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Mareh 2000 Record o/Decision Page 18 <br />Alternative C -Multiple Seam Mining <br />This alternative is similar to Alternative B, with the inclusion of additional B seam coal reserves <br />in the Iron Point Coal Lease Tract. An area was also added to the Iron Point Coal Lease Tract <br />in the Terror Creek drainage to facilitate flexibility in locating entries beneath Terror Creek for <br />access to coal in the Bowie No. 1 "pod". Additional surface area and reserves that are located <br />between the Iron Point and Elk Creek Coal Lease tracts were added to the Elk Creek tract. In <br />Alternative C, mining would be completed by longwall techniques, and coal production would be <br />the same as outlined in Alternative B. Recoverable coal reserves in the in the Iron Point tract <br />are estimated to be 41 million tons in the D and B seam. Recoverable coal reserves in the Elk <br />Creek tract are estimated to be 23 million tons in the D seam. The B seam in the Elk Creek <br />coal lease tract has either been previously mined or is nonexistent. <br />Alternative D -Subsidence Protection <br />This alternative would be essentially the same as Alternative C, with the limitation that there <br />would be no subsidence under Terror or Hubbard creeks, or the Curecanti-Rifle 230/345 kV <br />electric transmission line. Minor additions of surface area were added in the southeast corner <br />to help facilitate a safer mine plan. For the Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract, there are <br />approximately 2 million tons of coal less than in Alternative C. <br />Based on continuing geologic analysis for the area and since the issuance of the Draft EIS, the <br />boundaries of the proposed Iron Point Coal Lease Tract have been modified. It appears that <br />the B and D coal seams thin and split into seams of unmineable thickness toward the northwest <br />part of the tract. The re-alignment of the boundary provides additional subsidence protection to <br />Terror Creek Ditch and Reservoir. In addition, the continuing analysis indicates that the <br />igneous intrusions may have "burned" portions of the B and D coal seams, leaving no mineable <br />coal. Based on this re-evaluation of the lease tract, there are approximately 5 million tons of <br />coal less in Alternative D than originally estimated for the Iron Point Coal Lease Tract in the <br />Draft EIS. <br />BLM -Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract <br />