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has been completed and is contained in Appendix I. Approximately 16 acres • <br />of the lease are unsuitable for coal mining due to the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River floodplains and approximately 160 acres are unsuitable for <br />surface disturbances due co riparian habitat in Box Canyon that support <br />priority habitat for migratory bird species of high federal interest. <br />After application of the exceptions to the Criterion approximately 16 acres <br />cannot be undermined and there are 160 acres with no surface occupancy. <br />Further restrictions may apply if conditions warrant such as described in <br />the mitigation measure section of this document. <br />The September, 1991, Amended Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) <br />for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests made <br />provisions for coal leasing subject to the application of the Coal <br />Unsuitability Criteria (See Appendix 1 for the Application of the Coal <br />Unsuitability Criteria), The LRMP also provides for applicable <br />stipulations to be utilized for protection of specific surface resources in <br />Section III, General Direction, pages 63-69. The Record of Decision for <br />the Oil and Gas Leasing Final Environmental Impact Statement signed on <br />April 19, 1993 by Robert L. Storch considered surface resources in various <br />Affected Environments and amended the 1991 LRMP with regards to oil and gas <br />leasing stipulations. The proposed coal lease area contains Affected <br />Environments considered in that EIS and since activities associated with <br />coal mining are similar to activities re laced Co oil and gas operations, <br />the effects analysis in the Oil and Gas EIS adequately describes the <br />effects of the activities associated with coal mining in the proposed coal <br />lease tract, Stipulacicns from that EIS are applicable to this lease <br />'proposal (only the stipulations for the Affected Environments present in <br />Lhe Box Canyon tract apply). As a result of the LRMP, approximately 1,130 <br />acres have no surface occupancy stipulations and 1,235 acres have seasonal <br />and/or controlled surface use stipulations. <br />Alternative Two - Reject Application (No-Action) - <br />The second alternative is to not authorize a lease sale in response co <br />the competitive coal lease application submitted by Mountain Coal Company. <br />If the decision was to reject the application, Mountain Coal Company would <br />continue its present mining of the B and D/E seams bypassing the Box Canyon <br />Tract, However, because access to che.coal on the application lands could <br />be reached at the outcrop, the tract could be mined in the future. Until <br />the coal is mined in the future, not mining the coal would represent a loss <br />of revenue to the federal government and a loss of potential energy (coal) <br />to the nation as well. Future mining from the outcrop is unlikely for the <br />reasons stated above in the desription of the alternatives. Not offering <br />the federal coal reserves for lease would shorten the West Elk Hine life by <br />10 years. <br />ZII. AFFECTED ENVIP.ONMENT <br />A detailed description of the existing environment can be found in the <br />West Elk Mine and Reclamation Plan, 1991; Wesc Central Coal EIS, 1479; <br />Uinta Southwest Utah Coal EIS, 1983; Coal Unsuitability ReoorC for the • <br />Boakcliff and Paonia/Somerset Coal Planning Areas within the Uncompahgre <br />Basin Planning Area, 1989; the Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan <br />9 <br />