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APPENDIX A UNSUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND REPORT OXBOW CARBON & MINERALS, INC. COAL LEASE MODIFICATION COC-53510 COAL RIGHT-OF-WAY COC-59584 DESCRIPTION OF THE FEDERAL LANDS INVOLVED This unsuitability analysis and report has been prepared for a coal lease modification application and aright-of-way (R/W) application submitted by Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. (Oxbow). The coal lease modification, COC-53510, contains 157.55 acres of federal coal lands described as: T.13S., R.90W., 6th Principal Meridian, Sec. 1: Lots 11, 12, 13 and 20, in Gunnison County, Colorado. The R/W area (COC-59584) is located within the north half of Lot 1, Sec. 12, T.13S., R.90W., 6th Principal Meridian. The tract lies approximately four miles east of the town of Somerset in Gunnison County, Colorado. It consists of 157.33 acres of federally-owned mineral estate overlain by public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The tract also lies adjacent to an existing producing coal mine. The coal lease modification and R/W applications were filed in order to avoid the bypass of Federal coal. As a first step in this analysis, the preliminary mining plan submitted by the applicant was examined in order to identify areas in which the proposed underground mining operation would produce surface effects. All of the areas on which surface facilities associated with the proposed operation were to be located and all the areas identified as likely to be affected by subsidence (as discussed in Dunrud, 1976) were delineated as having surface effects. There are no surface facilities proposed, therefore, the only surface effects could potentially be subsidence. The unsuitability criteria were then applied individually to the areas identified as having surface effects. Each criterion was applied individually and maps were developed showing the applicability of the criterion. Then after all criteria had been applied, the exceptions of each criterion found to be applicable were then examined to determine if the exceptions were also applicable. Finally, after the process had been completed, a summary, stating the conclusions of the report was written. In compiling this analysis and report, the unsuitability criteria published in 43 CFR 3461 were used. The unsuitability criteria were applied individually to the area being considered. The Unsuitability Analysis and Report process required consultation and coordination with the following state and federal agencies: Criteria 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife; and Criterion 15 -Colorado Division of Wildlife. Copies of these consultations may be found in the Oxbow case file, Coal Lease Modification Application C-53510. 1