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• N <br />` '~ DECI~N RECORD/RATIONALE AND FONSI . <br />.~ <br />EA N0. CO-016-85-56 <br />DECISION <br />_ They No Action Alternative and the Coal Management Alternative are <br />.rejected and the Getty Alternative is adopted. <br />-. :: <br />,. <br />_. <br />RATIONALE - <br />Leasing the Wadge and Wolf Creek seams of Federal coal as applied for <br />` under Lease Application C-40672 would be in the best interest of the <br />-,_ Federal government and the applicant. This is because leasing this <br />. ,•.,Fspecific coal now would. prevent a bypass situation where it would no <br />longer oe feasible-for any other company to develop it in the future. <br />The,-Coal Management Alternative was rejected because after further <br />.analysis of the coal resource data -the following conclusions were <br />derived: <br />~ .- r:::,.. .. ~ , . -. ., ~ ~ - <br />;1) The sulfur content of the coal" in the Fish Creek seam is <br />generally higher than Colorado Yampa Coal Company's contract <br />requirements. <br />2) Where the sulfur content is acceptable, either the BTU content <br />is very low because of oxidation, or the stripping ratio <br />exceeds 20:1. <br />3) <br />Blending the lower quality Fish Creek coal we have proposed to <br />lease, with higher quality coal from other locations within the <br />mine, is probably not economically feasible. The applicant <br />contends that higher. Fish Creek coal mining costs with the <br />lowered sales value of blended coal would result in an <br />unsatisfacory after tax profit margin. In view of today's <br />economic conditions, and alternative investment opportunities, <br />it is believed a prudently managed company could not afford to ,., <br />mine the Fisn Creek coal at this time. <br />The Getty Alternative would be feasible economically and <br />environmentally, and is consistent with the Bureau of Land Management <br />policy for management of mineral resources. <br />The mitigation identified under the environmental Consequences section <br />of the Getty Alternative would adequately mitigate environmental <br />concerns and prevent adverse impacts. Tnis mitigation is included as <br />Attachment A, Special Lease Stipulations. The compliance/monitoring <br />plan is included as Attachment B and will be implemented to insure <br />compliance with the lease terms and conditions. <br />There was no justified rationale to select the No Action Alternative, <br />therefore, it was rejected. <br />is <br /> <br />- ''~.,. - .- -1 r,' .. . <br />_...4eS_. ... <br />