2008-02-22_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2008086 (39)

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CHAPTERFOUR Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Some gas wells overlying the lease area may be plugged or "mined around." Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Rules (30 CFR § 75.1700) require underground mines to maintain a 300-foot diameter solid coal barrier around all active or inactive gas and oil wells, unless a smaller barrier is approved by MSHA. Therefore, there will be no land use impacts to oil and gas development and extraction. The lease area is located on entirely on BLM-administered lands. Applicable land use plans include the Grand Junction Resource Area RMP (BLM 1987) and North Fruita Desert Management Plan (BLM 2004). The Grand Junction Resource Area RMP identifies approximately 390,000 acres of the Book Cliffs as acceptable for further coal leasing consideration (BLM 2004). The coal lease area is among the 390,000 acres identified in the RMP as suitable for coal leasing. The North Fruita Desert Management Plan states that recreation sites, where there is BLM facility investment, will be protected from surface on-site oil and gas development. There will be an NSO stipulation to 80 acres surrounding the trailhead and 200 acres surrounding the campground, if the area is nominated for lease (BLM 2004). As currently proposed, these facilities are not included in the proposed lease area, and there are no other BLM facilities in the lease area that would be impacted. Railroad The proposed railroad spur would traverse approximately 9.5 miles ofBLM-administered land, and approximately 5 miles of private land. Use of federal lands will require CAM to obtain rights-of--way grants on these federal lands. Existing land uses along the railroad route include dispersed and developed recreation, agriculture, irrigated farmland, livestock grazing, wildlife use, transportation and utility corridors, and low-density single family residential development within rural private land parcels. Within the Town of Mack, the proposed route passes through areas zoned General Industrial District (I-2). A "wye" would be constructed to link the railroad spur with the main line at Mack to allow uninterrupted train flow in all directions. The railroad is located on BLM-administered lands and private lands within the jurisdiction of Mesa County. The Grand Junction Resource Area RMP designated 234,113 acres as unsuitable for public utilities, and 606,456 acres as sensitive to utility development; the remainder of the Resource Area is designated suitable for consideration for public utilities (BLM 1987). The railroad corridor is within the area designated suitable for consideration for public utilities. The North Fruita Desert Management Plan identifies threatened and endangered species habitat, scenic values, steep slopes, deer and elk winter range, and known locations of sensitive species as sensitive to the location of public utilities (BLM 2004). The remainder of the North Fruita Desert SRMA is designated suitable for utilities; the railroad corridor is within this area. Private land in the project area is under the jurisdiction of Mesa County and is discussed in the Mesa Countywide Land Use Plan (Mesa County 1996) and the Loma/Mack Area Plan (Mesa County 2004). The railroad corridor is consistent with both plans. 4-3 DBMS 558