Laserfiche WebLink
Socioeconomics <br /> • Leasing federal lands would not affect the annual level of coal production. Consequently, there <br /> would be no immediate impact on local employment income or public revenues. However, the use <br /> of the federal lease extends the mine life by 2.5 years which means the income and employment <br /> effects of the mine would be for a longer period. At the estimated production level of 1.3 to 1.5 <br /> million tons per year of federal coal, 100 employees would be needed to mine the coal. <br /> B. Alternative Two - No Action <br /> Environmental Consequences <br /> There are no known additional impacts to the following resources: climate, air quality, recreation, <br /> soils, mineral resources, water resources, vegetation, wildlife, land use, cultural or visual resources. <br /> If the lease is not granted, there is a high likelihood that the coal will never be mined. In that case, <br /> this alternative would result in a loss of production to the nation of 2.5 million tons of coal. <br /> If the coal in the proposed lease area is mined at another date, it will be done at a higher cost due <br /> to the need for reentry. While the economic benefits of Alternative One might still be enjoyed, they <br /> would be achieved at a higher cost and hence, less efficiently. Or the bypassed coal may never be <br /> mined due to technical difficulties and economic constraints. <br /> There are no Mitigation Measures or Residual Impacts resulting from Alternative Two. <br /> V. MITIGATION MEASURES <br /> • A 118 mile buffer zone will be protected on either side of the riparian zones along East Roatcap <br /> Creek. No surface disturbances, except surface subsidence, will be permitted within these buffer <br /> zones unless no feasible alternatives exist. All unavoidable surface disturbances will require <br /> approval of the BLM's Authorized Officer. The BLM will coordinate with the Fish and Wildlife <br /> Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife to determine the type and extent of allowable <br /> variances. <br /> With respect to bald or golden eagle nests which may be established on the review area during the <br /> life of the project, the following shall be applied. No new permanent surface facilities or <br /> disturbances shall be located within a 114 mile radius buffer zone around each bald or golden eagle <br /> nest site. No surface activities will be allowed within a 114 mile radius buffer zone around each <br /> eagle nest site from March 1 to July 1. Any proposed activities in, or adjacent to, these buffer <br /> zones (except routine maintenance) will require approval from the BLM, on a site-specific basis, <br /> after consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. <br /> Because of the potential for the Grand Mesa Penstemon to occur, a Threatened and Endangered <br /> plant survey will be required prior to any surface disturbance. <br /> To protect and preserve breeding and nesting habitat for the Loggerhead shrike, disturbances in <br /> sagebrush and oak stands should be avoided to the extent possible. <br /> The lessee shall replace in a manner consistent with state law the water supply of any owner of a <br /> vested water right which is proximately injured as a result of the mining activities. <br /> The lessee shall formulate a water replacement plan to replace the possible loss of water presently <br /> . adjudicated and historically put to beneficial use in East Roatcap Creek and West Roatcap Creek. <br /> The water replacement plan for each respective drainage shall be developed after consultation with <br /> affected water right users, and federal and state authorities, and shall be approved by state <br /> authorities before mining in the drainage. <br /> Page 12 <br />