Maysdorf coal lease application : final environmental impact statement

2007·103 MB·English

by  WWC Engineering

1
BLM LIBRARY
i&l
11
HI II 11 1
88066667
FINAL
Environmental Impact Statement for the
Maysdorf Coal Lease Application
WYW1
54432
-
MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission ofthe Bureau of Land Managment to sustain the health, diversity,
and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and
future generations.
BLM/WY/PL-07/014+1320
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Take Pride*
Ny\MER CA
Wyoming State Office 1 I
P.O. Box 1828
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003-1828
In Reply ReferTo:
3425 (LBA)
WYW
154432
(Maysdorf)
(922Love)
Phone No: 307-775-6148
Fax No: 307-775-6203
April 6, 2007
Dear Reader:
The Bureau ofLand Management (BLM) has prepared this Final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to document and disclose the results ofan analysis prepared to evaluate the
impacts ofleasing the MaysdorfFederal coal tract to Cordero Mining Company to extend
mining operations at the Cordero Rojo Mine. The mine and adjacent tract are located in the
Wyoming Powder River Basin. A copy ofthis document is provided for your review and
comments. The Final EIS may also be reviewed on the BLM Wyoming website at:
http://www.bhn.gov/wv/st/erFinfo/NEPA/cfodocs/mavsdorf.html
.
BLM
Copies ofthe Final EIS are also available for public inspection at the following offices:
Bureau ofLand Management Bureau ofLand Management
Wyoming State Office Casper Field Office
5353 Yellowstone Road 2987 Prospector Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82009 Casper, Wyoming 82604
The Draft EIS was published in May 2006 and a formal public hearing on this application to
lease Federal coal was held at 7:00 p.m. on June 13, 2006, at the Clarion Hotel, 2009 South
Douglas Highway, Gillette, Wyoming. The purpose ofthe hearing was to receive comments on
the proposed coal lease sale, on the fair market value, and on the maximum economic recovery
ofthe Federal coal resources included in the tract. One individual, a representative ofCordero
Mining Company, presented comments at the hearing and comments from five entities were
BLM
received by the on the Draft EIS.
BLM will accept public comments on this Final EIS for thirty (30) days commencing on the date
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a Notice ofAvailability in the Federal Register.
All comments received will be considered in preparation ofthe Record ofDecision for this EIS.
BLM is also publishing a Notice ofAvailability in the Federal Register. Press releases will be
submitted to local and state media outlets once the notice is published to notify the public ofthe
final date comments will be accepted.
3425 (LBA)
WYW
154432
(Maysdorf)
Page 2
Ifyou wish to comment on the Final EIS, your comments should relate directly to the document.
We request that you make your comments as specific as possible and that you cite the location or
locations in the document on which you are commenting. Substantive comments should:
1 give any new information that could alter conclusions;
.
2. show why or how analysis or assumptions in the EIS are flawed;
3. show errors in data, sources, or methods; or
4. request clarifications that bear on conclusions.
Opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response. However, they will be considered
BLM
and included as part ofthe decision making process.
This Final EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and applicable
regulations, and other applicable statutes, to address possible environmental and socioeconomic
impacts that could result from this project. This Final EIS is not a decision document. Its
purpose is to inform the public and the agency decision makers ofthe impacts ofleasing the
MaysdorfFederal coal tract to the existing Cordero Mine in Campbell County, Wyoming, and to
evaluate alternatives to leasing the Federal coal included in the tract as applied for.
Comments, including names and street addresses ofrespondents, will be available for public
review at the address listed below during regular business hours (7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), Monday
through Friday, except holidays, and will be published as part ofthe Final EIS. Before including
your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment - including your personal identifying
information - may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Please send written comments to Bureau ofLand Management, Casper Field Office, Attn:
WY
Nancy Doelger, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, 82604. Written comments may also be e-
mailed to the attention ofNancy Doelger at “[email protected]”. E-mail comments must
include the name and mailing address ofthe commentor to receive consideration. Written
comments may also be faxed to (307)-261-7587.
Ifyou have any questions or would like to obtain additional copies ofthis Final EIS, please
contact Nancy Doelger at [phone], or at the above address.
Sincerely,
State Director
Attachment
1
1- Final EIS
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
MAYSDORF LBA TRACT
CAMPBELL COUNTY, WYOMING
ABSTRACT
Lead Agency USDI Bureau of Land Management
:
Casper Field Office
Casper, Wyoming
Cooperating Agencies USDI Office of Surface Mining Reclamations Enforcement
:
Western Regional Coordinating Center
Denver, Colorado
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Wyoming State Planning Office
Cheyenne, Wyoming
For Further Information Contact: Nancy Doelger
Bureau of Land Management, Casper Field Office
2987 Prospector Drive
WY
Casper, 82604
[phone]
Abstract:
This Final Environment Impact Statement (EIS) assesses the environmental consequences of decisions to
hold a competitive, sealed-bid sale and issue a lease for a tract offederal coal located adjacent to an existing
surface coal mine in Campbell County, Wyoming, subject to standard and special lease stipulations. The
Maysdorf Lease by Application (LBA) Tract, as applied for by Cordero Mining Company, includes
approximately 2,219.39 acres containing approximately 230 million tons of mineable federal coal. Cordero
Mining Company, the operator of the adjacent Cordero Rojo Mine, proposes to mine the tract as a
maintenance lease for the existing mine, if a lease sale is held and they acquire the lease.
This Final EIS describes the physical, biological, cultural, historic, and socioeconomic resources in and around
the existing mine and the LBAtract. The alternatives in the Final EIS considerthe impacts of leasing the tract
as it was applied for; leasing a reconfigured tract in order to avoid bypassing Federal coal or to increase
competitive interest in the tract, and not leasing the tract. The focus for the impact analysis was based upon
resource issues and concerns identified during previous coal leasing analyses and public scoping conducted
for this lease application. Potential concerns related to development include impacts to groundwater, air
quality, and wildlife and cumulative impacts related to ongoing surface coal mining and other proposed
development in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming.
Other Environmental Review or Consultation Requirements:
This Final EIS, in compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (as amended), identifies any
endangered or threatened species which are likely to be affected by the Proposed Action.

