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I <br />Environmental Assessment Bowie Resources, L.L.C. <br />' A ugust 2 005 spruce Stomp Federal Coal Exploration License (150- 2005 -43) <br />Cumulative impacts are defined in the CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1508.7) as those impacts <br />attributable to the Proposed Action combined with other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable <br />t future impacts, regardless of the source or agency causing them. Cumulative impacts for each <br />resource are included in Section 3.4. <br />In January 1997, Colorado BLM approved the Standards for Public Land Health (Standards). <br />These standards cover upland soils, riparian systems, plant and animal communities, threatened <br />and endangered species, and water quality. Standards describe conditions needed to sustain <br />public land health and relate to all uses of the public lands. Because a standard exists for these <br />five categories, a finding must be made for each of them in an environmental analysis where <br />public surface is involved. This environmental analysis was conducted in a manner sufficient to <br />meet these Standards and the USDA -FS conditions provided in Section 3.4. <br />Ongoing Activities Common to All Alternatives <br />In addition to the Proposed Action, existing mining operations are occurring in the immediate <br />area. <br />It is reasonably foreseeable that mining will continue at the Bowie No. 2 Mine, as well as at <br />adjacent and nearby mines, as long as the reserves are available and accessible. Ancillary <br />activities, such as transporting coal via truck and train can also be expected to continue, as long <br />as the mines are producing coal. These trucks will continue to use State Route 133 for ingress <br />and egress from the Bowie mine and other nearby mines. Train traffic passes through Paonia. <br />Neither train nor truck traffic is expected to increase substantially as a result of the Proposed <br />Action or No Action alternative. <br />Non - mining related activities have also occurred in the past, are currently being practiced, and <br />will likely be practiced in the foreseeable future. These activities include but are not limited to <br />agriculture, aggregate extraction and processing, recreational activities, timber sales, and raising <br />livestock. Each of these activities contributes to the number of vehicles and the amount of road <br />use in the area. It is reasonable to assume that the levels of use will remain constant or increase <br />in the future. The proposed improvement of existing roads and trails has the potential to make <br />the area more attractive to recreationists who use the roads. If this is the case, the Proposed <br />Action could indirectly bring about greater rates of use for the road systems within this portion of <br />GMUG. The road improvements could facilitate access to timber resources that have been <br />approved for sale. Finally, new roads could influence the movement of livestock, necessitating <br />the installation of gates or cattle guards to limit unwanted movement of the livestock. This effect <br />would be short term, however, as new roads will be obliterated when no longer needed. <br />3.1 Resources Not Affected <br />The following Critical Elements of the Human Environment are not present in the project area, <br />or are not affected by the Proposed Action or alternatives and are dismissed from further <br />discussion in this EA: <br />• Environmental Justice <br />• Farm Lands (prime or unique) <br />3 -2 <br />