This is a text-only version of the document "Eastern Powder River Basin - Final Environmental Impact Statement - Vol 3 of 5 - 1973". To see the original version of the document click here.

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CONTENTS This is Volume III. It contains Parts II and III, the analyses of proposed railroad construction by Burlington Northern, Inc. and the Chicago and North Western Transporation Company, and proposed mining and reclamation by Atlantic Richfield Company. Sm1NARY This environmental Part I: statement TABLE OF CONTENTS in six parts as follows:

is presented

Regional Analysis - A consideration of the Eastern Powder River Coal Basin, its environment, and projected development through 1990. Chapters I - IV. Introduction, Potential Development, Development and Distribution Models, and Description of the Environment. Chapters V - XI. Probable Impacts, Mitigating Measures, Unavoidable Adverse Effects, Alternaves, Relationships Between Short and Long Term Uses, Irreversible Commitments and Coordination . .

Vol.

I

Vol.

II

Part

II:

Proposed railroad construction by Burlington Northern Inc. and Chicago and North Western Transportation Company . . . . . . . . . . Proposed mining and reclamation Richfield Company

Vol.

III

Part

III:

.

by Atlantic Vol. by Carter Oil Vol. IV III

Part

IV:

Proposed Company

.

mining

and reclamation

Part

V:

Proposed mining Corporation

and reclamation

by Kerr-HcGee

.

Coal Vol. IV

Part

VI:

Proposed mining and reclamation Development Corp.

..

.

by Hyodak

Resource

.

.

Vol.

IV

Appendices Comments received and responses

.
at public hearings and by mail,

Vol.

V

.

.

Vol.

VI

A detailed

table of contents

of this volume

begins

on the following

page.

T-6

VOLillfEIII PART II. ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION BY BURLINGTON NORTHERN INC. AND THE CHICAGO ANTI NORTH HESTERH TRANSPORTATION COHPANY

Chapter I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION Background and History Railroad Construction. Railroad Operations. Railroad Abandonment . II. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONNENT. Air Quality. Topography . . Soils ..... Mineral Resources. Water Resources .. Vegetation . . . . Archeological and Paleontological Values Historical Values. Aesthetics . Wildlife and Fish. Recreation . Agriculture. Transportation Networks. Socio-Economic Conditions. PROBABLE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION Air Quality. Topography . . Soils ..... Mineral Resources. Water Resources .. Vegetation . . . . Archeological and Paleontological Values Historical Values. Aesthetics . Wildlife and Fish. Recreation . Agriculture. Transportation Networks. Socio-Economic Conditions.

II-I

II-I II-4 II-35 II-47 II-49 II-49 II-50 II-53 II-58 II-62 II-65 II-66 II-67 II-68 II-71 II-78 II-79 II-81 II-82 II-85 II-86 II-89 II-91 II-95 II-97 II-IOO II-I02 II-I03 II-I04 II-I06 II-lli II-1l4 II-1l9 II-123

III.

T-7

Chapter
IV.

MITIGATING MEASURES Air Quality Topography Soils . . . Water Resources Vegetation Archeological Preservation Aesthetics Wildlife and Fish Recreation Agriculture . . . Transportation Networks Other . . . . . . . . . PROBABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED Air Quality Topography Soils Mineral Resources Water Resources . Vegetation Archeological and Paleontological Values Aesthetics Wildlife and Fish Recreation . . . . Agriculture . . . Transportation Networks Socio-Economic Conditions ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION No Development ... . Alternative Routes THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERN USES OF HAN'S ENVIROmlENT AND THE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TER}1 PRODUCTIVITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMHITMENTS OF RESOURCES

II-I27 II-127 II-127 II-131 II-l33 II-l34 II-l3S II-l37 II-l3S II-l39 II-140 II-143 II-144 II-147 II-147 II-149 II-ISO II-lSI II-IS2 II-IS3 II-IS4 II-ISS II-IS6 II-ISS II-IS9 II-161 II-162 II-163 II-163 II-16S

V.

VI.

VII.

II-179 II-lSI

VIII.

T-S

PART III.

ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED MINING AND RECLA}~TION BY ATLANTIC RICHFIELD COMPANY

Chapter I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION Background and History . Stages of Implementation Mining Sequence .. Monitoring . . Transportation and Marketing II. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIROIDIENT. Climate ... Air Quality. Topography . Soils .... Mineral Resources. Water Resources .. Vegetation . . . . Archeological and Paleontological Values Historical Values. Aesthetics . Wildlife and Fish. Recreation . Agriculture. Transportation Networks. Socio-Economic Conditions. PROBABLE IMPACT OF PROPOSED ACTION Air Quality. Topography . . Soils ..... Mineral Resources. Water Resources .. Vegetation . . . . Archeological and Paleontological Historical Values. Aesthetics . Wildlife and Fish. Recreation . Agriculture. Transportation Networks. Socio-Economic Conditions.

III-I III-I 1II-7 1II-2l 1II-22 1II-22a 1II-23 1II-23 III-26 III-27 III-31 III-39 III-64 III-68 III-76 III-77 1II-79 III-82 III-88 1II-89 II 1-91 1II-93 III-9S 1II-96 1II-99 III-I03 III-lOS III-I06 III-110 III-1l3 III-1l4 III-llS III-1l6 III-1l8 III-1l9 III-120 III-I2l

III.

Values

T-9

CHAPTER IV. MITIGATING MEASURES
Air Quality. Topography . . . Soils . Water Resources. Vegetation ... Archeological Preservation Historical Values. Aesthetics . Wildlife and Fish. Recreation . Agriculture. Transportation Networks.

III-123 III-123 III-124 III-12S III-12? III-128 III-l32 III-l3S III-136 III-138 III-l39 III-140 III-141 III-143 III-143 III-144 III-14S III-146 III-14? III-148 III-149 III-ISO III-lSI III-IS2 III-IS3 III-IS4 III-ISS III-IS? III-IS? III-IS8

V.

PROBABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONHENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED. . .
Air Quality. Topography . Soils .... Hineral Resources. Water Resources .. Vegetation . . . . Archeological and Paleontological Aesthetics . Wildlife and Fish. Recreation . Agriculture. Transportation Networks. Socio-Economic Conditions.

Values

VI.

ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION
Reject the l1ining Plan . . . . . Approve the Hining Plan After Hodification

VII.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TEP~1USES OF MAN'S ENVIRONHENT ANTI THE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEHENT OF LONG-TERlI PRODUCTIVITY . IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COM!'1ITI1ENTS RESOURCES OF

III-16S III-169

VIII.

T-IO

PART II ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION

CHAPTER I DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION

Background Burlington Northern

and History

Inc. and Chicago and North Western Transportation pursuant to Section 1(18) of the Interand operate a new railroad The joint application the Inter-

Company have filed a joint application state Commerce Act for authorization Gillette

to construct

route located between was filed on February state Commerce

and Douglas,

Wyoming.

