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The CEQ Regulations state that NEPA documents "must concentrate on the issues that are truly significant to the action in question, rather than amassing needless detail" (40 CFR 1500.1(b)). While many issues may arise during scoping, not all of the issues raised warrant analysis in an environmental assessment. Issues will be analyzed if: 1) an analysis of the issue is necessary to make a reasoned choice between alternatives, or 2) if the issue is associated with a significant direct, indirect, or cumulative impact, or where analysis is necessary to determine the significance of the impacts. Table 2 lists the resources considered and the determination as to whether they require additional analysis. Table 2. Resources and Determination of Need for Further Analysis Determination1 Resource Rationale for Determination' Physical Resources Impacts from leasing of the coal resources in the LBA would PI Air Quality continue current impacts at the same level as in the past and present. See discussion below. PI Geology and Minerals The Proposed Action would involve extraction of coal resources; see discussion below. PI Soil Resources* See discussion below. PI Surface and Ground See discussion below. Water Quality* Biological Resources The entire lease tract proposal lies within the lower Red Wash watershed (i.e., downstream of Coal Ridge) and all channels encompassed by the lease tract are ephemeral. The nearest riparian community, a diminutive sedge -rush community with scattered tamarisk, is located about 1.5 miles upstream of the lease tract in the Wetlands and Red Wash mainstem. The nearest downstream riparian community NP Riparian Zones* (bulrush, cattail, coyote willow, and inland saltb -ass) is located at the mouth of Red Wash on the White River floodplain, which is separated from the nearest lease tract boundary by 3.2 miles of ephemeral, low- gradient channel. Red Wash enters the river about 2.5 miles above the basin of Kenney Reservoir, a 335 -acre in- channel impoundment that intercepts all runoff and sediment that may originate from the lease tract. PI Vegetation* See discussion below. PI Invasive, Non- native See discussion below. Species PI Special Status See discussion below. Animal Species* PI Special Status See discussion below. Plant Species* PI Migratory Birds See discussion below. There are no aquatic systems within the proposed least tract. The nearest system that supports higher order aquatic vertebrate NP Aquatic Wildlife* populations is the White River, which is separated from the nearest point of the lease tract by 3.2 miles of ephemeral channel. See discussions relevant to the potential for downstream habitat effects in the Special Status Animals Species section. DOI- BLM -CO- 110 - 2012 - 0023 -EA 11