 about 3 miles south of <br />Hesperus, then 4.2 miles west on graveled County Road 120. County road 120 recieves mg <br />choloride treatements to reduce dust. With a production rate of approximately 300,000 tons per year, <br />there will continue to be an estimated 18 to 28 coal trucks (thirty -ton trucks) traveling County Road <br />120 east of the King Coal mine site and Colorado State Highway 140.south of Hay Gulch. <br />SOCIOECONONHCS <br />National King Coal has a strong local hiring policy. The total employment at the King Coal Mine <br />is currently 33 people. The employment by National King Coal represents 100% of the employment <br />in the underground coal mining sector. Additionally, National King Coal is one of the largest <br />employers in La Plata County. <br />1n 1998, the King Coal Mine paid approximately $2,500,000 in salaries to its employees. The King <br />Coal Mine pays substantial amounts in federal, state, and local taxes. In 1998, the company paid <br />approximately $331,794.00 in workmen's compensation, $104,235.00 in federal royalties, $4,445 <br />n private royalties, $42,482.00 in reclamation taxes, $263,271.00 in excise tax for black lung <br />benefits, $49,630.00 in state severance taxes, and $30,167.00 in county property taxes. <br />In addition to the people employed at the mine, various coal -hauling contractors employ an <br />additional equivalent of 28 full-time jobs. The coal buyer pays the freight, which generates an <br />additional $2.8 million annually to "satellite industry" for this provided service. <br />IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION <br />CRITICAL ELEMENTS <br />1. Air Quality <br />Air quality will be diminished during loading of coal, and from truck traffic on-site and on the <br />county road. Colorado Department of Health and Environment Program has jurisdiction over all air <br />quality issues. Dust control measures as required by CDHEP will be implemented. <br />Signature of specialist: Loren Wickstrom 1-16-01 <br />2. Areas of Criticai En viron mentai Concern (ACEC) <br />The area is not located within an area designated as an ACEC by the San Juan/San Miguel Resource <br />Management Plan. <br />Signature of specialist: Penny K. Wu, 812100 <br />11 <br />