2, 1974, as finance docket No. 27579 before

Commission. two phases of activity,

The impact statement will consider construction and on-line operations. stage will consist of the railroad staking,

The construction ated with new development will include design, tion of railroad facilities, etc.

of an intensive

program associfacilities. This

line and pertinent obtaining

engineering,

rights-of-way,

construc-

bed, bridges, Extensive

drainage

structures,

fences, maintaining for construction. required for the

earthmoving

will be required

The operation heavy transportation long-term maintenance, functions

stage will involve those activities of coal by unit train. construction

schedule

Operations

will include

and additional

necessary

for expanding

of the railroad.

Purpose of proposed

project of the proposed railroad is to transport low sulfur sub-

The purpose bituminous

coal from mines located in the Eastern and Douglas,

Powder River Basin to of both the Burlington

existing main lines at Gillette

Wyoming,

11-1

Northern

and Chicago and North Western Railroads.

The proposed

line will also and Douglas.

carry connecting

traffic from BN/CNW main lines through Gillette

Low sulfur coal is already being transported located in the east, midwest, and southwest on existing to increase

to electric power plants railroads. significantly Exportaif the

tions of coal from Wyoming proposed line is completed.

can be expected

Location The route proposed shown on Map No. 12, Appendix by the companies A. and major alternative routes are

Refer also to Part I, Chapters

II and III.

Specific

description Right-of-way widths are based on the area necessary width will vary from 150 to 600 feet. is approximately for cut and fill Total amount of

sections.

Right-of-way

land required

for the right-of-way

2,400 acres. The line will Approximately 80.2

be located on federal, miles of the proposed

state and private land ownerships. route will be located on private

lands, 9.25 miles on

state, and 22.7 miles on federal lands and .6 mile Total length of the proposed

of Converse County lands. 113 miles and together

rail line is approximately

with sidings and mine spur lines, a total of 150 miles of railroad lines would eventually considered resources. Construction schedules indicate completion of the rail line in a be constructed. Alternative routes of various lengths are being

that will have differential

effects on surface and subsurface

little over two years, with major construction

to occur the first two

11-2

construction construction road.

seasons workers

(April through November). are anticipated

An average

of 300 temporary the rail-

to be required

to complete

The proposed major sidings

railroad

will be a single

tract structure Eight sidings

with nine are to be to the

built parallel

to the proposed

line.

located existing

adjacent

to the new line and one will be constructed Sidings

adjacent

Amax Belle Ayr spur line. along the route. disabled railcars. Minor

are to be spaced at 10- to l2-mile sidings

intervals to handle

sidings would be added to the major

It may be necessary a second parallel in the future.

owing to projected

frequency

of use to construct sometime

track to carry the expected

number

of unit trains

11-3

Railroad Initial preparation Upon securing will be construction fence construction the necessary

Construction

right-of-way, fence.

the initial activity

of a right-of-way for details.)

(See section on right-of-way preparation reach five miles in will then

Initial right-of-way

commence for the construction will be composed length.

"reaches."

Each construction approximately

of a segment of right-of-way

The initial effort will consist of access and work road construction, of work roads to the top of the cut areas, clearing sagebrush, and stripping structures, topsoil

installation

disposal of debris, mulching from the road prism. equipment, marshalling corridor. During

and stockpiling

this interval,

the contractor

will also assemble storage and

order materials,

and locate borrow pits, construct

yards, and arrange for water supplies Water wells are anticipated

along the construction

to be drilled and water tanks installed for construction use.

in those areas where existing wells are unavailable Some use of impounded all in accordance

surface water may also supplement

water well supplies,

with State of Wyoming rules and regulations. and structures cleared from the right-of-way will be

Vegetation

burned on the right-of-way authorities.

if permits can be secured from appropriate prohibit burning, the debris is to be Clearing is

If air quality measures

hauled to suitable waste areas within the railroad generally scheduled

corridor.

at least one mile ahead of the next stage of construction. preparation, the contractor may open

During the initial construction exploratory cuts within the right-of-way

or leased borrow pits to inventory and riprap.

available materials

for road building,

culvert bedding

II-4

Each construction

"reach" will contain a "work group" unit which equipment and support personnel required Anticipated to

will be composed of earth-moving

conduct the clearing and grading operations.

equipment will be

one or two dozers for clearing and the possible use of scrapers or trucks to transport cleared debris to waste disposal sites. Several reaches and The

work groups will be active simultaneously

along the railroad route.

number of reaches undergoing work will depend on that necessary contract time schedules.

to meet

Drainage

structures Upon completion of the initial clearing, work will commence of bridges. on the

placement

of drainage

culverts and construction and installation

Site preparation following equipment:

of culverts will require the rollers, hand tampers, trucks. asphalt-coated Forty-eight

boom trucks or crane, vibratory

dozers, front-end

loader, dump trucks, and transport

Culverts will generally be asbestos-bonded,

corrugated metal pipe ranging from 24 to 4S inches in diameter. inch to lOS-inch multiplate bridging will be used. conditions

pipe will be used and above lOS-inch diameter concrete pipe may be used where soil will

Reinforced

govern final design.

Three areas along the right-of-way

require extensive Creek-Belle

use of culverts and bridges. River. (2) Antelope

These are the (1) Caballo

Fourche

Creek and (3) Shawnee Creek areas. 220 culvert sites have been Several "livestock passes"

(See topographic

description.)

Approximately

identified along the proposed route (Figure 1). are also anticipated Construction to serve as drainage ways. of bridge abutments

and piers will commence at the same

time as culvert installation.

Bridges will consist of ballast decks placed on

II-S

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II- 6

steel girder spans supported by steel or concrete piers. be driven by pile driving equipment. tractor or truck mounted and place bridge spans. stream channels embankments excessive cranes.

Supporting piles will

Pile drivers will be supported by crawler

This equipment will also be used to hoist

Bridge piers are to be located outside of the principal obstruction of flood flows. Bridge openings between

to minimize

are designed

large enough to allow flood water to pass without

flow restriction. Bridge materials will be hauled by truck from the nearest railroads Equipment requirements for bridge or

loading areas to each bridge location. construction pile drivers;

would consist of the following: dozers; graders;

cranes, truck or tractor mounted; trucks.

tampers; dump trucks; and transport indicate

Preliminary

railroad designs

that bridges will be constructed

over Caballo Creek, Belle Fourche River, Coal Creek, Little Thunder Creek, Porcupine Creek, Antelope Creek, Dry Fork of the Cheyenne River, Mike's Draw,

Box Creek, Lightning

Creek, Shawnee Creek and possibly Walker Creek and that may have calculated flood flows greater than

several other drainages culvert capacity. Alteration crossings

of existing drainage ways may be necessary

at stream embank-

with broad flood plains where construction that runoff be consolidated Some changes in location

of the railway

ments necessitates

and concentrated

at the bridge channels

and culvert openings. to accommodate

of natural drainage

grade and curvature

of the rail line will also be necessary. at each culvert site to route water drainage channels. Riprap

Suitable ditching will also be incorporated flow away from the roadbed and into natural material

will be placed at culvert inlets and outlets to serve as cutoff walls Riprap will also be used to

and aprons to control erosion around the pipe.

