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Red Cliff Mine EIS <br />L0 PURPOSE AND NEED <br />1.1 Introduction <br />This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepazed to analyze the environmental <br />consequences of the development of the Red Cliff Mine project as proposed by CAM - <br />Colorado, LLC (CAM). The Red Cliff Mine would be a new underground coal mine located in <br />northwestern Colorado. The EIS is asite-specific analysis of potential impacts that could result <br />from the implementation of a Proposed Action or alternatives to the Proposed Action. Impacts <br />on private, as well as federal, lands are disclosed and analyzed. <br />The need to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) <br />was triggered by two applications submitted by CAM to the Bureau of Land Management <br />(BLM). CAM submitted an Application for Transmission and Utility Systems and Facilities on <br />Federal Lands on September 27, 2005 for railroad facilities, and they submitted a Land Use <br />Application and Permit on Februazy 10, 2006. Copies of the applications are included in <br />Appendix X of this EIS. The right-of--way (ROW) and use of public lands are necessary to <br />support CAM's expansion of their mining operation. <br />Two additional connected actions will also be analyzed in the EIS. BLM has received a request <br />(Lease by Application) from CAM to lease federal coal on approximately 14,466 acres adjacent <br />to CAM's existing leases. CAM's Lease Application Boundary is shown on Figure _. BLM has <br />determined that if this coal is leased, it would be by a competitive bid process. <br />BLM has also received a separate Application for Transmission and Utility Systems and <br />Facilities on Federal Lands from Grand Valley Power (GVP) dated June 8, 2007 to construct an <br />electric transmission line for the power requirements for the Red Cliff Mine. This application is <br />also included in Appendix X. <br />Other agencies and government entities have been invited to participate in the NEPA process as <br />cooperating agencies. These include: <br />• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) <br />• Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement (OSM) <br />• Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (CDRMS) <br />• Mesa County <br />• Garfield County <br />1.2 Background <br />The basic purpose of this project is to mine, transport, and offer coal for sale at competitive <br />prices to help supply the energy needs of the U.S. The purpose of the proposed Red Cliff Mine <br />project is to provide better access to CAM's existing coal leases and provide access to the <br />adjacent potential federal coal leases. CAM proposes to utilize public and private lands to <br />effectively and efficiently mine the coal and transport it to mazket. Current facilities at the <br />McClane Mine aze not adequate for this purpose. The development of the Red Cliff Mine would <br />generate a better supply of coal to the U.S. market. <br />