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information about this project on the WRFO's on -line NEPA register web site
<br />hqp : / /www.blm.gov /co /st /en /fo /wrfo /index.html on 12/09/2011, along with a press release on the
<br />same date asking for public comments on the proposed LBA. Three commenters responded to
<br />the scoping announcement: Wild Earth Guardians, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and one
<br />individual.
<br />On September 5, 2012, the BLM issued a press release announcing the availability of the
<br />preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 30 day public comment period ending
<br />October 5, 2012. Notification of a public hearing published in the Federal Register (Vol. 77, No.
<br />203 / Friday, October 19, 2012, 64348) and in the Craig Daily Press Newspaper extended the
<br />date for written comments until November 20, 2012. The public hearing was held on November
<br />28, 2012, to receive comments on the EA, maximum economic recovery, determination of Fair
<br />Market Value, and the method of mining. Eighteen members of the public attended the hearing
<br />and seven public comments were received. An additional 47 commenters responded by email or
<br />by mail prior to the close of the comment period. The comments and BLM's responses are
<br />tabulated in Appendix B of the EA.
<br />Issues: The issues identified by the public focused on mine infrastructure, wildlife habitat, soils,
<br />water quality, air quality, and economic importance. Wildlife concerns include: big game winter
<br />ranges, white - tailed prairie dogs, burrowing owls, greater sage - grouse, and threatened and
<br />endangered species in the White River. Mining infrastructure included gob degas, nitrogen, and
<br />exploration holes, vent shafts, subsidence, existing electric railroad, There were also concerns
<br />related to the power plant on air quality, climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water
<br />quality, soils, and threatened and endangered species in the White and Green Rivers. One
<br />commenter cited the efficient use of existing facilities and the benefits to state, local, and federal
<br />entities.
<br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES
<br />Proposed Action:
<br />BME has submitted a LBA for issuance of a federal coal lease identifying approximately
<br />3,154.76 acres of previously un- leased federal coal. The LBA is located at the northern border of
<br />the current Deserado Mine coal lease boundaries (see Figures 1 and 2). The LBA configuration is
<br />governed by the existing leases and geology of the area. The southern, western, and eastern tract
<br />boundaries adjoin existing coal leases of the Deserado Mine. In the northwest and northeast, the
<br />tract may be bounded by where the coal seam thins and rock parting thickness increases greatly.
<br />The northern LBA boundary roughly coincides with the structural mining limit of the B -Seam
<br />deposit, where the coal seam and encompassing rocks dip upward steeply along the northern
<br />flank of the Red Wash Syncline. Coal seam splitting and thinning may also occur in this area.
<br />Due to the variability of coal seam parting, splits and thickness, the exact length and mining
<br />extent of the eastern longwall panels may vary. Additional future exploration drilling would
<br />better delineate the coal and parting thicknesses in this area and define the lengths of the eastern
<br />longwall panels. Development of the tract would be dictated by the approved mine plan and, if
<br />BME is the successful bidder on the LBA, development activities, including water usage, would
<br />be expected to continue at the same rate as the adjacent leases.
<br />DOI- BLM -CO- 110 - 2012 - 0023 -EA
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