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Alternatives Chapter 2 Address the effects of transporting the coal. Coal that would be developed in the Dry Fork LBA tract would be handled and transported using existing facilities and existing rail line. Rail traffic is controlled by the railroad company based on availability of trains and personnel. No increase in rail traffic is expected from leasing and future development of the Dry Fork LBA tract. Evaluate the effects of the project on downstream domestic water supplies. The domestic water supply source used by the Town of Paonia is springs issuing from unconsolidated deposits on the northern flank of Mount Lamborn. This source is about 10 miles west of the proposed lease area. There is no potential for the proposal to affect this source. The Colorado Dept. of Health lists MCC as a domestic water supplier. MCC draws water from the North Fork of [he Gunnison River for use at the mine site for the bath house and consumptive uses. There is a domestic water processing facility at the mine site. The withdrawal location is located over 3 miles from the Dry Fork LBA, and is outside the cumulative analysis area. No other permitted domestic water sources arc known to occur in the Dry Fork LBA area. Consider effects to wintering bald eagles. The Coal Unsuitability Report (Appendix A) includes criterion for suitability of the proposed tract with respect to bald eagles. In that analysis, it states, "Bald eagles winter in an area north the Dry Fork lease tract along the North Fork of the Gunnison River that is classified as a winter concentration area by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). The Dry Fork tract may be used for incidental foraging, but there are no other essential habitats, such as nests or communal roosts located on or near the proposed lease tract (BLM 1980, CDOW 2001)." Therefore, specific impacts to wintering bald eagles will not be addressed. Analyze impacts to the West Elk Wilderness Area. The West Elk Wilderness Area lies from one to three miles south and southeast of the proposed lease tract. Wilderness areas are withdrawn from mineral entry and are unsuitable for coal mining under the Unsuitability Criteria for Coal Mining (see Appendix A). Therefore, there will be no effects to the West Elk Wilderness. Analyze impacts to the Sunset Trail roadless area. An area locally referred to as the "Sunset Trail" area lies immediately south of the proposed lease tract, but there is no "Sunset Trail Roadless area." The lands referred to as the Sunset Trail area are part of the West Elk IRA. Effects to the West Elk IRA are included in the effects analysis. Analyze impacts to wildlife from noise and light. No new mine portals or surface handling facilities arc anticipated for developing the Dry Fork lease tract (see Section 1.8.1). Existing facilities on private land about three miles north of the Dry Fork tract would be used. Noise and lights associated with the existing facilities would continue to affect wildlife present in the area. MCC reports that deer and elk are commonly seen on the mine property and have apparently adjusted to the facilities. Discuss impacts to hunting/guiding outfitters and economy. There are no outStter guides currently permitted in the Dry Fork LBA area or immediate surroundings. Do not restrict motorized recreational travel within the project area. This issue is outside the scope of the coal leasing analysis, and the decision framework. On the GMUG National Forests, motorized recreation is permitted on existing routes only. The 2001 travel management decision prohibited cross-country travel with motorized vehicles. 2-4 Dry Fork Lease-By-Application FEIS