2008-03-20_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2008086

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Ms. Catherine Robertson Mazch 20, 2008 Page 2 the 1roposed project to exacerbate the existing outcrop Tire should be assessed, and mitigation measures (including avoidance) should also be addressed. The DBMS Inactive Mines Program (IMP) has, in the past, received special grants for the purpose of attempting to abate non-mining related outcrop fires, such as the Hot Point Outcrop fire. However, IMP is not currently funded for such activity, and has no expectation of receiving funds that can be expended at the Hot Point Outcrop fire. Reference to planned remediation of the Hot Point Outcrop fire on page 3.2-17 should be deleted, unless the work is to be undertaken by an entity other than the DRMS Inactive Mines Program. 2. In earlier comments, we had pointed out confusing and erroneous narrative on page 3.2-15 of the draft PDEIS, under "Affected Environment/Soil Types/Southern Section". The narrative of concern was not updated in the PDEIS, and now occurs on page 3.2-20. Note that, under the "Soil Types" introductory paragraph on page 3.2-20, it is stated that "the northern section of the project area is proposed for existing and new federal coal extract leases and support facilities", and that "the proposed railroad spur and power supply transmission line occur in the central and southern portions of the project area". From various maps and narrative in previous sections of the document, it is clear that the coal waste disposal area would be located in the northern section of the project area, in Garfield County, several miles north of the Highline Canal. The paragraph under Soil Types/Southern Section, states in the first sentence that the southern portion of the study area "lies south of the Highline Canal". Later in the paragraph, the following statement is made: Within the southern section of the project area, a coal waste disposal area will be developed. Southeast of this designated use area there are dissected alluvial fans that are poorly suited for coal waste disposal areas. Alluvial fans are shown in Figure 3-7, Remnant Alluvial Fans at Red Cliff Mine Site. The narrative in italics indicates that the coal waste disposal area would be located in the southern section of the project area, which is described as being located south of the Highline Canal. This statement and implication is incorrect; the coal waste disposal area would be located in the northern section of the project area, several miles north of the Highline Canal. The "Remnant Alluvial Fans" delineated on Figure 3-7, referenced in the narrative, aze indeed located to the southeast of the proposed coal waste disposal area as stated, but both the "Remnant Alluvial Fans" and the proposed coal waste disposal area aze located in the Northern Section of the project area, rather than the Southern Section.