11-7

protect side slopes of altered drainage materials sandstone will be used for riprap.

channels.

Wherever

possible local from

Some heavy riprap will be available in the "scoria" areas.

ledges and harder materials

The smaller that the

riprap materials

will be utilized with wire mesh.

It is anticipated

most heavy riprap materials study area. Pipelines railroad carrying

may have to hauled in by rail from outside

flammable

oil and gas will be crossed by the The standard procedure (encased in a double

route mainly

in the Hilight oil field area. is to encase all pipelines

to protect against breakage pipe).

Grading Excavation clearing and embankment construction structures. will follow right-of-way Excavation and embankment to

and installation

of drainage

construction embankment

will involve movement

of earth materials

from excavation

areas to the extent necessary

to shape the railroad bed and obtain

final grade elevation. construction railroad

This will be the major work item involved in Existing topography will be altered by

of the rail line.

construction

in order to meet alignment of 1 percent maximum bed, including

and proposed railroad curves.

company design criteria

grades and 30 maximum

The final railroad to Burlington Northern's

spur lines to mines, will conform which provides for a 28-foot

"main line standards,"

subgrade width at the top of the embankments within excavation

and a 44-foot subgrade width Double track standards Maximum depth of cut will

areas for single track construction. 14 feet of subgrade width.

would require an additional on the proposed be 85 feet.

line will be 102 feet and maximum proposed construction

height of embankments

Additional

line characteristics

are contained

II-8

in Table 1. of 15 million

See Figure 2 for main line road bed characteristics. cubic yards of excavation (grading) will be required

A total to

complete the railroad bed for the proposed route and sidings. Excavation 1.5 feet horizontal side slopes will be constructed to 1.0 feet vertical Embankment to a maximum grade of a 340 at a or

rise which is approximately

angle from horizontal. maximum

side slopes will be constructed

steepness of no greater than 1.75 horizontal 300 from horizontal.

to 1.0 vertical

approximately

Soils or other conditions may dictate Burlington Northern's in Figure 2. standard plan for

that a more gentle slope be left. main line roadbed

sections is contained

Each construction of the following equip-

segment will contain a typical work unit consisting ment:

crawler tractor with ripper, crawler tractor with blade, 2 motor-patrols, scrapers, push-cat, air compressor, powder magazine,

5 or 6 self-powered

wagon drill or crawler mounted drill, jackhammers, Several construction

water truck, and rollers. simultaneously.

segments will be in operation

The number of segments in operation pace necessary

at one time will depend on the construction

to keep contract time schedules. in Table 1, under grading.

The total cuts and fills are contained Excavation will commence with construction

of access roads to the top of cuts. After initial grading to break up the are often

The initial cuts will be made with scraper and dozers. and cutting with dozers, it may be necessary more resistant materials.

to use rippers

Scrapers used to excavate cut material (crawler tractor unit).

assisted by a "push-cat" excavated material

The scrapers will transport The contractor may, to assist in of fills.

to a nearby fill area for placement. cut material

at his option, pre-irrigate excavation'and

prior to excavation

to obtain optimum soil moisture in dust control. 11-9

content for compaction

This also assists

Table 1 Major Characteristics Gillette to Douglas of the Proposed Railroad Route

LINE CHARACTERISTICS Length Grading Maximum Grade (Compensated) on Max. Grade, N'Bound Miles of Line Miles Cu. Yds.

112.77 15,000,000
1%

Total Dist.

17.04 25.90 +196.4 .1,759 5,268 4,456

Total Dist. on Max. Grade, Rise Rise and Fall Highest Lowest Maximum Subgrade Subgrade Height Elevation Elevation of Fill

S'Bound Miles Feet Feet

Feet

85

Total Dist. on Fills Greater than 40' Total Dist. on Fills Greater than 60' Maximum Depth of Cut

Feet

9,400 1,850 102

Feet Feet

Total Dist. in Cuts Greater than 40' Total Dist. in Cuts Greater than 60' Number of Curves Degree of Curvature

Feet

9,050 1,800 66

Feet

Maximum

Total Angle of Curves Number of Bridges (Anticipated) of Bridges Northern Inc. Feet 11-10

1,9510

-

31'

17
4,670

Total Length Source: Burlington

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II-14

obtained

from borrow areas adjacent

to the rail line.

Operations

in borrow

pit areas must comply with regulations federal regulations tract specifications as well as contract require

of the Wyoming Mined Land Act and requirements. Standard railroad con-

that borrow pits must be left in a neat condition, surroundings and provided with drainage

shaped to conform to the natural facilities. Motor graders of excavation

or dozers will be used to shape and smooth side slopes surface when the designed profile

areas and to finish roadbed

grade has been attained. Depending may be constructed upon location of existing drainages, interceptor ditches

at the top of cut slopes to reduce erosion of these slopes. away from the roadbed and to natural drainage

The runoff flow is diverted channels.

Both grade crossings

and larger livestock

underpasses

are availIn areas operation,

able to permit access to either side of the track by landowners. where land severance suitable results in a hindrance to permit to livestock grazing

passes are planned

livestock

to move from one side of the are designed to be of

track to the other sufficient height

(Figures 5 and 6).

The underpasses

for cattle and horses.

Sub-ballast Upon completion preparations sub-ballast "scoria." Since suitable proposed route, gravel is virtually non-existent along most of the of grading and shaping of the railroad by surfacing bed, final

for laying the track are performed material. The sub-ballast

of the roadway with gravel or

will consist of either pit-run

scoria will be used along the northern

75 miles of the route,

II-15

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II-17

the remaining Transportation The sub-ballast by front-end

sub-ballast Company's material

will be obtained

from the Chicago and North Western

gravel pit at Irvine siding located east of Douglas. will be excavated from scoria located along the route to a rock

loaders and placed plant.

in dump trucks for transportation Northern

crusher or screening standards rock.

Burlington

and Chicago and North Western size of three-inch diameter

for sub-ballast crushing

allow for a maxiumum or screening

Therefore~

of the ballast material

may be

required.

The graded ballast

is then loaded into 20- to 30-yard center dump railroad bed. The dumped ballast compacting is

trucks for hauling bladed

to the completed

into six-inch

lifts and compacted

by suitable

equipment.

Two lifts will be necessary depth. (Figure 2.) Although be as sub-ballast~ for surfacing

to obtain a sub-ballast

base of 12 inches in

the primary use of scoria for railroad other ancillary railroad facilities

construction

will

will require

gravel camp-

materials

on access roads~ grade crossings~ etc. The total projected with railroad

underpasses~

sites and staging areas~

demand for scoria and is 740~000 cubic

gravel for all uses associated yards. The equipment the following:

construction

requirements loaders~

for sub-ballast crawler tractor~

operation

will consist

of

front-end

20-30 cubic yard belly dump tired compactors.

trucks~ gravel crusher and sorter~ motor graders~

and rubber

Track laying The Burlington continuous Northern track will consist of 132 pounds per yard into lengths of one-quarter the new line. mile each.

rail which has been welded

Treated wood ties will be used throughout ling yards located near or on the proposed

At marshal-

line~ two tie plates will be fastened

11-18

to each treated one-half inches.

tie with holddown

spikes at exact gauge of four feet. eight and on the roadbed by hand or loaded into method. As the machine moves

The ties are distributed machine which individual

a tie distribution along the roadbed alignment mately

is the preferred

ties are deposited

at correct

spacing and proper

on the roadbed.

