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• IDENTIFY APPLICABLE NEPA DOCUMENTS AND OTHER RELATED <br />DOCUMENTS THAT COVER THE PROPOSED ACTION <br />Colorado Public Land Health Standards, Decision Record & Finding of No Significant Impact <br />and Environmental Assessment, March 1997. <br />EA Number: CO-016-85-69 September 9, 1985 <br />EA Number: CO-100-2005-021 March 29, 2005 <br />NEED FOR PROPOSED ACTION: To modify the lease terms to allow the Twentymile Coal <br />Mine to mine all the underground coal reserves and to add approximately 222 acres to their <br />existing COC - 20900 coal lease. <br />PUBLIC SCOPING PROCESS: This project will be listed on the Little Snake Field Office's <br />web site. <br />BACKGROUND: Under the terms and conditions of coal lease C-20900, Twentymile Coal Co. <br />leased only the surface coal, but the underground coal resources were not included in the lease <br />agreement. The mine operator now submits an application to modify the lease terms permitting <br />the underground mining of federal coal, including the Wadge and Wolf Creek seams. <br />• A 2004 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that subsidence related to underground coal mining <br />does not classify this activity as surface coal mining. Whereas the unsuitability criteria strictly <br />involved surface coal mining disturbance, this lease modification involves strictly mining <br />underground coal reserves. Therefore since the unsuitability criteria related to surface coal <br />mining in the Fish Creek Alluvial Valley Floor and Floodplain does not apply, the underground <br />coal mining can now be classified as suitable for this mining lease. <br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES: To modify the <br />existing lease terms to include all of the subsurface coal seams and to add 222 acres. <br />NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE: A no action alternative will result in federal coal being left <br />behind, in place, and produce a loss of revenue as a result. <br />AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT/ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES/MITIGATION <br />MEASURES <br />CRITICAL RESOURCES <br />AIR QUALITY <br />Affected Environment: Emissions from ongoing underground mining and surface operations <br />• are currently released. Coal dusts are generated and affect the local air quality. The Foidel <br />Creek Mine Permit includes an Air Pollution Control Plan which describes dust control