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4 <br /> approximately 0.09%of the mean face value(500 GtCO2)of the carbon budget.The agencies have <br /> determined that the proposed action is not a significant contributor to CO2e emissions over the life <br /> of the mine. <br /> Due to the nature of the proposed action, impacts to surface and groundwater resources would be <br /> moderate, short term. No impacts to surface and groundwater quantity (including nearby <br /> residential wells) are expected, and there would be no increase in demand for water beyond what <br /> is currently occurring. Impacts on noise would be negligible to minor and temporary(EA Section <br /> 3.4.4). <br /> 3. Unique characteristics of the geographic area such as proximity to historic or cultural <br /> resources, park lands, prime farm lands, wetlands, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, or <br /> ecologically critical areas. <br /> The following components of the geographic area are not affected because they are not present in <br /> the project area; park lands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, or <br /> ecologically critical areas(See section 3.3 of EA). <br /> The historic and cultural resources of the area have been inventoried and potential impacts <br /> mitigated in the design features of the Selected Alternative. The potential surface disturbing <br /> activities of the Selected Alternative would be approximately 20 acres. Of the 7 cultural resource <br /> sites within the Area of Potential Effect (see EA section 3.4.3.3), none would be impacted by the <br /> Selected Alternative as no surface disturbance is proposed in the site areas. Further, these sites <br /> would be subject to cultural resource avoidance monitoring requirements. <br /> 4. The degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment are likely to be <br /> highly controversial. <br /> There is not likely to be controversy over the nature of the impacts associated with the Selected <br /> Alternative because the effects have been disclosed in the EA and the project is located adjacent to <br /> and immediately northwest of the King II Mine and existing federal coal lease COC-62920. That <br /> project was disclosed in an EA incorporated by reference (DOI-BLM-CO-SO1.0-2011-0074) into <br /> this EA. The decision to lease additional coal reserves and its effects are not considered unique. <br /> The BLM has been making coal-leasing decisions involving this area since 1941. <br /> 5. The degree to which the possible effects on the human environment are highly uncertain or <br /> involve unique or unknown risks. <br /> The project is not unique or unusual.The BLM has experience implementing similar actions in the <br /> area. The unleased Federal coal reserves comprise an approximate 2,462-acre block of coal north <br /> of the northern limits of GCCE's existing King II Mine. The environmental effects to the human <br /> environment are fully analyzed in the EA. There are no predicted effects on the human environment <br /> that are considered to be highly uncertain or involve unique or unknown risks. <br /> 6. The degree to which the action may establish a precedent for future actions with significant <br /> effects or represents a decision in principle about a future consideration. <br /> The actions considered in the Selected Alternative were considered by the interdisciplinary team <br /> within the context of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Significant <br /> cumulative effects are not predicted. A complete analysis of the direct, indirect, and cumulative <br /> effects of the Selected Alternative and all other alternatives is described in Chapter 3 of the EA. <br /> The action would likely not establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects or <br /> represent a decision in principle about a future consideration. <br /> DOI-BLM-CO-S010-2019-0003-EA FONSI <br />