USGS Central Region Energy Resources Team

Central Region Energy Resources Team


Coal availability in the Hilight quadrangle, Powder River Basin, Wyoming: a prototype study in a western coal field

by Carol L. Molnia, Laura R. H. Biewick, Dorsey Blake, Susan J. Tewalt, M. Devereux Carter (US Geological Survey), and Charlie Gaskill (Bureau of Land Management)


Table 1. Listing of possible restrictions
(Printed in bold and italics if applicable to Hilight quadrangle):

A) Coal-leasing unsuitability criteria from the Federal Coal Management Regulations (43 CFR 3461.5)

1.  Federal Land Systems
2.  Rights of way and easements [i.e., railroad]
3.   Dwellings, roads, cemeteries, and public buildings
4.  Wilderness Study Areas
5.  Lands with Outstanding Scenic Quality
6.  Lands Used for Scientific Study
7.  Historic Lands and Sites
8.  Natural Areas
9.  Critical Habitat for Threatened or Endangered Plant and Animal Species
10. State Listed Threatened or Endangered Species
11. Bald or Golden Eagle Nests
12. Bald and Golden Eagle Roost and Concentration Areas
13. Federal Lands containing Active Falcon Cliff Nesting Site
14. Habitat for Migratory Bird Species
15. Fish and Wildlife Habitat for Resident Species
16. Floodplains
17. Municipal Watersheds
18. National Resource Waters
19. Alluvial Valley Floors
20.  State or Indian Tribe Criteria

B) Other applicable land-use restrictions:


Towns
Pipelines
Oil and gas development [is a land-use restriction for surface mining]
Gas plant
Power lines
Gravel pits
Archaeological areas
Surface and coal ownership issues
Wetlands


C) Technological restrictions considered:

Coal quality
Overburden geochemistry
Overburden thickness (coal too deep)
Mined-out areas
Limit of coal
Surface subsidence over abandoned mines
Active mines
Abandoned mines
Clinkered areas
Coal beds too close together
Coal beds too thin (coal beds less than 2.5 ft thick were considered too thin)
Coal beds too thick [for underground mining]
Coal bed discontinuities
Roof or floor problems
Barrier pillars
Oil and gas development [technological restriction for underground mining]
Coalbed methane developments