The distribution

machine

is capable of laying approxi-

three miles of ties per day.

(See Figure 7.) and aligned. the line is ready for mile continuous

After the ties have been positioned the rails welded (Figure 8). The rails are furnished

in one-quarter

lengths and transported

to the site on a rail train of 26 flat cars. from the train to the ties, by means of a from the rail train

The rails are removed directly "straddle

buggy" which pulls two rails simultaneously As rails are unloaded

(Figure 9).

from the train, they come to rest on lightTwo more

weight rollers and are pulled from the train to their full length. quarter-mile rails are welded to the previous

length so that four strings or one-

half mile of rail are pulled onto the ties at the same time. After the rail has come to rest on the tie plates following the rollers, it is spiked at every fifth tie with rail spikes. another removal of the

This supports half-mile of

rail so that the rail train can move ahead to distribute continuous welded rails. In adverse weather, a propane-type rail heater. the contractor

may use a tank-car

equipped with

The tank can either heat or cool the rail to comrequirements (SSOF to 7SoF). Immediately fol-

ply with stringent

temperature

lowing the tank car will be a tie-spacing positioning operations.

car which will be used for the final caused during the rail laying

of ties and to correct for movement

II-19

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II-20

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II-22

Equipment

requirements machine,

for track laying would include: 26-car rail train and locomotive, work crews, mechanic

Tie hauling automatic trucks,

trucks, tie distribution rail spikers,

straddle buggies,

miscellaneous equipment,

fuel trucks, light plants, welding busses.

pickup trucks, and transportatioI

Primary ballast The next major operation in railroad construction is the installais composed of

tion of the final or primary ballast. crushed rock which will be obtained quarry near Guernsey. The limestone

The primary ballast

from the Burlington will require

Northern

limestone

crushing and screening. construction is placing

The last major operation and tamping the primary ballast. ballast

in the railroad A ballast

train containing area.

from 15 to 25

cars will be pulled to the construction from the BN/Guernsey

For the BN/CNW line, 40 miles southeast Ballast is dumped

ballast will be obtained of Douglas

quarry located site.

and carried in ballast

cars to the project lifts. A ballast

from these cars in four- to six-inch and rails approximately

sled will raise the ties while simultaneously Sufficient ballast,

12 inches off the sub-ballast, lift.

smoothing and tamping the initial primary ballast

to give the track a final lift of two inches, will be applied by a second pass of the ballast to reraise train. An automatic tamping and lining machine will then be used

the track, tamp the ballast,

set it down and align the track the ties The

(Figure 10).

This lift of ballast will fill the cribs between to cover the shoulders

and will give enough excess ballast total depth of sub-ballast estimated

of the roadbed.

will be approximately

12 inches and will require an sidings and spurs.

total of 570,000 cubic yards for the mainline,

11-23

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II-28

Occasionally,

road relocation

may be advantageous for vehicles

to avoid unnecessary starting

crossings from

or to satisfy visibility

standards

across a crossing Figure 12

dead stops and for vehicles shows a typical Campbell County.

approaching located

at maximum

speed limits.

grade crossing

on the Amax Belle Ayr Mine spur line in of typical plank grade crossing.

Figure 11 shows details

Right-of-way

fences along most of the railroad from straying right-of-way to

Fences will be constructed prevent livestock

and big game animals standard

onto the railroad. fences and gates is shown will be similar to

Burlington in Figure hogtight

Northern's 13.

plan for right-of-way

Generally,

sheeptight

fence specifications

fences with suitable woven wire substitution will commence

for hogtight

wire fence.

Fence construction

prior to other construction

activities.

Miscellaneous

work and facilities of a ba11ast-shaper The-functions and cleanup crews which

Final work will consist follow the primary broom the ballast

ballast work units.

of these crews are to to contour the shoulders

from the ties and operate section.

the shapers

and dress up the ballast Track insulator and rail crossovers Traffic Control

crews will eventually

cut the rails at all switches

in order to prepare

the track networrk'for the Centralized transmitted

System which operates

in part from signals being

via the rails. Some of the following These include: Cattle guards at some grade crossings; Installation of signs, mileposts, and markers; appurtenances will be added to the BN/CNW line.

11-29

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11-31

Installation of hot-box detectors equipment detectors;

and dragging

Switches which can be cut into the main line to provide access to new spur lines or sidings; Crossing gates and other automatic signaling devices which can be installed in heavy traffic areas; Installation of Centralized Traffic Control Systems to operate and control major switches and signals. Campsites during construction. responsibility. the contractor condition and equipment Construction and material storage sites will be necessary the contractor's will require

storage is generally contract

Burlington maintain

Northern's

specifications

any campsites

or similar areas in a satisfactory

as to sanitation,

oil spills, quality of ground and surface water and conform to local, State and Federal

and other environmental Government regulations.

concerns,

Access roads, haul roads and construction will be necessary site. to transport men, equipment

roads to the work area to the construction or

and materials

These will be the contractor's is available

responsibilities.

No information

planning

as to these facilities. to facilitate

Some of these will probably and maintenance of the

remain after construction railroad.

operation

Other miscellaneous temporary highway temporary detours,

facilities

that are anticipated equipment

include facilities,

temporary

fences,

unloading signs.

and permanent

cattleguards,

gates and standard

Displaced

facilities It appears that no building or occupied houses will be displaced, facilities are within

however,

several abandoned homesteads and attached

11-32

the right-of-way facilities,

and may be displaced

by the railroad.

Utilities,

similar or relocated

county roads and private roads may have to be removed and operation of the railroad. Livestock

during construction voir dikes,

fences, reserthe railrelocated

irrigation

ditches and wells are noted as being within have to be either removed,

road right-of-way. or modified.

These will possibly

Hazard reduction

and protection are contemplated during construction.

