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Environmental Assessment Bowie Resources, L.L.C. <br />August 2005 Spruce Stomp Federal Coal Exploration License (150- 2005 -43) <br />Evaluate impacts to ground water and surface water, impacts to spring flows and how it relates to <br />creeks, irrigation supplies and any downstream domestic water supplies (particularly Terror <br />Creek Reservoir, Overland Ditch and, and access to Overland Ditch). <br />Although impacts to ground and surface water will be discussed, including Terror Creek <br />Reservoir), Overland Ditch is outside the area of potential affect, therefore it will not be <br />discussed within the EA. <br />Documentation of how the Proposed Action relates to Past NEPA Analysis (including February <br />2000 EIS (USDA -FS 2000) and February 2002 Coal Methane Drainage EA (USDA -FS 2002)). <br />Appropriate analyses are referenced and considered in cumulative effects. The 2000 EIS <br />documented the effects of two federal coal leases and a federal coal exploration license. <br />Those projects are currently in implementation, and the cumulative effects of them <br />considered in this analysis. The February 2002 Coal Methane Drainage EA was <br />completed for an area about IO air miles southeast of the SSCEL, and is outside the <br />cumulative effect area of this project. <br />Analyze impacts of subsidence and steep and erosion -prone slopes as a result of the Proposed <br />Action. <br />The Proposed Action does not include mining; and, therefore subsidence is not an issue <br />in a coal exploration project. This issue will not be carried forward in the EA. <br />Temporary loss of 15 acres of forage on the East and West Terror allotments (less than 1% of <br />Animal Unit Months (AUMs)). <br />The amount of loss is less than 1% of the total AUMs on these allotments and is <br />temporary in nature; therefore, the loss is considered negligible and temporary by the <br />USDA -FS, and will not be carried forward for analysis. <br />' Impacts to water resources, and plant and animal communities as a result of magnesium chloride <br />use. <br />Magnesium chloride is an optional dust abatement mitigation measure and would not be <br />used for the Proposed Action. The licensee would only be allowed to use water for dust <br />suppression. <br />Include analysis of noxious weed population changes over time. <br />Noxious weed infestations due to ground - disturbing activities will be carried forward in <br />analysis; however, general noxious weed population changes, due to the length of this <br />project vs. the time period of population change of noxious weeds, are outside of the <br />scope of this analysis. <br />Analysis of train traffic and safety due to increased production. <br />As the Proposed Action is for an exploration- drilling program only, the only outcome of <br />the Proposed Action would be information; therefore, there would not be increased coal <br />production as a result of this project, and there would be no effect to train traffic. <br />' t -tl <br />