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Third Park Federal Coal Exploration License Environmental Assessment CRITICAL ELEMENTS AIR QUALITY Affected Environment: According to the 2006 Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Report to the Public (CDPHE 2006a), the Project Area is located within the West Slope Region for air quality planning. Energy development and controlled and uncontrolled vegetation bums are the primary sources of air quality effects in this region. Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: Implementation of the Proposed Action would result in a low amount of particulate matter, mainly dust, becoming airborne when drill rigs and other vehicles travel on existing dirt roads or overland access routes to drilling locations. Air quality in the immediate vicinity would be temporazily affected by engine exhaust emissions and dust created during drilling. The air quality disturbance would be short-term and would occur during the drilling activities, including transportation activities to and from the drill sites and during drilling. It is not anticipated that any long- term or lasting effects on air quality would occur from implementation of the Proposed Action. Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no additional effects to air quality in the Project Area. AREAS OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN Affected Environment: An Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is a designated area on public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage [o fish and wildlife; important historic, cultural, or scenic values; or other natural systems or processes or to protect life and safety from natural hazards. There are no ACECs in the vicinity of the proposed Project; therefore, there would be no effect to ACECs. Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: There are no environmental consequences associated with this resource. Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no effects to ACECs. CULTURAL RESOURCES Affected Environment: A file search and cultural field survey were conducted in order to characterize cultural resources in the Project Area. The results of the file search indicated that 23 cultural resource sites and 22 isolated finds have been documented in the Project Area. A cultural resources study was conducted between November 15 and November 17, 2006 for all access routes and drill locations (ARCADIS 2007a). The objectives of this survey were to identify any historic and prehistoric cultural resources within the Project Area, evaluate them for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, and analyze the effects of the Proposed Action on any extant significant cultural resources within the Project Area. Westeru Fuels CEL Environmenla! Assessmen( 9