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• occur. This would result in 1,423.000 tons of recoverable <br />federal coal not being extracted or used. This could result in <br />a permanent bypass of the unleased coal in this specific area; <br />economics would dictate against mining the federal coal. <br />B. The .Proposed Action <br />Under this alternative, the following environmental consequences <br />would result from leasing the federal coal in the subject area <br />and subsequent development operations. Those resources that do <br />not exist within the affected area will not be further analyzed <br />in this section. These resources are: saleable and locatable <br />minerals, threatened and endangered species, Colorado BLM <br />sensitive or candidate plant species. wetlands. riparian values, <br />wilderness values, areas of critical environmental concern, wild <br />and scenic rivers, prime and unique farmlands. hazardous and <br />solid waste, and floodplains. <br />Minerals <br />Coal <br />Cyprus Western estimates that 71,000 tons will be recovered from <br />Tract A and 1,853,000 tons from Tract B as a result of longwall <br />mining in the Wadge seam. The coal on three sides of Tract A <br />• and three sides of Tract B are controlled by Cyprus. Therefore, <br />it would be unlikely that the coal on these two parcels could be <br />developed independently of the current Foidel Creek Mine. If <br />these parcels were not leased and included in the mine plan. <br />approximately 2 million tons of coal would be bypassed and <br />rendered unrecoverable. The public would not receive the 8% <br />royalty. Leasing these two parcels would enhance economical <br />and efficient recovery of not only federal reserves, but the <br />adjacent state, and private coal as well. <br />Oil and Gas <br />Considering the proximity of the Tow Creek oil field to the <br />north and the Sage Creek and Sage Creek North oil fields to the <br />west, it is feasible for someone to drill an exploration well at <br />some point in the future. Therefore. there is potential for <br />conflict in the concurrent development of oil and gas and coal. <br />Since the oil and gas does not belong to the United States, the <br />lessee would need to work out an agreement with the oil and gas <br />mineral rights owner. The issuance of a coal lease on Tracts A <br />and B would not create and impact to federal oil and gas <br />resources. <br />Paleontology <br />• Mining could destroy any fossils that may occur on the subject <br />lands, although the potential for the destruction of significant <br />fossils is less in an underground mine than a surface mine.