2020-10-27_PERMIT FILE - C1981035 ‎(22)‎

• Permit No: C1981035
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 10/27/2020
• Section_Exhibit Name: KII Appendix 16 Dunn Ranch LBA Technical Resources Report
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

2.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
2.1 Introduction
This section presents the affected existing environment(i.e.,the physical, biological, social, and economic
values and resources) of the affected area for specific resources. This section also analyzes the potential
environmental impacts of the Proposed Action. Within this section, the terms effects and impacts are
used interchangeably. The potential impact of the Proposed Action is evaluated for the affected area for
each resource in terms of direct, indirect, and cumulative effects.
• Direct effects are those that are caused by an action in the alternative and occur at the same time
and place as the action.
• Indirect effects are those that are caused by the action and are later in time or farther removed
in distance but are still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect effects may include growth inducing
effects and other effects related to induced changes in the pattern of land use, population density
or growth rate, and related effects on air and water and other natural systems, including
ecosystems.
The duration of impacts is generally in terms of"short term"which is less than 5 years(yr),or"long term"
lasting beyond 5 years.
Cumulative effects are defined as "the impact on the environment which results from the incremental
impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions
regardless of what agency (federal or non-federal) or person undertakes other such actions. Cumulative
impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of
time." (40 CFR 1508.7)
For cumulative effects, baseline conditions include past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future
conditions in the affected area. The past and present uses of the Dunn Ranch LBA include coal mining,
historic oil and gas exploration and limited development, livestock grazing, and wildlife habitat.
Reasonably foreseeable future activities include continued underground coal mining and exploration,
continued area coal leasing, continued surface coal mine reclamation, continued oil and gas operations
and potential development, agriculture and livestock grazing, dispersed residential development,
recreation, and wildlife habitat.The past and present actions are provided in greater detail in the 2017 EA
(BLM and OSMRE 2017). These various activities are consistent with reasonably foreseeable future
activities described in the Tres Rios Field Office(TRFO) Resource Management Plan (RMP; BLM 2015).The
affected area for cumulative effects varies by resource and is specified with the effects.
Dunn Ranch Area LBA and Mining Plan Modification 3
Technical Resources Report