Laserfiche WebLink
The Fughes loam is a deep, well drained soil that formed in old <br /> alluvial fans and landslide deposits. Surface runoff is rapid to <br /> very rapid depending on slope. The hazard of erosion from wind is <br /> • slight and from water is high. Mass wasting occurs on steeper <br /> slopes, especially on disturbed areas. <br /> The tract does not contain an alluvial valley floor. <br /> IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> The impacts to air quality, climate, vegetation, soils, visual <br /> resources and land use were found to be negligible, and therefore were <br /> not analyzed further. <br /> A. Alternative One - Proposed Action <br /> Minerals <br /> Subsidence could occur due to the extraction of coal on retreat <br /> in the application area. The most likely showing on the surface <br /> would be gradual lowering of the surface without any surface <br /> disturbances such as tension cracks, although surface fractures <br /> could occur. In addition, as a result of the requirement for the <br /> quarterly monitoring of the area for subsidence and the greater <br /> thickness of overburden, it is not anticipated that subsidence <br /> would be evidenced. Sluffing at the outcrop could occur but <br /> geologic conditions of the coal will not allow mining close to <br /> the outcrop, therefore Bluffing is unlikely. <br /> • Transportation <br /> There is no coal truck traffic increase expected as a result of <br /> this operation. At 3. 5 million tons per year production, six to <br /> seven trains per week would haul coal and at maximum production <br /> of 4 .0 million tons per year, seven to eight trains per week <br /> would haul coal out of the valley from the West Elk Mine. At <br /> maximum production for all mines in the North Fork, train traffic <br /> would increase to 13 to 14 trains per week. <br /> County wide traffic associated with coal related growth would not <br /> be expected to significantly overload any county or State road <br /> system. While traffic accidents would be expected to increase an <br /> unspecified amount, the accident rate (accident per vehicle mile) <br /> itself would not be expected to increase. <br /> Wildlife and Endangered Species <br /> In order to protect and minimize impacts to .the Grand Mesa <br /> Penstemon that may occur, a Threatened and Endangered plant <br /> survey would be required prior to any surface disturbance. In <br /> addition, in order to protect and preserve breeding and nesting <br /> habitat for the Loggerhead shrike, disturbances in sagebrush and <br /> oak stands should be avoided to the extent possible. <br /> • Coal leasing could impact populations of listed Federal i State <br /> Endangered fish species to the degree that development would <br /> Page 13 <br />