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• The Red Wash Tract consists of 1,360.00 acres and at least an estimated 6,742,000 recoverable tons of coal. The Red Wash Tract was also induded In the Prairie Dog Tract The edual amount of recoverable coal fn the additional 80 acres proposed by the CSO bl questionable. Maximum potentially recovereble coal for the Red Wash Tred, based on the Prelrle Dog Tract profie, Is approdrrkltety 9.3 milbn tons. However, Western Fuel's exploration indicates rnaJor coal seam partings within the proposed additional 80 acres which makes the coal unminable. That Is the reason Western Fuels exduded that 80 acres In their application. BLM mining engineers concur, based on existing Information, that the coal within the 80 acres is nil minable or recoverable. However, BLM mining engineers also feel the axed extent and minabilty of the coal may change with addtional data, inducting the commencement of mining on the lease. All other aspects of this ahemattve would be the same es the proposed action. C. No Adfon Under the no action ahemative, the lease applicetion area, plus the addhlon proposed by the Bureau, would not be leased and mined et this time. The area would remain part of the Prelrle Dog Lease Trod and could be oRered for lease as part of that trail. The existing Deserado Mine would bypass this area Up to an estimated 9.3 milion tons of potentially minable coal would be leh in place for possible future praiudlon. • III. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT introduction The elevation of the lease application area ranges between 5,400 and 5,700 feet. Gently rdling to moderately sloping land forms cover a maJortty of the lease appliptbn area Slopes range In steepness from zero to sbc percent In the valleys aril relatively level uplands, to 50 percent or more along the sldeslopes of maJor drainages. The area k cherederized by mid summers and cdd winters, and has a low average annual amount of precipttatkxt Seasonal temperatures can be extreme, ranging from 708 degree F In the summer to ~3 degrees F In the winter. Average summer temperatures range from 95 degrees F In the daytime to 50 degrees F at night Averege winter temperatures are 29 degrees F. Preciphatlon averages from eight and one-haM to nine Inches annually, with the majority d h occurting In late summer and early tall. Average winter snow accumulation fs usually less than 12 lrrches and generally does not remain on the ground very loop. Southern exposures may remain tree of snow for most of the year. The growing season Is short, usually less than 100 days, and occurs from late May to mldSeptember. The Getaceous Mesaverde Group In the Lower White River Coat Field has been divided Into several informal members by the U.S. Gedogical Survey. The barren upper member is approximately 7,100 feet thick. The main coal member, which underlies the upper member, is approximately 450 feet thick and may contain several coat beds. The minor coal member, which underlies the main coal member, Is approximately 750 feet thick and contains thin discontinuous coal beds. • The dip of the Mesaverde Group within the general area bl contrdled by the asymmetric Red Wash Syndine, which strikes northwest-southeast Dips vary from seven (7) degrees to the northeast In