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CHAPTERTWO Alternatives <br />2.7 FUTURE COAL LEASING AREA <br />Three areas outside the currently leased coal were considered for potential coal leasing <br />(Figure 2-7, Overburden and Lease Alternatives). All three areas would include CAM's Lease <br />Application. In selecting a lease area, BLM must consider the feasibility of mining the coal <br />using modern mining techniques and maximizing the recovery of government resources. <br />Currently, it is feasible to mine this coal using only underground mining methods. Surface <br />mining is not an option due to the ratio of the amount of recoverable coal to the depth of the <br />overburden. Using modern underground mining techniques, it is generally not feasible to <br />recover coal with overburdens in excess of 2,000 feet. <br />Lease Area BLM Proposed Action is approximately 23,000 acres in size. The overburden <br />cutoff depth is 2,000 feet, and the coal could feasibly be mined from the proposed Red Cliff <br />Mine entrance (portals). <br />This proposed action will be further discussed and analyzed in the DEIS. <br />Lease Area Alternative 1 is approximately 21,000 acres in size. It generally includes leasable <br />federal coal to the 1,500-foot depth (Figure 2-7). Potentially leasable coal between 1,500 and <br />2,000 feet would not be available under this alternative. <br />Lease Area Alternative 2 is approximately 32,000 acres in size. The overburden cutoff depth is <br />2,000 feet and it extends further to the east and south from the proposed Red Cliff Mine portals. <br />Due to the distance from the proposed portal location, accessing this coal would probably require <br />new portals and attending infrastructure. <br />2.8 LOCATION OF THE MINE PORTAL <br />The proposed action is to construct mine portals in Section 3, Township 8 South, Range 102 <br />West (T8S, R102W). This location was selected based on location and quality of coal outcrop, <br />access issues, and the need to be within CAM's existing coal leases. <br />2.8.1 Alternative Mine Portal Location <br />An alternative considered was to construct the mine portal at a location further to the east and <br />south. Constructing the mine portal at another location would have a greater impact on <br />recreation and residences and would require a longer haul to the UPRR. The portal would not be <br />located in leases currently held by CAM. <br />2.9 SECONDARY SCREENING <br />After an initial analysis, the following alternatives were carried forward for a closer look at <br />potential environmental impacts. As stated at the beginning of this chapter, alternatives are <br />compared with the proposed action (shown as shaded rows in Table 2-2, Alternatives Considered <br />Summary) to determine if they have obvious advantages, have less environmental impacts, and <br />are feasible and practicable to construct and operate. The potential alternatives considered in <br />more depth include: <br />2-26 <br />