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Summary <br />It is the conclusion of the unsuitability analysis that no part c` <br />the 300 acre tract of federal lands examined is unsuitable for surface <br />coal mining o,,^,e rations within the meaning of Section 522 of the Surfao~ <br />Piining Control and Reclamation Act. <br />The conclusion was based on the best resource i m•2ntories available <br />at this time as well as the best infcrmation concerning U,e surface <br />effects of underground mining (primarily subsidence) and the a,~plicant's <br />best estimate of the surface facilities necessary to ,~.ine the tract. <br />To briefly summarize the findings of the repor±: <br />(1) although a right-of-way and its legally required buffer zone <br />are located on the tract, both lie outside areas which ~•rill experience <br />surface effects from the reining; <br />(2) impacts to the existing visual quality r;hich ;;ould not be <br />compatible with the tracts present rating cf high visual sensitivity ca -, <br />be mitigated to fall within a permissible level; <br />(3) consultation o-rith the USFI;S as required in Section ' of the <br />endangered Species Act concerning the impact of the r:inine c?oration o.^. <br />bald eagles r,hich winter alcng tine north Forl: River has been initiated. <br />It is unlikely that the s~~.all amount of surface disturbance ~.:~.ich ~rould <br />result from construe*_ion of the ventilation shaft mould ra~:e the area <br />unsuitable; <br />(4) in addition, although migratory ~•raterfo:+l aiso r;inter along t!:, <br />North Fork, the river in this stretch is frozen and useable by waterfe..l <br />for much of the minter; <br />(5) the tract is considered to be critical tirinter range for mule <br />deer and elk by the DCtJ and USr"t;S but consultation, vrith the DO'.J has <br />indicated that the tract is not the most critical winter range and that <br />any additional impacts resulting rTorn mining can be mitigated; <br />(6) the 100-year floodplain of the North Fork River lies along the <br />southerr, bcundary of this tract but no disturbance of the flcodplain <br />should result frcm the leasing and mining as proposed by hestern Slcpe <br />Carbon; <br />(7) based on soil type alone a part of the tract lying along the <br />Forth fork River would qualify as prime farmland if irrigated. Norrever, <br />there has been farming on the area of the appropriate soil type for 5 c." <br />the last 20 years as required by law; and finally <br /> <br />