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• is expanding development of their existing underground mine into the West Mining District. <br />Mining of these reserves would provide for the development of solid mineral resources and <br />supply energy resources to the American public. <br />PUBLIC SCOPING PROCESS: This project is listed on the Little Snake Field Office's NEPA <br />log, posted on the LSFO web site. <br />BACKGROUND: Twentymile Coal Company's Foidel Creek Mine is located approximately 22 <br />miles southwest of Steamboat Springs in Routt County. Foidel Creek Mine is an active, <br />operating underground longwall coal mining operation. As the proposed longwall panels in the <br />West Mining District advance to the west, the panels will encounter un-leased federally owned <br />coal. The surface is owned by Cross Mountain Ranch. <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 application involves mining strictly <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 minipg lease. <br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES: <br />• PROPOSED ACTION: TCC has submitted a Lease by Application to acquire the rights to <br />mine the 500 acres of un-leased Federal coal in the West Mine District. <br />NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE: The Application for Coal Lease would be denied and federal <br />coal would be bypassed. <br />AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT/ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCESIMITIGATION <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 <br />measures. An Emission Permit has been issued by the Colorado Department of Public <br />Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division. <br />Environmental Consequences, Proposed Action: The addition of the federal coal to the <br />existing mining operation will not cause any additional air quality impairment. Pollutant <br />0