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Topography <br />The pos*_-m±ning topograph~• of the area is projected to be slightly higher than <br />the existing topography. The increase is a result of overburden swell of 25 <br />percent and the disposal of municipal and utility waste in the three pits. <br />The projected average increase is 12 feet with the range being ^15 to +60 <br />feet. The utility waste is expected to be equivalent to :L60 acre-feet <br />annually and the municipal waste is 15 percent, This wilt! cover 35 acres to a <br />depth of 5 feet. However, the waste will he selectively placed in pockets <br />within the pits rather than uniformly placed over the 35 acres, The <br />overburden, on the other hand, will be redistributed over the coal extract ion <br />area and an average of 75 acres will be reclaimed each year, Thus, the <br />utility and municipal wastes account for an average increase in topography of <br />2.3 feet which is 20 percent of the projected increase. 'the restored <br />topography has been designed to blend in with existing drainages and the <br />surrounding terrain. No significant impact is expected from this increase in <br />topography. <br />ENVIPONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALTEF.NATIVE: N0. 2 <br />OSM DISAPPROVAL OF THE PERMIT APPLICATION <br />If Alternative No. 2 were adopted, mining would be precluded, at least <br />temporarily, until an approval plan is submitted, on Federal lands o+ithin the <br />permit area. Even though there are private lands within the permit area, and <br />though the State could approve mining operations on those lands, this <br />• alternative action, if chosen, would in effect curtail operations on the <br />entire minesite since portions of the mine facilities, coal extraction lands, <br />and mine roads are on Federal lands. If this alternative were chosen, some <br />continuing mining impacts described for Alternative No. 1 would not occur, the <br />recovery of a valuable mineral resource would be stopped temporarily or <br />permanently, and mine personnel could lose their jobs. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALTERNATIVI: N0. 3 <br />OS*? CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF THE PERMIT APPLICATIOD] <br />If Alternative No. I is adopted, mining could occur on Federal lands. The <br />environmental impacts of this Alternative are the same as those for <br />Alternative No. 3 except that unidentified cultural resources would not he <br />protected by the special stipulation. <br />• -16- <br />