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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT <br /> • Paleontology - Information on paleontological resources presented in the previous EAs has not <br /> changed and is still applicable.Additionally,as the Proposed Action under review in this document <br /> is a continuation of the previous 2017 action, impacts previously described would be similar over <br /> an extended period of time (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Section 3.4). If paleontological resources are <br /> discovered during mining operations, GCCE shall notify the BLM and OSMRE and shall not disturb <br /> such discoveries until the agencies issue further instruction. In addition,a paleontological monitor <br /> would be present during the construction. <br /> • Transportation - Information on transportation presented in the previous EAs has not changed <br /> and is still applicable. Additionally, as the Proposed Action under review in this document is a <br /> continuation of the previous 2017 action, impacts previously described would be similar over an <br /> extended period of time (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Section 3.10).The amount of traffic is limited to <br /> 160 truck trips per day through the Class II LUP permit issued by LPC and RIA and would continue <br /> through 2043. Therefore, potential impacts from transportation are anticipated to continue <br /> through 2043 but impacts would be minimized through existing measures put in place by the LUP <br /> and RIA from LPC. Existing measures to improve road safety and minimize noise include reduced <br /> truck speeds,increased road width, noise barriers,paved road sections, and dust control(BLM and <br /> OSMRE 2017, Section 3.10). Potential air impacts for traffic are analyzed in Section 3.4. GCCE <br /> would continue to follow all existing state and federal highway regulations related to the <br /> transport of coal. <br /> • Vegetation- Information on vegetation presented in the previous EAs has not changed and is still <br /> applicable. Additionally, as the Proposed Action under review in this document is a continuation <br /> of the previous 2017 action, impacts previously described would generally be similar over an <br /> extended period of time (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Section 3.7). The construction of the low-cover <br /> crossing would disturb up to 10 acres of bottomland habitat.Those impacts are discussed below <br /> in Section 3.4.5. <br /> • Health and Safety - Information on health and safety presented in the previous EAs has not <br /> changed and is still applicable.Additionally,as the Proposed Action under review in this document <br /> is a continuation of the previous 2017 action, impacts previously described would be similar over <br /> an extended period of time (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Section 3.2). <br /> • Soils - Information on soils presented in the previous EAs has not changed and is still applicable. <br /> Additionally, as the Proposed Action under review in this document is a continuation of the <br /> previous 2017 action, impacts previously described would be similar over an extended period of <br /> time (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Section 3.5). Any soils disturbed through the construction of the <br /> low-cover crossing would be restored through the implementation of the design features <br /> (Appendix C) and GCCE's Reclamation Plan. <br /> 3.4 RESOURCE ISSUES ANALYZED IN DETAIL <br /> The resource issues that are evaluated in this EA in detail are based on issues identified during internal <br /> and public scoping and include the following: <br /> Dunn Ranch Area Coal Lease by Application COC-78825 and Mine Plan Modification EA 3-5 <br />