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-2- PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division (CMLRD), in accordance with an approved State-Federal Cooperative Agreement, has reviewed SCMC's Munger Canyon mining and reclamation 5-year permit application and has submitted a technical analysis (TA) document to the Department of Interior, OSM. CMLRD is now prepared to approve the permit application pursuant to the requirements of the State permanent program. Pursuarrt to 30 CFR 741.4(b), OSM will approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve the permit for this surface coal mining and reclamation operation on Federal lands. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Alternative No. 1: OSM may concur with the State documents, conclusions, and stipulations see Attachment A to this environmental assessment) and approve the operator's mining and reclamation plan (MRP), and the insurance of a 5 year permit. This alternative is OSM's "preferred alternative" and is referred to elsewhere as such. Alternative No. 2: OSM may disapprove the 5-year MRP and not issue the 5 year permit. is alternative is the equivalent of the customary "no-action" alternative.) • Alternative No. 3: OSM may approve the 5-year MRP and issue the 5 year permit subject to certain stipulations over the above the State documents, conclusions, and stipulations. The OSM staff has reviewed the permit application and has found additional conditions unnecessary. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT Land Features and Climate The Munger Canyon Mine site is located at an elevation of approximately 5800 feet. The climate in the region is semiarid. Prevailing winds at or near ground level at the mine are dictated by the orientation of the deeply incised Munger Canyon. The annual average precipitation recorded at Fruita (22 miles southeast of Munger Canyon) is 8.8 inches. Munger Canyon is located in the Roan Cliffs area just north of Grand Valley. The Mount Garfield Formation, the coal bearing formation, is in the Book Cliffs Coal Field. This formation consists of fine grained and medium grained sandstones and gray shales. The tdount Garfield Formation contains four coal zones: the Loma, Carbonera, Cameo, and Palisade zones. The Carbonera and Cameo seams will be mined at the Munger Canyon Mine.