Dust and fire control problems Temporary construction

roads, haul roads, and work areas are to be maintained graveling, is required chemical treatment or temporary pavement.

dust free by sprinkling, The contractor pertaining firefighting

to comply with all state and local laws of fire and is to furnish for fire suppression. construction

to the prevention, equipment,

control and fighting and personnel

supplies,

required

The construction

contractor

is also required and rubbish.

to maintain

and storage area free from waste material

Revegetation

and erosion control revegetation areas. of the rail line right-of-way following construction. not used plan is contemplated for the railroad right-

The following

of-way and other disturbed Revegetation

of those portions

for the actual track structure will be completed Where it is practical, in such a manner

topsoil to be removed will be saved following construction.

that will allow it to be replaced

This will provide for higher fertility germination. Recommendations determine

levels and a better

seedbed for

made by soil testing laboratories of fertilizer 11-33

are to be used to

the analysis and quantity

needed to obtain desired

soil fertility Fertilizer

to insure a good stand of grass in the area to be seeded. will be made by spreader or aerial application. The

application

type of equipment

used will depend on the topography the right-of-way~ consultation a mixture

of the area to be seeded. of grass species is Department of the

For reseeding contemplated. University determine Further

with the Agronomy

of Wyoming~

Soil Conservation

Service & U.S. Forest Service will the optimum benefits.

the mixture which will produce The selection

of grass species for the area to be seeded will be of obtaining maximum benefit from the limited rainfall

made with the objective available in the region.

Seeding will be done in late fall to make best use of the limited moisture. moisture Snow which accumulates for seeding establishment. during the winter will provide early spring The annual spring precipitation to provide the vegetation is then

relied on for sufficient moisture to produce an acceptable

growth necessary affected

stand of grass which will not be adversely

by the windy or dry period of the year. Seeding is planned to be with drill type equipment seeder) to insure the seed is placed in the soil sufficiently available moisture application~ is applied for germination. (such as a brillion deep to utilize

On cuts and fills too steep for ground and covered with a mulch. The mulch

the seed will be broadcast to hold moisture

and reduce erosion by either wind or rain.

11-34

Railroad

Operations

Unit trains The principal will generally railroad use will be by unit coal trains. Unit trains

be made of 110 cars, however,

as few as 40 cars and upwards

to 300 car trains are possible.

The number of diesel units will vary from (locomotives positioned in of carry

four to seven with two or three slave units center of train). 100 tons of coal. Each railcar or "gondola"

has the carrying

capacity therefore,

The average unit train of 110 cars would, Most trains are kept together of transporting

11,000 tons of coal. solely for the purpose point of destination. utility

as a unit and operated mine to a specific company, the

coal from a particular

Coal cars may be owned by the mining company.

company or, in some cases, by the railroad of the purchaser upon loading

The coal becomes

the property

in the train.

A train of 110 cars and 5 diesel units would be 6,165 feet or roughly 1.2 miles in length. The average speed of the unit trains is anticiat this speed an average three minutes. unit train

pated to be 25 miles per hottr. Operating would pass a given point in approximately

Coal shipments The coal to be hauled from the Eastern Powder River Coal Basin over the proposed presented railroad is presented in Tables 3 and 4. These are approximate

by destination

and receiver,

mine origin, and including

tonnage to be shipped.

II-35

Table 3 Receiver Destination Area 1 Receivers: Iowa Illinois Indiana 1. 2. 3. 4. Interstate Power Co., Lansing, Ia. Iowa Power & Light, Council Bluffs, Ia. American Electric Power, Metropolis, Ill. American Electric Power, Sullivan, Ind.

Area 2 Receivers: Nebraska Colorado Kansas

1. 2. 3. 4.

Public Service of Colorado, Pueblo, Colo. Nebraska Public Power, Sutherland, Neb. Kansas Power & Light, Delia, Kans. Kansas City Power & Light, LaCygne, Kans.

Area 3 Receivers: Texas Oklahoma Arkansas Louisiana

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Southwestern Public Service, Amarillo, Tex. Southwestern Electric Power, Carson, Tex. Southwestern Electric Power, Siloam Springs, Ark. Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Muskogee, Okla. Gulf States Utilities, La. Middle South Utilities, Redfield, Ark.

Table 4 Tons in Thousands Mine Origin Amax Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 1974 1975 2500 2400 1976 5200 3900 1750 1977 7800 4400 1750 1978 11600 6400 3500 1979 12200 6400 3500 1980 12200 8900 3500

2000

ARCO

None 250 None None 1200 None None 2500 750 None None 4000 5000 5000 5000 6500 9000 9000 1000 1800 2500 1800 4250 1800 5000 1800 5000

Kerr-McGee

Peabody

Carter

11-36

Rail line capacities The proposed rail line will consist of 113 miles of single track along the route. train speeds of The theoretical

with 9 sidings located at ten to twelve mile intervals Assuming equal spacing of 12.5 mile intervals

and average

25 mph, trains could be dispatched capacity Assuming of the proposed a 365 operating

hourly from each end.

line would be 24 loaded and 24 empty trains per day. day year, the yearly transportation tons a year. However, capacity of the

rail line would be 96 million to and from different varying

uneven cycling of trains trains with

destinations,

smaller and larger capacity load and unloading

speeds, transportation

failures,

delays, and railThe rail the

road maintenance line saturation theoretical

would reduce rail line capacities point could be obtained

significantly.

on any given day long before

daily capacities

are reached.

Work force The increase an additional of unit train shipment of coal from Wyoming will require The nature of railexclusively

railroad work force as new trains are added. dictates that only a few individuals

road employment

would be working

with coal trains, the levels of employment related to the number

in most crafts will be directly

of coal trains that were in operation. approximate number of Wyoming and those additional are based partially jobs presently jobs that will be on announced on estimates is

Table 5 estimates

created by unit coal train operations created by 1980. contracts between The 1980 projections coal companies for Wyoming

and utilities coal, assuming

and partially

of available allowed

markets

that its development

to continue

on an economic basis and that facilities

will be loca~ed

as now planned.

11-37

Table 5 Employment Related to Unit Coal Train Operations

Wyoming Residents Present Force
5

Craft Engine Men Conductors

Additional Force by 1980 30 75 10 5 5

Total 1980 Projection 35 85 16 5 5 72 10 10 232 Transportation

& Trainmen

10

Agents-Operators Clerks Carmen and Other Mechanical Maintenance Signalmen Supervisory Total Source: Burlington Company Northern
20

of Way

5

67 10 10 212 and North Western

Inc./Chicago

Accidents Major and minor derailments Derailments involving unit coal trains will occur. and road failure, track

are caused by human error, equipment, on the track, dragging equipment,

flaws, obstacles During derailment right-of-way. railroad

and erosion of roadbeds.

the cars will either remain upright or dump coal along the coal would be salvaged. Equipment loss would be by the The railroads would

Dumped

companies

should the cars be lost or damaged. for damage to private collisions

also be responsible

or public property

due to derailment.

