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ALTERNATIVE D -- NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE <br />This alternative will explore the impacts of not authorizing the lease <br />sale scheduled in response to lease application C-29125, submitted by <br />tational King Coal, Inc. This is the environmentally preferred alternative; <br />however, this alternative would not meet the requirements of the federal <br />coal regulations or the Durango-Chromo Management framework Plan. <br />If a Secretarial decision were made not to authorize a lease sale, <br />National King Coal would continue its present mining on federal coal <br />lease P-058300. At the present rate of mining, they will exhaust reserves <br />in 1981. According to USGS, there are 1,670,000 tons of reserves in- <br />place in the application area. At the average recovery of 50 percent <br />(USGS recovery rate) for underground coal there are 835,000 recoverable <br />tons. If not leased, the reserves would remain in place unless leased <br />at a future date. The mine would remain inactive as long as the company <br />was unable to obtain additional reserves. King Coal will be forced to <br />discontinue operations in 1981 which will involve laying off approximately <br />70 employees. <br />This alternative could prevent up to 160 acres of potential subsidence, <br />and the associated increase in soil erosion, loss of wildlife habitat, <br />and decrease in water quality. <br />® The potential for destruction of unknown archaeological and historical <br />sites would be decreased. <br />Truck traffic would be reduced. <br />Unemployment would place a greater burden on the State and local relief <br />agencies. Many miners would be forced to take substantial salary decreases <br />working in other jobs. Over 51,000,000 per year in payroll would be <br />lost to the local economy. Federal, State, and local governments would <br />lose approximately 5467,000 in tax revenues. <br />Displaced workers who desired to work as miners would be forced to leave <br />their home towns to find employment. Local residents would lose an <br />important source of home heating fuel. Two economically important <br />tourist trains would be forced to find other coal sources. <br /> <br />11ITIGATItJG t4 EASURES OF THE PROPOSED ACTION <br />The leasing of the coal would be subject to the standard leasing stipu- <br />lations and special stipulation listed below. <br />-~~. <br />10 <br />