Proposed expansion of mining and reclamation plan, Big Sky Mine, Peabody Coal Company, Rosebud County, Montana. Draft environmental statement. [Draft EIS]

Book · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5170766

State and Federal actions involve either approval or denial of permits for the reclamation plans, Big Sky mine, Peabody Coal Co., Rosebud County, Montana. The company proposes to expand the existing plant and loading facilities, haul and access roads, and the existing rail spur extending from Colstrip would be utilized. An estimted 30 million tons of low-sulfur coal would be removed from an area of about 894 acres over a period of about 8 years. A summary of adverse, unavoidable environmental impacts is: vegetation, soil, and overburden would be removed from 894 acres. It is uncertain that former vegetative productivity levels can be reestablished. There would be a loss in vegetative diversity for possibly several decades. Existing local aquifers would be destroyed. Wildlife habitat would be altered and wildlife diversity would be reduced. Dust emissions would increase significantly. 1264 acres of land would be temporarily removed from range, recreation, and wildlife uses during mining and reclamation. There may be an increase in surface water runoff, and a reduction in both surface and ground water quality. Administrative alternatives available to State and Federal agencies include: (a) deferring action, (b) preventing further development by suspending operations, cancelling the lease, or acquiring the lease, (c) rejecting the mine and reclamation plan or restricting development on the lease. Other options available include development of selected areas now under lease and approval of the proposed mining plan after modification. The mining and reclamation plan must be modified to meet criteria set forth in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and the Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act of 1973 and other pertinent criteria.

• OSTI ID: 5170766
• Report Number(s): NP-25054(Vol.1)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
AQUIFERS
COAL MINES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LAND RECLAMATION
MINES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMIT APPLICATIONS
PLANNING
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
WATER