Some vehicular

will inevitably

occur due to the length heavy unit train

of track, number of railroad

crossings

and the anticipated

II-38

traffic. expected

Some livestock to occur.

and wildlife

collisions

with

trains would

also be

Unit

train emissions Exhaust emissions from diesel Information locomotives as to exhaust 5 locomotives may be extensive stack emissions in the from an (HP) and

vicinity assumed

of the railroad. typical unit

train containing in Table 6.

of 3,000 horsepower

110 cars is contained locomotive

The fuel consumption

for a 3,000 HP diesel

is 5.0 gal/hr at idle and 152 gal/hr More detailed information EPA average is available locomotive

at full load. for various emission and different based on Diesel to reduce types

of locomotives; nationwide

however,

factors

statistics

were used to calculate are engaged in research

emissions

per unit train. programs

engine manufacturers both visible production

and development

emissions

and exhaust

gas contaminants retrofit

on current

and future engines.

engines

and developing

components

for existing

11-39

Table 6 Average Locomotive Emissions Per Unit Train Average Locomotive Emission Factors Lb/l03 gal. Particulates Sulfur Oxides (SOx as S02) Carbon Monoxide Hydrocarbons Nitrogen Oxides (NOx as N02) Aldehydes (as HC HO) Organic Acid 25 57

*

Average Locomotive Per Unit Train/Per Lb/Per Trip 121 277

Emissions Round Trip

**

130 94 370

633 457 1801

5.5

27

7

34

* **

Assumes

train of 110 cars and 5 locomotives

at 3,000 HP the distance empty and

Assumes round trip of 4.3 hours with one-half one-half loaded.

Source:

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Water Programs, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Research; Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors, EPA Bulletin No. 42

II-40

Noise Unit train noise function of distance level which is heard at a specific location location is a

between

the railroad, levels

of and number In most

of cars cases

and locomotives,

and the noise noise levels

from each source. (Table 7).

trains have higher

than do trucks

Table

7

Noise Level Vehicle Railroads a. b. c. Trucks a. b. c. Source: Light Medium Heavy Duty Diesel, Freight Electric, Cars Cars Locomotives (Decibels--50 ft. from Vehicle)

88 - 98 80 - 94 80 - 90

Passenger

70 - 85 80 - 89 85 - 95
Your Government and the Environment-Reference, Vol. 2-S. Output Systems

Kerber, Matthew J. 1973/74. A Supplemental Environmental Corporation.

Unit and amount involved.

train frequencies

will have a direct bearing noise

on the constancy

of noise nuisance

as well as the ambient

level of the area

II-4l

Fire occurrence Fires along railroad and maintenance locomotive rights-of-way originate from both operation

of the rail line. hot-boxes,

These fires can be caused by sparks from brake-shoes, and maintenance crew operations. make wayside Public roles as the

emissions,

Accumulations

of combustible

spilled coal along the right-of-way rail line.

fires more of a concern along the proposed Service Commission on railroad

The Wyoming

has issued general order No. 41, imposing Railroads and lightning

fireguard

operations.

have been identified Counties. in Converse

two main causes of fire within Campbell and Converse table (Table 8) represents Counties as reported recorded fire occurrence

The following and Campbell

by Clarke-McNary

(CM2) cooperating

counties.

Table 8 Fire Occurrence Campbell and Converse Counties*

1971 through 1973 Campbell. County Identified Cause Railroad Lightning Other Total No. of Fires 1972 1973 17 32 30 79 26 23 20 69 Acres Burned 1973 1972 961 8,030 1,015 10,006 238 3,013 184 3,435

1971 21 17 11 49

1971 664 21,960 2,066 24,690

II-42

Converse Identified Cause Railroad Lightning Other Total No. of Fires 1973 1972 11 8 4 23 Division 6 7 1 14

County Acres Burned 1972 1973 1,801 140 5 500 1,946 16 4 12

1971 22

1971 499

4
2

1

28 State Forestry

*

Wyoming

Note:

These statistics are considered inconclusive by the State Forestry It is estimated that another 20 percent to 30 percent of Division. all fires are unreported.

Total railroad Converse 120 miles.

trackage within

Campbell County is 56 miles and per mile of track for the recorded for Campbell County and 0.11 fires/

Average

fire frequency

three-year

period would be 0.38 fires/mile

mile for Converse County. Where conditions of track. necessitate, fireguards are installed on both sides

Current methods used for fireguard

construction

involve use of either Retention type spark

a disc plow or dozer or aerial application arrestors arrestor

of herbicides.

are being installed on all diesel locomotive installation program is to be completed

units.

A spark

in 1974.

During the fire season, This additive is

a fuel oil additive

is added at all diesel fueling stations. carbon buildup and elimination

specific in preventing

of exhaust sparking. Turbo-

The use of this chemical additive was initiated three years ago. chargers also act as spark arrestors. train locomotives will be turbo-charged It is anticipated in the future.

that most unit

II-43

Weed control Noxious weed control along railroad rights-of-way by chemical means

is a general practice All chemical

to comply with legal and safety regulations. compounds presently used are rated at least a No.4 Burlington Northern uses the Amine

rating on the USDA's Toxicity form of the chemical,

Rating Chart.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic

Acid for the control of

broad leaf weeds and is used at the rate of 2 to 4 pounds acid per acre dependent upon weed species. A combination of 2,4-D, and 2,4,5-T (Tri-

chlorophenoxy-acetic

acid) is used for the control of woody plants or brush Both

species, and is used at the rate of 6 to 9 pounds acid per acre. formulations

are diluted with water and applied at the rate of 50 to 300 infestations. Equipment used varies from

gallons per acre of right-of-way 5-gallon back-pack sprayers,

to 200-500 gallon capacity and sprayguns.

portable

sprayers

complete with 50 foot hose--reels June and July. Two procedures

Application

takes place in

are employed

for the treatment

of roadbed ballast.

On primary main tracks, siding, house and industry railbound spraycars equipped with either gasoline

tracks, company-owned or diesel powered chemical engines,

pumps and spray booms use the above-described under pressures patterns required varying

diluted

spray solutions upon spray

from 8 to 30 pounds p.s.i., depending compounds are pre-diluted employed.

(
employed. to conform Chemical or tank mixed as These chemical the area where similar compounds and to the chemical compound

combinations

are employed after actual testing within conditions are known to exist. contractor

soil and climatic formulations

All chemical

are furnished

by railroad

which furnished to useage.

the pre-

diluted formulation

in tankcar lots to correspond

The contractor

11-44

provides employed

a licensed

and experienced

supervisor

to accompany

each spray unit

in these programs. Off-track truck spraying units equipped with a 1,500 gallon tank,

mechanical

agitation,

engine, pump and spray booms apply from 30 to 50 gallons spray patterns. Chemical combinations

of spray solution employed

per acre under prescribed All chemical

are pretested.

compounds

are furnished

by the contractor on each truck

who employs properly unit. house,

licensed

and experienced is normally

operator/supervisor to branch

This type of equipment industry,

confined

lines, sidings,

yard tracks, and all major yards and/or terminals. Northern chemical formulation for primary main

In 1973 Burlington tracks consisted

of the following: Krovar Amizol Banvel 1 (80% material) (90% material) 720 chemical

5.00 lbs. Dupont's 2.00 lbs. Amchem's

0.50 gal. Velsicol's

0.25% by volume - Triton X-114 surfactant 0.50 pint - Nalco's Water sufficient solution applied E-l02 Drift Inhibitor fifty (50) gallons of diluted spray

to produce

at the rate of fifty planned

(50) gallons per acre. in 1974 with

It is tentatively the following replace material two exceptions:

to follow the same formulation

(a) One (1) gallon of Amchem's

Amdon 101 will 80 percent

the Banvel

720 and (b) six (6) pounds of Dupont's the Krovar 1.

