2024-06-25_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A (4)

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West Elk Mine 2.05-107 Rev. 06/05- PR10, 03/06- PR10, 05/06- PR10, 11/060- TR107, 04/07- TR108, 09/07- PR12, 02/08- PR12; 11/10- MR372; 10/20- MR-452; 12/20- TR149; 12/21- TR150, 1/24-TR152 the Cultural Resources Reports in Exhibits 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E. Projected subsidence-related impacts to these "structures" are addressed under the permit section entitled “Effects of Subsidence and Mine-Induced Seismic Action on Man-Made Structures and Renewable Resources”. Description of Possible Subsidence Consequences – 2.05.6(6)(b)(I) Pre- and Post-mining Land Uses -2.05.6 (6)(b)(i)(A) As indicated in the Mountain Coal Company Coal Methane Drainage Project EA (February 2002), North Fork Coal EIS (2000), and Environmental Analysis U-94-37 (November 1994), prepared by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in cooperation with the U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and other jurisdictional agencies, the permit area lands support wildlife use, dispersed recreation, and livestock grazing. The Forest Service Amended Land Resource Management Plan prescribed land use designations of the Box Canyon lease tract, South of Divide permit revision area, and surrounding USFS lands as “5A”, "6B," and “9A” which emphasize riparian, wildlife habitat, and livestock grazing, respectively, and may provide recreational opportunities for semi-primitive non-motorized, semi- primitive motorized and roaded natural settings. The Gunnison National Forest prohibits cross- country travel in motorized vehicles. It is anticipated that little or no impacts to wildlife and domestic livestock uses, and their respective habitat will occur as a consequence of mining-induced subsidence on the permit area. In the unlikely event that subsidence effects adversely impact wildlife or domestic livestock uses associated mitigation measures will focus on returned disturbed areas to a capability and land use(s) which existed prior to mining. These mitigation measures are discussed in detail in Section 2.05.6(6)(f)(iv)(A-D) – Detailed Description of Mitigating Measures. Effects of Mining on Surficial Geologic Features The most current evaluations of subsidence impacts can be found in the quarterly subsidence monitoring reports each year. In past years, when evaluating the effects of mining in the permit revision area, the present land use, the post-mining land use and the effects of previous mining in the area were considered. Present land uses primarily include wildlife habitat, recreational hunting, and livestock grazing. Post-mining land uses will be essentially the same. Given the long and extensive history of mining in the area, it is surprising the small number of subsidence related features that have been identified. It cannot be proved that these represent the only cracks associated with the mine, but given the regular survey activity, inspection of the subsidence profiles, and seasonal landowner, hunter, and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) personnel activity, additional cracks would have been noted if they existed. This lack of evidence of surface cracking would lend strong validation to the premise that longwall mining has had minimal surface impacts at West Elk Mine. Landslides The most current evaluations of subsidence impacts can be found in the quarterly subsidence monitoring reports each year. In past years, it could be expected that the changes in stress and strain