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
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B) Other applicable land-use restrictions:
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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
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