Karmex

•

will replace

The 1973 Wyoming Legislature railroad rights-of-way

passed Enrolled Act 34 wherein annually by a team comprised

all of

would be inspected

11-45

Wyoming

State District

Forester

Representative,

County Warden or County which team will

Commissioner prescribe

Representative

and Railroad

Representative,

plowed

or sterilized

fire guards

(1 side), plowed or sterilized (1 side), burn right-of-way both sides) herbicide treatment

fire guards

(both sides), burn right-of-way right-of-way (lor (lor

(both sides), sterilize of right-of-way

for fuel reduction

both sides). are: Hoary (3 species).

In the State of Wyoming Field Bindweed, Cress, Russian

primary weeds listed as noxious Perennial

Leafy Spurge, Canada Thistle, Knapweed, Horse Nettle, crossings

Sow Thistle,

Quackgrass

and Wild Mustard

The right-of-way maintenance procedures

are mowed in accordance sight distance

with normal

to maintain

proper

of all public to

road crossings safe operation

and other locations. of trains, maintenance

Weed and brush growths are harmful of right-of-way equipment

and personnel

whose duties compel them to travel or work on railroad

rights-of-way.

11-46

Railroad Abandonment the foreseeable potential

Abandonment railroad line is remote coal deposits and not within that exist and the

of the proposed

future because

of the extensive

use of this line by Burlington existing rail lines. where

Northern,

Inc. as an interconnecting of the rail lines and at depths subject to

route between

Eventual

relocation

spurs may be necessary surface mining.

they overlie

coal deposits

There are several to abandonment. of the trackage

factors

which

are contemplated

by the railroad

prior

In the case of the Douglas-Gillette by the railroad in furtherance

line, profitability carrier

and use obliga-

of their common

tions are considered. such as other would

Use of this line for other industry

than unit coal train traffic and abandonment

rail oriented

may be of significance

not be considered. Under existing law, it would be necessary for the railroad to initiate company to

make application proceedings.

to the Interstate

Commerce

Commission Commerce The legal whether

abandonment

Section

1(18) of the Interstate rail line abandonments.

Act, 49 USC 1(18), standard applied by the

49 Stat. 543 governs Interstate approved necessity. Commerce

Commission

in determining

the abandonment convenience

will be and

or denied

is one of the present

or future public

If abandonment the track and structures be left in place

is approved are removed

by the Interstate and salvaged.

Commerce

Commission, may

Bridges

and culverts

at the request

of adjacent

landowners

who assume

responsibility

for the maintenance to adjacent

of these structures. for purchase.

Railroad

right-of-way

may be offered

landowners

Removal company perform forces

of track and structures is awarded

is either accomplished to private equipment contractors. and qualified

by railroad Contractors personnel who

or a contract

this type work have the necessary

11-47

to adequately The primary

assure

the job is completed without between

damage to adjacent

landowners. utili-

consideration

company forces and a private

contractor

zation for removal

of trackage at another

is that if the track and structures location~

can be util-

ized by the railroad

the rail line is salvaged.

11-48

CHAPTER II DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT of the environment analysis along

This chapter describes the railroad

only those attributes

route that are not described statement.

in the regional Additional

(Chapter IV,

Part I) of this environmental components

data on all environmental

are found in that chapter.

Air Quality The proposed l13-mile alignment of the railroad Intrastate Present (proposed route) is

located in the Casper Intrastate Regions. (See Figure 2, Chapter

and Wyoming II, Part I.)

Air Quality Control air quality along this

route is typical of that of the Eastern Ambient quality programs Mitigating air quality standards are given in Tables

Powder River Coal Basin of Wyoming. for national and State of Wyoming air

1, 2, and 3 of Chapter VI, Part I,

Measures.

11-49

Topography The topography relatively monotonous along the proposed railroad route can be termed a to gently sloping plains occacreating

expanse of broadly rolling

sionally broken by major drainages areas of moderate ages are moderate Adjacent

that have cut into the landscape,

to steeply sloping terrain. to steeply sloping depending

Alluvial plains of these drainon the width of the drainage.

to and flanking many drainages dissecting

are narrow bands of sharply undulating side drainages. There are no outstand-

hills formed by the numerous ing topographic

features with the exception

of a few buttes and escarpments

located in the vicinity

of the railroad route.

The route has been divided into several areas of similar topographic characteristics exception which are described below. The proposed railroad, with the of the

of the Shawnee Creek area located at the southern extension grain along the entire route.

route, crosses the topographic

The topographic

areas are listed from north to south.

Belle Fourche

area relief for a short drain-

This area exhibits a greater amount of topographic distance than any other area traversed by the railroad.

Two significant

ages are crossed,

the Belle Fourche River and Caballo Creek. narrow valleys

Both streams flow and in the

from west to east and are located in relatively short intermediate

slopes and overflow plains or alluviated valley floors. slopes and are dissected patterns. by

Flanking hills rise sharply from the intermediate many steeply graded side drainages

that form dendritic

The interand

vening hills after the intial rise from the valley floors are irregular of moderate slope.

II-50

Hiligh t area This area exhibits low, rolling hills grading area is Hilight. this point. little topographic relief and consists mainly of The highpoint of this

to gently sloping areas.

There is a gradual rise from both the north and south to route cuts across the upper reaches which add little to the topographic of Black Thunder relief. Several is

The railroad

Creek and its tributaries,

small closed basins form playas or "dry lake beds."

Road construction

similar to the Bill area where roads are located in a straight graphic avoidance relatively is not necessary. line without

line since topo-

Some roads may run up to 24 miles in a topographic the western obstruction. Several

straight

encountering

clinker capped buttes and subdued hills border route.

edge of the railroad

Antelope

Creek-Cheyenne The topography

River area changes sharply from nearly flat to a significant deep-cut side drain-

amount of topographic

relief, being dissected by numerous,

ages and sharply incised valleys. reaches of these drainages incised into the landscape. steep embankments, south.

The route crosses this area at the lower become more deeply with sharply cut, trending west and

and in an area where streambeds Stream channels are meandered in a dendritic pattern

and are arranged

The intermediate

slopes rise at moderately

steep angles to the surround-

ings hills. The Antelope Creek Valley itself is a flat broad alluvial relief becomes somewhat subdued. floor. To the

the south the topographic Cheyenne River drainage

Upon entering

the topography becomes much gentler

than the Antelope

Creek area.

II-51

Bill area This area exhibits very little topographic broad, hills. situated relief which varies sloping surfaces from between

level flats to gently rolling hills and gentle, Visibility is unobstructed,

and a person can see for several miles if

on one of the higher areas. Roads and trails may be located in straight lines of over 12 miles.

Lightning

Creek area The topography of this area is created by large numbers of drainages and

that are tributaries Box Creek.

of Lightning

Creek and Walker Creek, Little Lightning hills in the south to

This area varies rolling

from sharply undulating

a more broadly

area in the north.

