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 of Contents
1.0 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ........................................... ..............................1
1.1
Introduction ............................................................................................. ............................... l
1.2
Background .............................................................................................. ..............................1
1.3
Location ................................................................................................... ..............................2
1.4
Purpose and Need .................................................................................... ..............................2
1.5
Cooperating Agencies .............................................................................. ..............................2
2.0 Proposed Action and Alternatives .......................................................... ..............................4
2.1
Alternatives .............................................................................................. ..............................4
2.2
Proposed Action ....................................................................................... ..............................4
2.2.1
2013 Exploration Drilling Program ............................................................. ..............................6
2.2.2
2014 Exploration Drilling Program ............................................................. ..............................6
2.2.3
Pre - drilling Activities ................................................................................. ...............................
6
2.2.4
Road Construction ....................................................................................... ..............................6
2.2.5
Drill Site Construction ................................................................................ ...............................
7
2.2.6
Methods and Equipment for Drilling .......................................................... ...............................
7
2.2.7
Drill Hole Abandonment Methods ............................................................. ...............................
8
2.2.8
Access .......................................................................................................... ..............................8
2.2.9
Reclamation Plan ........................................................................................ ...............................
8
2.3
No Action ................................................................................................. ..............................9
2.4
Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ............ ..............................9
2.4.1
Use Helicopters to Transport Drill Rig ....................................................... .............................10
2.4.2
Analyzing Only the Holes Proposed to be Drilled During 2013 ................ .............................10
2.5
Scoping and Identified Issues ................................................................. .............................10
2.6
Plan Conformance Review ..................................................................... .............................10
2.6.1
Forest Plan and Forest Service Regulations ............................................... .............................10
2.6.2
BLM Resource Management Plan ............................................................ ...............................
11
2.6.3
Other Related NEPA Documents ............................................................... .............................11
2.6.4
Lease Stipulations ..................................................................................... ...............................
12
3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ................. .............................12
3.1
Cumulative Effects Analysis .................................................................. .............................13
3.1.1
Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ................................................... ...............................
13
3.2
Air Quality .............................................................................................. .............................14
3.2.1
Affected Environment .............................................................................. ...............................
14
3.2.2
Environmental Consequences ..................................................................... .............................15
3.3
Colorado Roadless Areas ........................................................................ .............................16
3.3.1
Affected Environment .............................................................................. ...............................
16
3.3.2
Environmental Consequences ................................................................... ...............................
16
3.4
Soils ........................................................................................................ .............................17
3.4.1
Affected Environment .............................................................................. ...............................
17
3.4.2
Environmental Consequences ................................................................... ...............................
18
3.5
Vegetation ............................................................................................... .............................18
3.5.1
Affected Environment .............................................................................. ...............................
18
3.5.2
Environmental Consequences ................................................................... ...............................
18
3.6
Invasive, Non - Native .............................................................................. .............................19
3.6.1
Affected Environment .............................................................................. ...............................
19
3.6.2
Environmental Consequences ................................................................... ...............................
19
3.7
Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and Sensitive Species .................. .............................20
June 2013
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