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APPENDIX A UNSUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND REPORT OXBOW MINING, INC. COAL LEASE MODIFICATION COC-53510 DESCRIPTION OF THE FEDERAL LANDS INVOLVED This unsuitability analysis and report has been prepared for a coal lease modification application submitted by Oxbow Mining, Inc. (Oxbow) on October 29, 1999. The coal lease modification, COC-53510, contains approximately 127.79 acres of federal coal lands described as: T.13S.. R.90W., 6th Principal Meridian, Sec. 2: Lots 10, 11, and 12, in Gunnison County, Colorado. The lease modification tract lies approximately four miles northeast of the town of Somerset in Gunnison County, Colorado. It consists of 127.79 acres of federally-owned mineral estate overlain by public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Managemen[ (BLIvf) Uncompahgre Field Office. The lease modification tract is contiguous [o the north boundary of existing federal coal lease COC-53~ 10 and Oxbow's existing active Sanborn Creek underground mining operations. The coal lease modification application was filed in order to avoid the bypass of federal coal. In completing the unsuitability analysis and developing this summary report, the unsuitability criteria published in 43 CFR 3461 were used. Each of the unsuitability criteria was applied individually to the area being considered. As a first s[ep in the unsuitability analysis, the preliminary plan submitted by the applicant was examined in order to identify areas in which the proposed underground mining operations could be expected to result in surface effects. Because the subject coal reserves would be accessed from existing underground mine workings and no surface disturbance, other than minor subsidence-related surface effects, is anticipated, the only aeeas identified as having some potential for mining-related surface effects were those areas identified as likely to be affected by subsidence. Areas identified as potentially subject to surface effects were then evaluated for each of the individual unsuitability criteria. Each criterion was applied individually and maps were developed showing the applicability of the criterion. Then, after all criteria had been applied, the exceptions for each of the criterion found to be potentially applicable were reviewed to determine if any of the exceptions were applicable for specific areas or pottions of areas. Exceptions [o certain criteria allow further consideration of areas even though they may have otherwise been determined to be unsuitable. Any applicable exceptions to the criteria are noted and described, as appropriate. if exceptions are not applicable, they are not addressed. Finally, after this analysis process had been completed, this summary report, stating and documenting the conclusions resulting from the unsuitability analysis was developed. ANALYSIS OF THE UNSUITABILITY CRITERIA Criterion 1 All Federal lands included in the following land systems or categories shall be considered unsuitable: National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System. National System of Trails. National Wilderness Preservation System, National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Recreation Areas, lands acquired with money derived from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, National Forests, and federal lands in incorporated cities, towns, and villages. f~-I-