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retention of surface runoff waters proposed for the lease tract, it is <br />estimated that coal leasing and subsequent mining would result in an <br />• estimated minimum one acre foot of cater depletion annually. The Service, <br />through for[aal consultation with SLM and USFS, has issued a Programmatic <br />Biological Opinion foc water depletions in Colorado for less than 125 acre <br />feet, suggesting conservation measures to offse[ jeopardy to these fishes <br />and their crit'_cal habitats caused by eater depletion. <br />Cultural resources <br />Impacts to cultural resources could occur if future surface <br />disturbances are progosed. These potential impacts can be mitigated by a <br />pre-activity cultural resource inventory prior to surface disturbance. <br />Water Resources <br />Coal extraction or the resultant subsidence of overburden could <br />disrupt and drain ground water systems associated with the Mesaverde <br />Formation, Quaternary deposits, or the local fault systems. <br />Surface effects from subsidence could alter surface flow patterns or <br />intercept surface runoff wa._.s. T.-.e severity of surface subsidence would <br />be greatest where the shallowest overburden occurs. <br />• These impacts will be mitigated by the mine plan review process. The <br />mine and reclawation Qlan will require the lessee, before issuance of the <br />mine permit, to inventory all adjudicated water rights to quantify water <br />sources (surface vs. ground water), water quantity, and water quality, If, <br />• as a result of mining activities, disruption to water quality or quantity <br />occurs to any o` these avatar sources ;as date rained by comparing inventory <br />data [o post m_r.i^g conditions), the lessee wit: be _es~o.-::sioia for <br />rectification of the disruption. <br />Socioeconomics <br />Leasing federal '_a^ds ~ou'_d ^ot affect the annual level of coal <br />production. Consequent'_y, =here would be no immediate impact on local <br />employment income or public reverves. However, the use of the federal <br />lease extends the mine life by 10 years which means the income and <br />employment effects of the tine would be far a longer period, At the <br />estimated production le~:el of 4.0 million tons per year of federal coal, <br />210 employees would be needed to mine the coal. In 1993, the mine employed <br />189 people, The.mine presently employs 210 people, <br />Alternative Two - `7o Action <br />There are no known addit'_onal impacts co the following resources: <br />climate, air quality, recreat'_on, soils, mineral resources, water <br />resources, vegetation, wildli_`e, land use, cultural or visual resources. <br />If the lease is not gr~nced, Hera is a high likelihood that the coal would <br />never be mined. In that case, this alternative would resulC in a loss of <br />production to the nation of 37 million tons of coal. <br />• <br />22 <br />