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amendments when a proposed action or series of actions would increase the disturbed and affected azeas <br />within the permit boundary or significantly change the reclamation plan - as these revisions do. <br />As part of this suggestion, WSERC would like to request a public hearing in order to discuss the <br />protection of the interests of the public and affected landowners if any of the proposed actions aze <br />approved and/or constructed. However, prior to any public hearing WSERC would like to request <br />additional information be provided. The following is a list of some of our questions and concerns: <br />• Will the proposed conveyor systems be covered? <br />• How will Bowie minimize blowing coal dust from [he proposed conveyors? <br />• How will Bowie minimize blowing coal dust from the proposed stockpile? <br />• What will be the resulting changes in truck haul traffic on state highways? <br />• What will be the impact to state highway structures and maintenance? <br />• What will be the impact to highway safety and other traffic? <br />• Will the haul trucks be covered (air quality and safety issues)? <br />• What will be the air quality impacts from those traffic increases and from dust entering the <br />air from road dust, truck exhaust, and the coal load? <br />• What is the baseline air quality at the mine site and along the haul road now? <br />• Will Bowie need to seek changes in its air quality permit? <br />• If the current air quality permit is limited to the mine boundazies, will a second air quality <br />permit be required for additional mine-related impacts occurring off site, or in between the <br />two permit locations? <br />• How will Bowie deal with reports of surface water runoff from its facilities contaminating <br />adjacent irrigation ditches? <br />• Will lighting and noise from these facilities be muted or mitigated? <br />• What light and noise levels will occur by day, and by night? <br />• What are baseline conditions now and how will neazby residents and wildlife be affected? <br />• What is the expected life of the longwall, and what coal reserves will be mined? <br />• What aze the specific impacts of expanded production by Bowie on land surface, water, <br />wildlife, natural and community resources? <br />• What are the cumulative impacts of expanded production by Bowie and neazby mines on <br />land surface, water, wildlife, natural and community resources? <br />As we aze sure you are aware, many of these same issues aze being considered by the federal <br />Bureau of Land Management in a pending Environmental Impact Statement for new federal coal leases <br />being requested by Bowie, and by an adjacent mine, Oxbow Cazbon and Minerals, Inc. Moreover, this <br />information is being gathered, in part, for exactly the same proposal -expansion of the Bowie #2 mine <br />from a room and pillar operation in fee coal to a longwall operation in federal coal. <br />Due to this overlap, we recommend that the state coordinate its information gathering processes <br />with the BLM -both to collect public comment and to provide information to interested publics. <br />Moreover, this would prevent wasteful duplication of efforts and allow for full analysis of impacts. In <br />addition, we recommend that DMG ask other state agencies to become involved to answer questions that <br />aze not DMG's azea of expertise. For example, could the Department of Transportation be involved to <br />answer questions about highway use? <br />WSERC Comments ou Bowie Resources Ltd. Technical Revisions -Page 2 <br />