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B. Alternative 2-NO Action <br />• If the proposed lease was not issued, National King Coal <br />would be precluded from mining the coal in the proposed <br />lease area. National King Coal would not have access to <br />the additional coal reserves. It is anticipated that <br />coal production, employment and truck traffic would <br />remain the same as the proposed action throughout the <br />remaining life of the mine. If the proposed lease is not <br />issued, and production rate is increased to 300,000 tons <br />per year, the mine would probably close in approximately <br />eight (8) years. <br />III. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT <br />4 A detailed description of the existing environment can be <br />found in the San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan <br />(RMP). Specific resources that may be affected as a result of <br />the proposed action are detailed below. <br />SOILS <br />The soils range from shallow (less than 20 inches), poorly <br />developed units derived from interbedded sandstone and shale <br />(Lithic Ustic Torriorthents) to deep (greater than 40 inches) <br />• eolian derivatives (Ustollic Haplargids). The shallow soils <br />are associated with numerous rock outcrops.. <br />The land within the application area does not consist of prime <br />or unique farmlands, or alluvial valley floors. An alluvial <br />valley floor may exist southwest of the application area where <br />Pine Gulch merges into Hay Gulch. It is not anticipated that <br />mining in .the area will affect the possible alluvial valley <br />floor at Hay Gulch. However, final determination will be made <br />by Colorado DMG during the review of the lessee's permit <br />application for the lease application area. <br />TOPOGRAPHY. GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES <br />The only known mineral resource contained in the application <br />area is coal. The coal deposits occur within the Menefee <br />Formation of the Cretaceous Mesa Verde Group and is within the <br />Durango Known Recoverable Coal Resource Area (KRCRA). <br />National King Coal is the only operating mine in the area at <br />this time. There are no known oil and gas deposits in the <br />proposed lease area. However, oil and gas is known to occur <br />in the Point Lookout, Gallup, Dakota Sandstone and the Paradox <br />Formations. <br />6 <br />