2013-07-01_PERMIT FILE - X201322801 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: X201322801
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 7/1/2013
• Doc Name: BLM Environmental Assessment ‎(DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2013-0027 EA)‎
• Email Name: JDM
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

BLM Uncompahgre Field Office Sunset Trail Area Coal Exploration Plan EA
Table 3. Resources Affected
Elements
Not Applicable
or Not Present
Present, But
No Impact
Applicable &
Present; Brought
Forward for Analysis
Wastes, Hazardous or Solid
X3
Environmental Justice
X
Socio- Economics
X
Access and Transportation
X
Cadastral Survey
X
Realty Authorizations
X
Range Management
X
Forest Management
X
Fire
X
Noise
X
Recreation
X4
Visual Resources
X
Geology and Minerals
X
Paleontology
X
Law Enforcement
X
1 No cultural resources were discovered in the inventories conducted on the Sunset Trail Exploration Area in 2011 and two separate
times in 2012. (ERO, 2012). (ERO, 2013)
2 Terrestrial wildlife are addressed through the analysis on threatened and endangered, sensitive, and management indicator species and
migratory birds.
3 See Section 2.2 for a description of fuel storage that provides secondary containment. MCC has a spill prevention, containment and
counter measures (SPCC) plan.
4 There are no recreations facilities or areas within the analysis area.
3.1 Cumulative Effects Analysis
The FEIS (USFS, 2012a) describes and assesses the impacts on each resource from the reasonably
foreseeable mine plan if mining were to occur on the exploration area. The disturbance that is
assumed to occur for the analysis in the FEIS (75 acres) is greater than the disturbance effects from
the proposed exploration (30 acres), therefore, the cumulative impacts from possible future mining
is incorporated by reference, and not repeated in detail in this EA.
Past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions were identified in Section 3.37 of the FEIS (USFS,
2012a). Below is information on projects that have changed since the FEIS was published.
3.1.1 Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions
Activities that are speculative or for which there is no site - specific description are not considered
reasonably foreseeable.
Underground coal mining would continue in the North Fork Valley. In addition to existing coal
leasing and exploration activities, the following are reasonably foreseeable future actions:
• Oxbow has submitted a lease modification of the East Elk Creek lease (COC- 70615),
requesting to add approximately 364 acres of NFS lands to their existing lease.
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