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production. Under the current proposed mining plan, the <br />disturbed area for the mine would be increased to 3,810 <br />acres, and total coal production would increase to about 178 <br />million tons. The new total disturbance at the Colowyo Mine <br />reflects about two percent of the projected disturbed area, <br />and total coal production for the mine would increase to <br />about 18 percent of the projected coal production in the <br />region. <br />The maximum production rate at the mine would increase to <br />about five million tons per year, which would be only <br />slightly higher than the 4.5 million tons per year projected <br />in the EIS. The slight increase in production would not <br />increase the magnitude of any of the cumulative <br />socioeconomic impacts described in the EIS. Approval of the <br />proposed mining plan modification would not increase the <br />magnitude of any of the other cumulative impacts described <br />in the EIS. <br />B. Alternative 2: Disapproval of the Proposed Mining Plaa <br />Modification (the "No Action" Alternative). <br />If the mining plan modification is disapproved, the impacts <br />described for alternative 1 would not occur. The Colowyo <br />Mine would continue to operate under the terms and <br />conditions of the previously approved plan. About 9 million <br />tone of Federal coal would not be mined unless an <br />alternative plan were later developed and approved by the <br />Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management. If an <br />alternative plan were not approved prior to mining of the <br />adjoining area, the coal would be unrecoverable due to <br />economic considerations. <br />13 <br />