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Criterion 2 8 <br />• Federal lands with National Resource Waters, as identified by states in their water quality <br />management plans, and a buffer zone of federal lands '/.-mile from the outer edge of the far <br />banks of the water, shall be unsuitable. <br />Analvsis <br />None of the lands in the proposed lease tract are identified as a National Resource Water. <br />Criterion 19 <br />Federal lands identified by the surface management agency, in consultation with the state in <br />which they are located, as alluvial valley floors according to the definition in Subpart 3400.0- <br />51a1 of this title, the standards of 30 CFR Part 822, the final alluvial floor guidelines of the <br />Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement when published, and approved state <br />programs under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, where mining would <br />interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming, shall be considered unsuitable. Additionally, when <br />mining federal land outside an alluvial valley floor would materially damage the quantity or <br />quality of water in surface or underground water systems that would supply alluvial valley <br />floors, the land shall be considered unsuitable. <br />Analvsis <br />A potential Alluvial Valley Floor IAVF) on the proposed lease tract is the Quaternary Alluvium <br />associated with the North Fork of the Gunrnson River. This area has already been found to be <br />unsuitable for coal extraction under Criteria Number 16 - "Federal Lands in Special Floodplains". <br />However, a concern remains that coal extraction on other parts of the proposed lease could <br />• materially damage the quantity and/or quality of water that supplies this AVF, due ttl the <br />potential hydraulic connection between the AVF and Mesaverde Formation. Due to insufficient <br />aata, a determination can not be made until a mine plan for the area has been submitted. At <br />:hat time, the Regulatory Official will make a finding concerning possible material damage to the <br />alluvial valley floor. As a result of the finding, some restrictions to the mining operations may <br />be necessary. <br />Cnt=rion 2C <br />Federal lands in a state to which is applicable a criterion (il proposed by the state or Indian tribe <br />located in the planning area, and Iii) adoptetl by rulemaking by the Secretary, shall be considered <br />unsuitable. <br />Analvsis <br />This criterion is not presently ~n effect in the State of Colorado. <br />SUMMARY <br />The Box Canyon Tract was determined to be suitable for coal mining following the application of <br />:Jnsuitabiiiry Criteria Numbers 4, ~, ii, 7, 8, 10. 73. ~ 7. 18, and 20. <br />after the aooiicanon of Cntenon Number t o, :ne ' 00-veer 9oodplain of the North Fork of the <br />~~unnison Giver (approximaterv 76 acresl ~s unsuitable for coal mining. <br />~: r.-^ion :~Jumoers i . =. '. 3, 1 1 . 1 _. '. 4. 1 5 and "~ ° ~.vere ;Duna ;o t;e unsuitable for mining, <br />• .~owever. arter applvmg ;ne excepnons :o ne r.cenon.:nev were suitable for mining with the <br />sallowing res[nctions: <br />aopendix.~, Paae 10 <br />