2017-02-15_REVISION - C1996083 (2)

Home Browse Search

A-21 No other federal lands within the review area, or off-site that would be affected by the Proposed Action are considered critical or essential habitat for resident species of fish, wildlife or plants of high interest to the state of Colorado. CRITERION 16 Federal lands in riverine, coastal, and special floodplains (100-year recurrence interval) on which the surface management agency determines that mining could not be undertaken without substantial threat of loss of life or property shall be considered unsuitable for all or certain stipulated methods of coal mining. Analysis The application lands are not within a riverine, coastal, or special floodplain. CRITERION 17 Federal lands which have been committed by the surface management agency to use as municipal watersheds shall be considered unsuitable. Analysis None of the lands in the proposed lease tract are within a municipal watershed. CRITERION 18 Federal lands with National Resource Waters, as identified by states in their water quality management plans, and a buffer zone of federal lands ¼-mile from the outer edge of the far banks of the water, shall be unsuitable. Analysis None of the lands in the proposed lease tract are identified as a National Resource Water. CRITERION 19 Federal lands identified by the surface management agency, in consultation with the state in which they are located, as alluvial valley floors according to the definition in Subpart 3400.0- 5(a) of this title, the standards of 30 CFR 822, the final alluvial floor guidelines of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement when published, and approved state programs under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, where mining would interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming, shall be considered unsuitable. Additionally, when mining federal land outside an alluvial valley floor would materially damage the quantity or quality of water in surface or underground water systems that would supply alluvial valley floors, the land shall be considered unsuitable. Analysis The application lands are not within an alluvial valley floor, but such lands drain into the North Fork Gunnison River, along which both surface irrigated and potentially irrigable sites exist. However, material damage to the quality and quantity water arising on or flowing over the proposed lease tract is not anticipated.