Jim Bridger Coal Mine Complex Mining Plan Modification for Federal Coal Lease WYW-02727
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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT For Jim Bridger Coal Mine Complex Mining Plan Modification for Federal Coal Lease WYW-02727 August 2017 Environmental Assessment For Jim Bridger Coal Mine Complex Mining Plan Modification for Federal Coal Lease WYW-02727 United States Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement August 2017 Jim Bridger Coal Mine Complex Mining Plan Modification for Federal Coal Lease WYW-02727 Environmental Assessment CONTENTS Acronyms ..................................................................................................................................................... v 1. Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Background .................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2.1. Statutory and Regulatory Background ................................................................................... 4 1.3. Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.4. Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, and Other Agency Plans .................................................... 5 1.4.1. Statutes and Regulations ........................................................................................................ 5 1.4.2. Other Agency Plans................................................................................................................ 6 1.5. Authorizing Actions ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.6. Scoping, Outreach, and Issues Identification ................................................................................. 7 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives ..................................................................................................... 7 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1. Existing Operations at Bridger Mine Complex ...................................................................... 8 2.2. Description of Alternatives .......................................................................................................... 17 2.2.1. Proposed Action ................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.2. No Action Alternative .......................................................................................................... 24 2.2.3. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ........................................ 25 3. Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................... 27 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 27 3.2. General Setting ............................................................................................................................. 29 3.3. Air Quality and Climate Change .................................................................................................. 29 3.3.1. Local Climate and Meteorology ........................................................................................... 29 3.3.2. Air Quality ........................................................................................................................... 30 3.3.3. Climate Change .................................................................................................................... 40 3.4. Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................................... 41 3.4.1. Cultural Context ................................................................................................................... 41 3.4.2. Known Cultural Resources .................................................................................................. 42 3.4.3. Native American Religious Concerns .................................................................................. 44 3.5. Fish and Wildlife .......................................................................................................................... 44 3.5.1. Common Wildlife ................................................................................................................ 44 3.5.2. Big Game ............................................................................................................................. 45 3.5.3. Migratory Birds, including Raptors ..................................................................................... 49 3.5.4. Fish ....................................................................................................................................... 51 3.6. Geology and Minerals .................................................................................................................. 51 3.6.1. Geology ................................................................................................................................ 51 3.6.2. Minerals ............................................................................................................................... 54 3.7. Socioeconomics ............................................................................................................................ 54 3.7.1. Population ............................................................................................................................ 55 3.7.2. Employment and Income ..................................................................................................... 55 3.7.3. Housing ................................................................................................................................ 55 3.7.4. Economy .............................................................................................................................. 56 3.8. Soils .............................................................................................................................................. 57 3.8.1. Soil Mapping Observations .................................................................................................. 57 3.8.2. Baseline Soil Assessment ..................................................................................................... 58 3.9. Topography and Physiography ..................................................................................................... 59 i Jim Bridger Coal Mine Complex Mining Plan Modification for Federal Coal Lease WYW-02727 Environmental Assessment 3.10. Vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 59 3.10.1. Land Cover Mapping Observations ..................................................................................... 59 3.10.2. Baseline Vegetation Assessment .......................................................................................... 61 3.10.3. Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds .................................................................................. 63 3.11. Water Resources ........................................................................................................................... 65 3.11.1. Surface Water Resources ..................................................................................................... 65 3.11.2. Groundwater Resources ....................................................................................................... 70 3.12. Wetlands and Riparian Zones ....................................................................................................... 73 3.12.1. Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 73 3.12.2. Riparian Zones ..................................................................................................................... 74 4. Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................................... 74 4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 74 4.2. Air Quality and Climate Change .................................................................................................. 75 4.2.1. Proposed Action ................................................................................................................... 75 4.2.2. No Action Alternative .......................................................................................................... 80 4.3. Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................................... 80 4.3.1. Proposed Action ................................................................................................................... 80 4.3.2. No Action Alternative .........................................................................................................