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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT <br /> Coal Basin Project Area <br /> I. Introduction <br /> The Coal Basin Project consists of one coal mine site, the Coal Basin Mine, <br /> located in the NE 1 /4 of the NW 1 /4 of Section 8 and the SW 1 /4 of the SE 1 /4 <br /> of Section 5, T10S, R89W in Pitkin County. The area in which the project is <br /> located has been mined by surface strip methods during the 1960's and early <br /> 1970's, prior to the enactment of any Federal or State laws requiring the mine <br /> site to be reclaimed. Upon termination of operations, the mine site was left <br /> in an unreclaimed condition. A preliminary field survey of the area during <br /> the summer of 1989 identified an approximate 6.5 acre strip area of exposed <br /> coal seams and waste and two steep sloped areas of eroded downcast overburden <br /> material which now lends itself to erosion, surface water sedimentation and <br /> further environmental degradation. <br /> A. Description of the Environment <br /> Geology and Land Use <br /> The Coal Basin Mine site is located in the Uinta Coal Region and the <br /> Carbondale coal field at an elevation of 9,680 feet. In the past, the primary <br /> land use of the area was for coal mining which is true to present day along <br /> with recreational use of adjacent forest lands. <br /> Geologically, the site is characterized by the doming of sedimentary strata <br /> over an igneous intrusion. The site is underlain by the Mancos Shale <br /> Formation which dips 60 to 80 degrees to the west with the major axis of the <br /> basin plunging N65W. The coal seams lie within a sequence of sedimentary <br /> rocks consisting of non-marine clastic sediments within the lower Mesa Verde <br /> Formation. Both upper and lower utits of the Mesa Verde group are composed of <br /> shales and shaley sandstone. Massive light-brown to white sandstones form <br /> prominent cliffs and ledges over local areas. The site is bordered to the <br /> east by the southern most part of an extensive monoclinal feature known as the <br /> Grand Hogback. <br /> Hydrology <br /> Ground water occurrences within the project have not been investigated on a <br /> site-specific basis yet are expected to occur within the sandstone members <br /> described above. However, the proposed work and excavations will not <br /> intersect the water table at any of the sites nor will any fluids be released <br /> during operations at those sites. Thus, the work will nave no effect on the <br /> ground water of the project area. <br /> Surface water from the project area is drained by Coal Creek which flows into <br /> the Crystal River. Both drainages are classified as perennial . <br /> X-7 <br />