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Decemi~er 1. 2rJ03 Pace1.-3 of the West Flatiron LBA tract, it will be accomplished using in-mine techniques that would not disturb the surface. No methane drainage wells are proposed or anticipated. - Identify air quality impacts. No air quality effects are expected with underground mining activities. - Address impacts to cultural resources. There are no known cultural resources to be affected by the proposed action. Surveys performed in areas adjacent to the project area have revealed no cultural resources. Terrain is generally steep and inaccessible. However, there are reported overhangs in the LBA tract that would need to be identified in the field. If subsidence could affect the overhang locations, they would require further investigation by an archaeologist. In addition, the Northern Ute Tribe has been contacted but did not raise any concerns about the project. - Identify impacts to soil resources. No structures or facilities are planned for the LBA tract. Subsidence would cause negligible effect to soil resources. - Identify any effects to visual resources. No structures or facilities are planned for the LBA tract. Subsidence may cause minor surface cracking but elevation change would be unnoticeable. No infringement of Forest Service or BLM visual resource management objectives or criteria is anticipated. - Address noise impacts. No surface construction or use of lease tract is planned. Noise associated with underground mining should be undetected at the surface. - Describe impacts to Wilderness Areas. The West Elk Wilderness Area lies about six miles south of the proposed LBA tract. Bylaw, wilderness areas are withdrawn from mineral entry, and are considered unsuitable for coal mining per 43 CFR 3461 (see Appendix A, Unsuitability Analysis Report -West Flatiron Lease (COC - 67011)). - Effects to coal transportation system. With this LBA tract, the coal would be transported via the existing rail system, and no changes to this system are proposed. No increases in production are proposed; therefore, no increase in train traffic would occur. - Relevance of Box Canyon seismic data to West Flatiron. MCC has proposed to conduct a shallow seismic survey in Box Canyon, about one mile west of the West Flatiron LBA tract in summer 2004, to assess the geologic structure in that area. While these data could be used to predict the coal geology and conditions in the West Flatiron LBA tract area, in the future, the impacts of the seismic study are outside the analysis area for this project. - Address impacts to prime or unique farmlands. No prime or unique farmlands are present in the LBA tract area. - Identify impacts to wild or scenic rivers. No wild or scenic rivers are present in the LBA tract. - Address impacts to areas of critical environmental concern. No areas of critical environmental concern are present in the LBA tract area. Envirt3n-rental Assessment ~;"72~i Flatiron LBA Traci Curnisar< r~aunt~, f;oior~ado