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2. Alternatives <br /> Alternative 1, Approval Without Conditions--The Assistant Secretary for <br /> Land and Minerals Management may approve the mining plan, as modified, in <br /> accordance with the recommendation of the Colorado MLRD. <br /> Alternative 2, Disapproval--The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals <br /> Management may disapprove the mining plan modification. This alternative <br /> would have the same effect as taking no action and the Coal Basin mines <br /> would continue to operate under the terms and conditions of the mining <br /> plan approved in June 1983. <br /> Alternative 3, Approval With Conditions--The Assistant Secretary for Land <br /> and Minerals Management may approve the mining plan, as modified, with <br /> additional special Federal conditions beyond those attached to the State <br /> permit by Colorado MLRD and the requirements of the mining plan approval <br /> document. <br /> 3. Affected Environment <br /> The description of the affected environment within its resource setting <br /> is contained in the Environmental Description section of the State's <br /> Findings of Compliance for Permit Revision No. 1, dated August 1984, <br /> pages 5-9. <br /> 4. Impact Analysis <br /> A. Impacts of Alternative 1, Approval Without Conditions. <br /> The description of the additional impacts of the mining and <br /> reclamation operations as proposed to be approved by Colorado MLRD <br /> is contained in the Findings Section of the August 1984 Findings of <br /> Compliance Document, pages 9-63; and on page 2 of the Findings and <br /> Compliance Document, dated February 1986. <br /> Federal Lands Review <br /> Under section 522(b) of SMCRA, the Secretary of the Interior must <br /> conduct a review of Federal lands to determine, pursuant to the <br /> standards set forth in sections 522(a)(2) and 522(a)(3) of SMCRA, <br /> whether there are areas on Federal lands that are unsuitable for all <br /> or certain types of surface coal mining operations. The Federal <br /> lands within the permit area were reviewed by OSMRE and the results <br /> of that review are discussed below. <br /> Section 522(a)(2) of SMCRA requires that reclamation must be <br /> technologically and economically feasible. OSMRE (1) reviewed the <br /> operations and reclamation plan portion of the permit application, <br /> (2) reviewed and concurs with Colorado MLRD's finding that <br /> reclamation, as required by the State program approved pursuant to <br /> SMCRA, can be accomplished under the reclamation plan contained in <br /> the permit application, and (3) reviewed and concurs with Colorado <br /> MLRD's reclamation cost estimate determined for bonding <br /> requirements. As a result of this review, OSMRE determines that the <br /> reclamation as proposed in the PAP is technologically and <br /> economically feasible. <br /> -3- <br />