PERMFILE107011

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 4/8/2005
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 40 West Flatiron Environmental Assessment
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Decem?,er 1, 2Q0 Page i

Table of Contents
Page No.
Chapter 1 -Purpose and Need ....................................................................................... ........ 1-1
1.1 Introduction and Background ............................................................................ ........ 1-1
1.2 Purpose of and Need for Action ........................................................................ ........ 1-1
1.3 Leasing Process /Authorizing Actions and Relationship to Policies, Plans and
Programs .......................................................................................................... ........ 1-2
1.4 Conformance With Land Use Plans ..................................:................................ ....... 1-5
1.4.1 Forest Plan Consistency ........................................................................... ....... 1-5
1.4.2 BLM Resource Management Plan Consistency ........................................ ....... 1-5
1.5 Relationship to Other Environmental Documents .............................................. ....... 1-5
1.6 Decisions to be Made ........................................................................................ ....... 1-6
Chapter 2 -Alternatives .................................................................................................. ....... 2-1
2.1 Proposed Action ................................................................................................ ....... 2-1
2.2 Public Involvement ............................................................................................ ....... 2-1
2.3 Issues and Concerns ......................................................................................... ....... 2-2
2.3.1 Issues Not Carried Forward for Analysis ................................................... ....... 2-2
2.4 Alternatives ....................................................................................................... ....... 2-4
2.4.1 Alternative 1 -Proposed Action Alternative .............................................. ....... 2-4
2.4.2 Alternative 2 - No Action Alternative .......................................................... ....... 2-4
2.5 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated From Detailed Evaluation ...................... ...... 2-4
2.5.1 Room and Pillar Mining (No Longwall Mining) of West Flatiron LBA Tract . ...... 2-4
• 2.5.2 Accessing Coal in West Flatiron LBA Tract Through Separate Surface
Facilities .................................................................................................... ...... 2-4
2.5.3 Modify the Tract Boundary for Protection of Perennial Streams ................. ...... 2-5
2.6 Comparison of the Alternatives Considered in Detail ..........:.:..................:.:........ ...... 2-5
2.7 Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions .....:.....:.
.................. .... 2-5 '"'
..
2.8 Application of Unsuitability Criteria for Coal Mining ............................................. ...... 2-5
2.9 Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenario ............................................... ...... 2-8
Chapter 3 -Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................. ...... 3-1
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ ...... 3-1
3.2 Topography ........................................................................................................ ......3-1
3.2.1 Existing Conditions .................................................................................... ...... 3-1
3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................... ...... 3-2
3.2.3 Potential Lease Stipulations ....................................................................... ...... 3-3
3.3 Geology .............................................................................................................. ......3-4
3.3.1 Existing Conditions ..... ............................................................................... ...... 3-4
3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................... ...... 3-4
3.3.3 Potential Lease Stipulations ....................................................................... ...... 3-5
3.4 Water Resources ...........................................................................:........... ...... 3-5
3.4.1 Existing Conditions .................................................................................... ...... 3-6
3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................... ...... 3-7
3.4.3 Potential Lease Stipulations ....................................................................... ...... 3-8
3.5 Vegetation ................................................................................................. ...... 3-8
3.5.1 Existing Conditions .................................................................................... ...... 3-9
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