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• 11, 3400.1). However, development d o- end gas reserves wkhin the proposed lease tract could be delayed or modffled es a result d aclNe mining d the coal. 18 Venting d methane from the mine would reduce the total estimated coalbed methane reserves fn the lease area. However, the methane present in the coal seams In the lease area fs prd~ably not capade d being developed at this time. The Gas Research Instkute, whkh Is Irndved In research on coalbed methane production, has Indicated that most production is from coalbeds deeper than StX1 feet and wlth at least 200 to 250 cubic feet d methane per ton d coal. The proposed lease appllcetbn {s within an area classified by the Colorado Gedogic Survey as an area where total gas contents d the coal is low (0-100 ft3/ton). • • Alr I No slgnifipnt air quality Impacts are anticipated from development d etther the lease application area or the Red Wash Tract Some localized, temporary reduction d air qualtty due to TSP and gas emissions within the mine operation area would be expected. However, there would not be any signficant Increase in polutarrts over chase currently occurring. The apparent accelerated global warming as a result d man's activities Is d Increasing concern. While carbon doxide and methane, resulting from men's actNities, have been Identified as contributors to this apparent warming, the atmosphere fs part d a poorty understood, extremely complex global, biogeachemicat web in which a host d other parts (oceans, solar System, vegetation complexes, etc.) ad. The results are difficult to understand, interpret, end predict, and most d the models which have been used to predict tenure Vends are pdmkive and do not consider all d the possible Interactions of the various parts. Venting of Arbon dioxide and methane due to mining operations which may result from Issuing a coal lease would add to the total accumulations d those gases In the atmosphere. However, the amount vented as a result d mining this proposed coal lease Is not expected to be an Increase in the total vdume emitted on a regional basis, much less on a global basis. The existing ventilation system at the Deserado Mine removes 756 m-lion cubic feet d air from the mine each day. Of this amount one (1) mBlion cubic feet (0.13 percent) Is methane. An addltional 600 thousand cubic feet d gases, d which 240 thousand cubic feet (40 percent) is methane are veined from the gob. There Is no way apparent to economically capture and use the relatNely small vdume and percentage d methane produced by the Deserado Mine, but there may be the potential to reduce the gob methane's conhlbution to the greenhouse effect by flaring tt. However, any flaring d the gob gas must be done In a manner whkh w-I not )eopardtze the INes d the miners. Therefore, k fs recommended that the potential for capturing and using or farng the gob gas be e~raluated as part d the mine plan review. Since operations on Federal coal leases are subject to appropriate State end Federal air quallty laws end regulatlore, the lessee would be required to obtain permits from the State d Cdoredo based on PSD and other regulatlor>s. Curremiy tugkNe dust k reg:kated by the PSD regulations, but there are no Ilmkatlon standards for methane, carbon dioxide, or other natural gases associated wkh coal mining. The State d Cdoredo, however, requires an emissions pennk H polutant emissions exceed five (5) tons per year. At the mine plan review stage, the emissions generated as a result d mine operations need to be evaluated and an emission permk obtained by the lessee, as necessary. There would be no expected Impact to the Coorado State Category 1 air quality area at Dinosaur National Monument as a resuk d mining this lease. Prevailing winds.would cause air polutants to ddlt to the northeast or southeast.