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MAYSDORF COAL LEASE APPLICATION n /Y)7Z
FINAL ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Prepared by
WWC
Engineering
Wyoming
Sheridan,
Under the Direction of
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Casper Field Office
Wyoming
Casper,
and
Cooperating Agencies
U.S. Department of Interior
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement
Denver, Colorado
and
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
Land Quality Division
Cheyenne, Wyoming
and
Wyoming State Planning Office
Cheyenne, Wyoming
April 2007

1
Table ofContents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMARY ES-
INTRODUCTION
1.0 1-1
1 1 Background 1-1
.
1.2 Purpose and Need for Action 1-9
1.3 Regulatory Authority and Responsibility 1-11
1.4 Relationship to BLM Policies, Plans, and Programs 1-12
1.5 Conformance with Existing Land Use Plans 1-12
1.6 Consultation and Coordination 1-15
2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES 2-1
2.1 Proposed Action 2-4
2.1.1 Regulatory Compliance, Mitigation and Monitoring 2-9
2.1.2 Hazardous and Solid Waste 2-15
2.2 Alternative 2-16
1
2 3 Alternative 2 2-17
.
2.4 Alternatives 2-20
2 5 Alternative 4 2-23
.
2.6 Alternatives 2-24
2.7 Summary of Alternatives and Environmental Consequences 2-26
....
2.7. 1 Background 2-26
2.7.2 Summary of Alternatives 2-27
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
3.0
CONSEQUENCES
3-1
3. 1 General Setting 3-5
3.1.1 Climate and Meteorology 3-5
3.2 Topography and Physiography 3-5
3.2. 1 Affected Environment 3-5
3.2.2 Environmental Consequences 3-6
3.2.2. 1 Proposed Action and Alternatives 2 and 3 3-6
3.2.2.2 No Action Alternative 3-8
3.2.3 Regulatory Compliance, Mitigation and Monitoring 3-8
3.2.4 Residual Impacts 3-8
3.3 Geology, Mineral Resources, and Paleontology 3-8
3.3.1 General Geology and Coal Resources 3-8
3.3. 1 1 Affected Environment 3-8
.
3.3. 1 .2 Environmental Consequences 3-11
3 3 2 Proposed Action and
1 1
. . . .
Alternatives 2 and 3 3-11
3.3. 1.2.2 No Action Alternative 3-11
3.3. 1.3 Regulatory Compliance, Mitigation and
Monitoring 3-11
3.3. 1.4 Residual Impacts 3-12
3.3.2 Other Mineral Resources 3-12
3.3.2. Affected Environment 3-12
1
Final EIS, Maysdorf Coal Lease Application
i
Table ofContents
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
3.3.2. 1.1 Conventional Oil and Gas 3-12
3.3.2. 1.2 Coal Bed Natural Gas (CBNG) ..3-12
3.3.2. 1.3 Other Minerals 3-13
3.3.2.2 Environmental Consequences 3-14
3 3 2 2 Proposed Action and
1
. . . .
Alternatives 2 and 3 3-14
3.3.2.2.2 No Action Alternative 3-16
3.3.2.3 Regulatory Compliance, Mitigation and
Monitoring 3-16
3.3.2.4 Residual Impacts 3-17
3.3.3 Paleontology 3-17
3 3 3 Affected Environmental 3-17
1
. . .
3.3.3.2 Environmental Consequences 3-19
3.4 3 3 3 2 Proposed Action and
1
. . . .
Alternatives 2 and 3 3-19
3.3.3.2.2 No Action Alternative 3-19
3.3.3.3 Regulatory Compliance, Mitigation and
Monitoring 3-19
3.3.3.4 Residual Impacts 3-20
Air Quality 3-20
3.4. 1 Background 3-20
3.4. 1 1 Regulatory Framework 3-20
.
3.4. 1 1 1 Surface Coal Mine
. .
Regulatory Framework 3-25
3.4. 1.2 Emission Sources 3-28
3.4.2 Particulate Emissions 3-29
3.4.2. 1 Affected Environment for Particulate
Emissions 3-29
3 4 2 1 1 Regional Particulate
. . . .
Emissions 3-29
3 4 2 1 2 Site Specific Particulate
. . . .
Emissions 3-33
3.4.2.2 Environmental Consequences Related to
Particulate Emissions 3-35
3.4.2.2.1 Proposed Action and
Alternatives 2 and 3 3-35
3.4.2.2.2 No Action Alternative 3-41
3.4.2.3 Regulatory Compliance, Mitigation, and
Monitoring for Particulate Emissions 3-43
3.4.3 Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides 3-47
3.4.3. 1 Affected Environment for NOx Emissions 3-47
NO
3.4.3. 1 . 1 Regional x Emissions 3-47
NO
3.4.3. 1.2 Site Specific Emissions 3-48
x
3.4.3.2 Environmental Consequences Related to
NO
Emissions 3-48
x
li Final EIS, MaysdorfCoal Lease Application