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We recommend that these concerns be addressed in the appropriate sections of <br />Chapter 4. Ideally, the Hot Point Outcrop fire zone and adjacent areas should be <br />avoided by construction activity associated with the Red Cliff mine project. This may <br />be the case, but clarification should be provided regarding location of the outcrop fire <br />and coal seam(s) affected by the fire, proximity of proposed surface disturbance to the <br />outcrop fire, and coal seams that would potentially be extracted in the vicinity of the <br />outcrop fire. The potential for the proposed project to exacerbate the existing outcrop <br />fire should be assessed, and mitigation measures (including avoidance) should also be <br />addressed. <br />The DRMS Inactive Mines Program (IMP) has, in the past, received special grants for <br />the purpose of attempting to abate non-mining related outcrop fires, such as the Hot <br />Point Outcrop fire. However, IMP is not currently funded for such activity, and has <br />no expectation of receiving funds that can be expended at the Hot Point Outcrop fire. <br />Reference to planned remediation of the Hot Point Outcrop fire on page 3.2-17 should <br />be deleted, unless the work is to be undertaken by an entity other than the DRMS <br />Inactive Mines Program. <br />2. Also, in earlier comments, we had pointed out confusing and erroneous narrative on page <br />3.2-15 of the draft PDEIS, under "Affected Environment/Soil Types/Southern Section". <br />The narrative of concern was not updated in the PDEIS, and now occurs on page 3.2-20. <br />Note that, under the "Soil Types" introductory paragraph on page 3.2-20, it is stated that <br />"the northern section of the project area is proposed for existing and new federal coal extract <br />leases and support facilities", and that "the proposed railroad spur and power supply <br />transmission line occur in the central and southern portions of the project area". From <br />various maps and narrative in previous sections of the document, it is clear that the coal <br />waste disposal area would be located in the northern section of the project area, in Garfield <br />County, several miles north of the Highline Canal. <br />The paragraph under Soil Types/Southern Section, states in the first sentence that the <br />southern portion of the study area "lies south of the Highline Canal". Later in the paragraph, <br />the following statement is made: <br />Within the southern section of the project area, a coal waste disposal area will be <br />developed. Southeast of this designated use area there are dissected alluvial fans <br />that are poorly suited for coal waste disposal areas. Alluvial fans are shown in <br />Figure 3-7, Remnant Alluvial Fans at Red Cliff Mine Site. <br />The narrative in italics indicates that the coal waste disposal area would be located in the <br />southern section of the project area, which is described as being located south of the <br />Highline Canal. This statement and implication is incorrect; the coal waste disposal area <br />would be located in the northern section of the project area, several miles north of the <br />Highline Canal. The "Remnant Alluvial Fans" delineated on Figure 3-7, referenced in the <br />narrative, are indeed located to the southeast of the proposed coal waste disposal area as <br />