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A 1/8 mile buffer zone will be protected on either aide of the riparian <br />zones along the North Fork of the Gunnison River and in Hawkenest Canyon. <br />• No surface disturbances, except surface subsidence, will be permitted within <br />these buffer zones unless no feasible alternatives exist. All unavoidable <br />surface disturbances will require approval of the BLN's Authorized Officer. <br />The BLM will coordinate with the Fish apd Wildlife Service and the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife to determine the type and extent of allowable <br />variances. <br />With respect to crucial winter range for mule deer and elk (Criterion 15), the <br />following stipulations shall be applied: <br />1. Coal related facilities and surface dieturbancee will be authorized in <br />the review aren only if no feasible alternntivee exist. <br />2. The BLM will coordinate with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to <br />determine the type and extent of allowable variances. <br />3. Coal exploration, facility construction, and major scheduled maintenance <br />will not be authorized within these crucial winter ranges from December <br />1 through April 30. <br />4. All unavoidable surface dieturbancee within these ranges will require <br />approval of the BLM'e Authorized Officer. <br />A potential Alluvial Valley Floor (Criterion 19) on the proposed lease tract is <br />the quaternary Alluvium associated with the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br />This area has already been found to be unsuitable for coal extraction under <br />Criteria Number 16 - "Federal Lands in Special Floodplaina". However, a concern <br />remains that coal extraction on other parts of the proposed lease could <br />materially damage the quantity and/or quality of water that supplies this AVF, <br />due to the potential hydraulic connection between the AVF and Heeaverde <br />Formation. Due to insufficient data, a determination can not be made until a <br />• mine plan for the area has been submitted. At that time, the Regulatory <br />Official will make a finding concerning possible material damage to the alluvial <br />valley floor. As a result of the finding, some restrictions to the mining <br />operations may be necessary. <br />• <br />