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~. <br />adverse impact to the Colorado P,iver svst~T. =au=r•d h~~ increased salinit.: <br />levels. However, this imp;~ct appears to `.~^_ en.zl'_ `ra<t•d nn the amount of <br />discharge e>:pected iro~a the mining opurati~::. <br />Roads <br />Following the requirements of [he permanent pro r.r,~~.^. regulations, the com;,an}' <br />plans to construcc an additional 5 miles of class roads (~ miles already <br />exist) for 3CCeSS Dad haulage through the permit area. Existing class i roads <br />will be modified to comply with the regulations. I:nerg)• Fuels does not plan <br />to construct additional class II roads (1.5 miles e>:ist) but .ill relocate <br />class III roads as needed. <br />Roads will he surfaced to endure traffic ar;d chemicall~~ stabi'_ized and spra}•ed <br />with water as needed to control fugitive dust. The area disturbed by class I, <br />lI, and III roads will be res[orad to origina_ conditions b}• removins drainage <br />structures an•] shaping tl:e area [o blend with natural contours. <br />Temporary impacts -i11 include distur'oance caused hp constructing new.roads, <br />increased air-quality degradation, loss o` +:ildlife that are unable to <br />migrate, and loss of wildlife habi^_ar. These ixnacts are e;:pected to be short <br />term, lasting during the life of the mine. <br />Coal Recovery <br />Approximately 3: million tons of coal will he r_~no:•ed`ros the permit area <br />during the proposed mining operation. The :um;rnn~ is nropo s.ng tha: a portion <br />of the highwall be left open to facilitate .`utun: underground :ini.ng. T~^is <br />action would leave approximately 200,000 t7nc coal unrecnvered from <br />surface-mining operacions; ho•aever, this caul ::n~ld hu recovered when and if <br />underground mining begins. USM understands tl.•:: n~:;snning behind lea:•ing the <br />highwall but has determined that this action vu~,ld not comnl}' with 30 CFR <br />516. L00. Therefore, to brin_r. the plan into core; ; i;~nce and to minimize adverse <br />impacts, USM is stipulating that [he compar._: most s~:hr„it n plan for <br />underground mir.ins by December 31, 1980, or hacl.iiil and ^rade the highwall <br />area by Januar}- 31, 19S1. <br />Otircr stipulations require Chat no faulted b1crC;;c of coal may be left unr,.i:red <br />nor may coal seams or coal seam splits greater than 28 inches thicl: be spoiled <br />or left unmixed '.:iti,nu[ exp:'ess written cnnser.t of the regulator± au[hori[_v <br />and the USGS ,irea `fining Supervisor. Ad irerence to these stipulations will <br />minimize future environmental impacts by requirir,r maximum recovery o` Ure <br />coal resource. (-00,000 tons would remain until under€round Wining begins or <br />the area is backiill,rd and ytraded.) <br />Adverse impact< canned he leaving, a portion n.` ~5,: highwall open incLide <br />visual effects and the potential loss o` ~~ild]ii~• .`rpm falling, of .` the wall. <br />Ilowever, [hr•sc impacts are less si{:nifi^_art than ;I~usc t!~nt would he caused by <br />redis[ur6ing the land for underground mininr,:;ftcr i[. has been bac4:filled and <br />graded. <br /> <br />