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December 1. 2003 <br />Pale 2-7 <br />Table 2-2, Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions <br />Action Dates Effects <br />West Elk Coal Mine 1981 to present Mine has been operating for 22 years, and holds about 10,000 acres of federal <br /> coal leases. Subsidence on the NFS and BLM lands has occurred immediately <br /> west and southwest of the West Flatiron LBA tract. Minor surtace tension cracks <br /> are visible in places on the surface. Topography has lowered between two and <br /> ten feet across the existing subsided areas. Mine life is currently projected for 15 <br /> additional years. <br /> Mining plan extends existing longwall panels onto LBA tract. <br /> MCC has submitted a separate LBA for an additional 1,500 acres of federal coal <br /> 1 to 3 miles south of the West Flatiron LBA. <br />Coal exploration 1990s LBA tract included in four federal coal exploration licenses. Five drill holes in <br />drilling 0.25-mile radius of the LBA tract. Some access road prisms still visible. <br /> Reclamation is good. Road closures are inhibiting traffic. Portions of drill roads <br /> and some pads being used for methane drainage well project. <br /> A coal exploration hole drilled on private land in Section 13 in 2002 has been <br /> recent) reclaimed. <br />Methane drainage 2001 to present MCC approved for 58 methane drainage wells from 46 locations over existing <br />drilling leases. About 17 approved drill locations are within one mile of the LBA tract. <br /> Installation of about ten methane drainage wells has occurred in this one-mile <br /> radius. Drilling on the about seven additional locations likely to occur in 2004. <br /> Locations anticipated to be used for two years and reclaimed. Reclamation <br /> generally successful between two and five years after reclamation work <br /> completed. <br /> Five methane drainage well locations in Box Canyon (1 mile west of LBA tract) <br /> are proposed but have not been approved. Additional NEPA analysis currently <br /> underwa . <br />Geophysical Proposed for 2004 A shallow seismic survey is proposed for Box Canyon, one mile to the west of <br />Exploratlon the LBA tract. Use will be short tens and temporary; no residual effects after <br /> reclamation are antici ated. <br />Range use/ Past 100 years NFS and BLM lands have been grazed for many years, currently managed on <br />improvements intensive time-controlled system. MCC also leases the pdvate land for grazing. <br /> No planned changes in grazing system. A stock trail was bulldozed in Raven <br /> Gulch in the 1980s, and is cumentl used. No ran a im rovements exist. <br />Wildlife Past 20 ears No habitat ro'ects have occurred or are tanned. <br />Recreation Past 20 years Limited foot and horse traffic exist for hunting. No recreation developments are <br /> planned. Former ski area from 1950s and 1960s existed in northern part Section <br /> 13 has been rave elated. <br />Roadless 1979 to present LBA tract is located in the West EIk IRA, inventoried In 1979 as part of RARE II, <br /> but was not carried forward for wilderness designation. The IRA was not <br /> designated for management as roadless in GMUG Forest Plan, or as further <br /> tannin area. <br />Environmental Psscssmeni <br />t,Nesl 1~12±i:on Lf;A Traci. <br />Gunrlisesn C;oulity, Gatorade <br />