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However, if National King Coal, Inc., were not able to lease the coal <br />reserves at this time it is probable that they would then fully exploit <br />the coal reserves in the Upper Menefee seam on the existing federal <br />lease P-058300. Fully exploiting the coal reserves would involve retreat <br />mining and pillar removal ~•+hich would result in a potential for earlier <br />subsidence to occur than if a new lease were issued. Reclamation of the <br />eight acres of existing disturbance at the mine site would occur according <br />to the existing reclamation plans which have been approved by USGS and <br />the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. The impacts would include _ <br />those listed below associated with the No Action alternative. <br />If a second company or National King Coal were to obtain the lease in a <br />possible lease sale scheduled for 1987 and National King Coal, Inc., had <br />reclaimed the mine site, a new mine would have to be opened for the new <br />lease. The impacts incidental to the opening of a new mine cannot be <br />anticipated because the organization of a new mining operation is not <br />known; however, these impacts will be at least the same as the present <br />mining operation. <br />ALTERNATIVE C -- MODIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIV <br />Offer for lease the 160 acres applied for and an additional 20 acres. <br />The additional acreage lies in T. 35 N., R. 11~W., Sec. 31: N'2NE'~SE';. <br />The surface is privately owned and the coal has been reserved to the <br />federal government. <br />This alternative to offer for lease an additional 20 acres is being <br />considered to replace approximately 5-15a of the total coal reserves <br />that may be unrecoverable in Pine Gulch. The reserves in Pine Gulch are <br />overlain by approximately 50 feet of overburden. Because the reserves <br />will be mined in a manner that would minimize subsidence, there will be <br />more coal left in place and therefore unrecoverable. <br />The impacts of this alternative would be similar to those of the pro- <br />posed action. However, the additional acreage would provide the appli- <br />cant with the total reserve tonnage for which they qualify under the <br />emergency leasing criteria. <br />This is BLA1's preferred alternative. This alternative would minimize <br />the environmental impacts associated with mining of the coal. <br /> <br />9 <br />