2020-10-27_PERMIT FILE - C1981035 (23)

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT A production rate of 629,785 tpy represents the current annual average,67 percent(421,000 tpy)of which is delivered to GCC-owned cement plants in the U.S. and Mexico where the coal is used as a fuel source in the cement manufacturing process. These plants are in Pueblo, Colorado (105,000 tpy), Tijeras, New Mexico (76,000 tpy), and in Chihuahua and Samalayuca, Mexico (240,000 tpy). Deliveries to the cement plants in the U.S. are directly trucked from the King II mine. Coal delivered to GCC's Mexico cement plants are delivered via rail from the Gallup, New Mexico rail hub. An additional approximately 12,000 tpy are delivered to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (3,600 tpy),the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico (1,500 tpy),and locally(7,000 tpy)for home heating.The coal haul routes are shown in Appendix A, Figure 1-1. On average, approximately 448,785 tpy (including the GCC Mexico cement plant volumes) is transported by truck to the rail terminal in Gallup, New Mexico for delivery to GCC plants in Mexico and to variable cement plant buyers in the Southwest(depending on highly variable markets, alternative fuels, and coal supply). 2.2.5 Design Features The Project design features are measures committed to by GCCE to reduce potential environmental impacts and are incorporated into the Proposed Action.The design features are described in Appendix C. Additional design features are described in the Mine Plan for the King II Mine. 2.3 ALTERNATIVE B—NO ACTION Under the No Action Alternative, the LBA would not be offered for competitive lease sale by BLM, there would be no mining plan modification to be considered for approval by the ASLM, and federal coal reserves in the LBA and new private reserves would not be recovered.GCCE would continue mining within the existing federal and state mine permit areas until those coal reserves are mined out. At the current mining rate, mining would cease by approximately 2022.The mine would be shut down and reclamation operations would begin and continue until completed in accordance with GCCE's approved federal and state permits and reclamation plans. Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no surface disturbance, removal of coal,air quality impacts,or any other effects associated with the Proposed Action. 2.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS This section describes alternatives to the Proposed Action for the Project that will not be fully analyzed in detail because they did not meet the criteria listed in 40 CFR§ 1502.14. 2.4.1 Northern Mine Area Underground Access Alternative This alternative access to the LBA was considered to extend the mine to the northwest from the existing northern most portion of the current mine workings to access the northeastern portion of the LBA coal reserve by tunneling under the Gulch. However, exploration drilling has shown that this area is primarily comprised of sandstone. Mining in sandstone creates silica dust which poses a hazard to miners' respiratory health in the form of silicosis. In addition, mining through the sandstone would require the use of blasting techniques which would create additional new safety hazards for the miners to which they currently are not subject. Lastly, blasting would also cause additional noise and vibration effects to public health and safety not associated with the Proposed Action. Dunn Ranch Area Coal Lease by Application COC-78825 and Mine Plan Modification EA 2-10