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• Socioeconomics <br />Leasing federal lands would not affect the annual level of coal production. Consequently, there <br />would be no immediate impact on local employment income or public revenues. However, the use <br />of the federal lease extends the mine life by 2.5 years which means the income and employment <br />effects of the mine would be for a longer period. At the estimated production level of 1.3 to 1.5 <br />million tons per year of federal coal, 100 employees would be needed to mine the coal. <br />B. Alternative Two - No Action <br />Environmental Consequences <br />There are no known additional impacts to the following resources: climate, air quality, recreation, <br />soils, mineral resources, water resources, vegetation, wildlife, land use, cultural or visual resources. <br />If the (ease is not granted, there is a high likelihood that the coat will never be mined. In that case, <br />this alternative would result in a loss of production to the nation of 2.5 million tons of coal. <br />If the coal in the proposed lease area is mined at another date, it will be done at a higher cost due <br />to the need for reentry. While the economic benefits of Alternative One might still be enjoyed, they <br />would be achieved at a higher cost and hence, less efficiently. Or the bypassed coal may never be <br />mined due to technical difficulties and economic constraints. <br />There are no Mitigation Measures or Residual Impacts resulting from Alternative Two. <br />V. MITIGATION MEASURES <br />• A t/B mile buffer zone will be protected on either side of the riparian zones along East Roatcap <br />Creek. No surface disturbances, except surface subsidence, will be permitted within these buffer <br />zones unless no feasible alternatives exist. All unavoidable surface disturbances will require <br />approval of the BLM's Authorized Officer. The BLM will coordinate with the Fish and Wildlife <br />Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife to determine the type and extent of allowable <br />variances. <br />With respect to bald or golden eagle nests which may be established on the review area during the <br />life.of the project, the following shall be applied. No new permanent surface facilities or <br />disturbances shall be located within a 1 /4 mile radius buffer zone around each bald or golden eagle <br />nest site. No surface activities will be allowed within a t /4 mile radius buffer zone around each <br />eagle nest site from March 1 to July 1. Any proposed activities in, or adjacent to, these buffer <br />zones jexcept routine maintenance) will require approval from the BLM, on asite-specific basis, <br />after consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. <br />Because the presence of Grand Mesa Penstemon has been documented in Hawksnest canyon, a <br />Threatened and Endangered plant survey will be required prior to any surface disturbance. <br />To protect and preserve breeding and nesting habitat for the Loggerhead shrike, disturbances in <br />sagebrush and oak stands should be avoided to the extent possible. <br />The lessee shall replace in a manner consistent with state law the water supply of any owner of a <br />vested water right which is proximately injured as a result of the mining activities. <br />The lessee shall formulate a water replacement plan to replace the possible loss of water presently <br />. adjudicated and historically put to beneficial use in East Roatcap Creek. The water replacement <br />plan for each respective drainage shall be developed after consultation with affected water right <br />users, and federal and state authorities, and shall be approved by state authorities before mining in <br />the drainage. <br />Page 12 <br />