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4. Impact Analysis <br />A. Impacts of Alternative 1, Approval Without Conditions <br />The description of the impacts of the proposed operation is <br />contained in the Findings section of the State's Proposed Decision <br />and Findings of Compliance (pages 9-64). <br />No new surface disturbance is planned for this revision and coal <br />production is expected to remain at present levels. Impacts <br />assessed in the original approval of July, 1981, for socioeconomics, <br />vegetation, wildlife, topography, land use, geology and air quality <br />have not changed. <br />OSM has reviewed the State's cumulative hydrologic impact assessment <br />(CHIA) and concurs with the findings of that document. No <br />significant impacts to the area's hydrologic balance are expected to <br />result from this operation and other ongoing and proposed mining <br />operations in this area. <br />The Endangered Species Office of the U.S. Fish and N1ldlife Service <br />has determined that the only threatened and endangered species to be <br />potentially affected by this operation are the humpbacked chub and <br />the Colorado squawfish. Potential impacts have been properly <br />mitigated by a contribution from the applicant to the Conservation <br />Fund for Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River as approved <br />by the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service. <br />Under section 522(b) of SMCRA, the Secretary of the Interior must <br />conduct a review of Federal lands to determine, pursuant to the <br />standards set forth in sections 522(a)(2) and 522(a>(3> of SMCRA, <br />whether there are areas on federal lands that are unsuitable for all <br />or certain types of surface coal mining operations. The Federal <br />lands within the permit area were reviewed by OSM and the results of <br />that review are discussed below. <br />Section 522(a>(2> of SMCRA requires that reclamation must be <br />technologically and economically feasible. OSM (1) reviewed the <br />operations and reclamation plan portion of the permit application, <br /><2) reviewed and concurs with Colorado MLRD's finding that <br />reclamation, as required by the State program approved pursuant to <br />SMCRA, can be accomplished under the reclamation plan contained in <br />the permit application, and (3> reviewed and concurs with Colorado <br />MLRD's reclamation cost determined for bond requirement. As a <br />result of this review, OSM determines that the reclamation as <br />proposed in the PAP is technologically and economically feasible. <br />Section 522<a)(3) of SMCRA states that "a surface area may be' <br />.designated unsuitable for certain types of surface coal mining <br />operations 1f such operations will: <br />(A) be incompatible with existing State or local land use plans <br />or programs; or <br />