The hills along the railroad valleys are deep when compared

route are moderately to the Bill area.

steep and the intervening

Shawnee Creek area The railroad broad alluviated valley route follows that narrows Shawnee Creek which is located in a short, rapidly at its northwestern point. The hills. The

valley has a moderately alluvium

steep grade flanked by sharply rising hills. to the surrounding

slopes rise gently from the creek bottom

Shawnee Creek flows southeastward tracks between

into the North Platte river. and Burlington Northern

The connecting Railroads are

the Chicago North Western

located on the broad level alluvium

of the North Platte valley.

II-52

Soils The proposed graphic landforms railroad right-of-way crosses many different physioThis

and various

soil types in a north to south direction.

right-of-way

will cross nearly

2,400 acres of land and eight soil associations A. Table 8, Soil InterIV, Part I, lists soil

which are identified pretations

and located on Map 7, Appendix Soil Associations, suitabilities

for Regional

of Chapter

characteristics,

properties,

and limitations. right-of-way, like many other soils from material weathered

Soils situated within of the semiarid

the proposed

part of the Great Plains, have developed shallow over bedrock. is usually

in place and are generally the slightly

On the gently rolling uplands,

altered bedrock

not less than 36 inches below the suris about 20 to 30 inches; overlies the slopes.

face; on the more rolling

lands, the depth to bedrock

and on steep slopes, only a few inches of soil or soil material partially weathered bedrock. Outcrops

of rock are common on the steepest the soil associations The soils sloping,

The individual considerably within

soil series that makeup

vary

in many internal and external vary widely,

characteristics. from the gently

the right-of-way

ranging

deep, loamy soils to shallow,

rocky soils of the steeper slopes. in shale--are

Some soils

are very sandy and clayey, while others--formed extensively. Some have cool soil temperatures e.g., the haploborolls. no organic of the soils control enriched

clayey and occur

and thick, black surface layers Others have much warmer tem-

rich in organic matter; peratures and essentially The properties content

surface layer; e.g., the Natrargids. their temperature and moisture and behavior.

(including

at critical periods)

their land use capabilities content, shallow rooting

Properties

such as low soil moisture

zone, high sodium

II-53

content, or steep slopes limit uses and exert a strong influence wind and water erosion, revegetation Past erosion has removed soil associations turbance increases 11, 13, and 20. and construction of roads.

on productivity,

the thin layer of topsoil down to bedrock Removal of vegetative

in

cover and surface dis-

the erosion potential right-of-way.

and loss of soil for the entire 113-

mile length of the proposed

Soils located within that are determined of geologic material and temperature

the right-of-way

have unique sets of properties (1) the nature

by many aspects of the setting, including: from which they weathered; runoff,

(2) the seasonal precipitation and the biota in a in prop-

as they influence

infiltration,

given kind of soil material;

(3) the plants,

animals, and micro-organisms by the chemical and physical soil, influence

and on the soil that not only are determined erties and climatic parameters organic material, of the forming

the soil by adding the bases; of

mixing and loosening that influences

the soil, and redistributing

and (4) the landform surface water. qualities

the amount of runoff or accumulation the right-of-way

Thus, the soils developed within their suitabilities revegetation

have unique

that determine

and limitations

for use in roadbed

construction,

fill material,

and erosion control. different soil

A soil association taxonomic units the landscape.

consists of two or three distinctly in a regular repeating because

(soil series) occurring The soil associations

pattern upon

were developed

adequate basic soil series

soil data is not available occurring within

to locate or identify

the individual

the right-of-way. potentials, and suitabilities of the different kinds

The productivity,

of soil may vary widely on a small scale, but on a larger scale, the pattern

II-54

of occurrence limitations lamation

of the soils enables

the land user to identify

suitabilities9

and potentials

of the soil for construction9

rehabilitation 9 rec-

and land treatment practices. The narrative discussion of soil association of the landscape is designed to give a

reasonably

vivid and concise picture

and its soils9 geologY9 potentials9 to provide a description in and

climate9 vegetation9 limitations. general

current use9 and general productivitY9 is given to a discussion of landform

Emphasis

impression

of the nature of the area.

A complete narrative railroad

of the soil associations Chapter ciations IV9 Part I.

crossed by the proposed railroad

is presented

The proposed

right-of-way

will cross soil assobelow. It should are subject

19 39 59 89 119 139 14 and 209 which are discussed and boundaries

be noted that the acreages to change as detailed The proposed association 1.

for each soil association

soil data becomes railroad

available. 50 acres in soil

route will occupy approximately

These soils occur in broad alluvial valley Although

floors and flood to

plains along rivers and major streams. flooding during

these soils are susceptible yielding

spring and early summer9 they are highly productive9 The potential wind erosion hazard

about 19400 to 29500 lbs/acre. vegetative cover is removed. Approximately the right-of-way.

is high if

975 acres of soil association

11 will be occupied by to steep uplands

These soils occur on moderately

sloping

II-55

underlain by shale and dissected by numerous swell potential ranges from moderate to high.

small drainages. Productivity

The shrink-

is medium, yielding

about 850 to 1,500 lbs/acre. vegetative

Potential wind and water erosion is very high if

cover and surface is disturbed. Soil association 13 occupies a narrow band along the mountain foothills

and stream terraces that are gullied and broken by rock outcrops. road right-of-way ductivity

The railPro-

will occupy nearly 150 acres of this soil association.

is low to medium, yielding about 850 to 2,000 lbs/acre. to severe if vegetative cover is removed.

The erosion

hazard is moderate

Approximately the right-of-way. and are developed alkali panspots.

440 acres of soil association

14 wilJ be occupied by

These soils occur on nearly level to gently sloping lands in alluvium. Productivity They are saline, impervious is low, yielding to water and contain Erodi-

450 to 1,200 lbs/acre.

bility is high if the protective

cover is removed. will occupy approximately 735 acres

The proposed railroad right-of-way of soil association 20.

These soils occur on rolling to steep slopes that are The soil depth is shallow (less than 10")

dissected by many small drainages. and moderately lbs/acre. alkaline.

Productivity

is medium, yielding 1,000 to 2,100 to wind and water erosion if the

These soils are highly susceptible cover is removed.

surface protective

Approximately

50 acres of soil associations

3, 5, and 8 will be

occupied by the right-of-way. upland ridges and sidehills. 450 to 1,400 lbs/acre. surface is disturbed.

These soils occur on rough broken lands, steep Productivity ranges from low to medium yielding

Susceptibility

to wind and water erosion is high if the

II-56

Tables 10 thru 28 of Appendix and limitations/suitabilities each of the soil associations.

C provides additional revegetation,

physical,

chemical

for construction,

topsoil, etc. for

II-57

Mineral The railroad from early Tertiary

Resources rocks that range in age and Holocene. of

route crosses sedimentary

(Paleocene)

through Pleistocene

Most of the route is upon Paleocene sandstone, coal. siltstone, claystone,

and Eocene strata composed

and shale with many beds of subbituminous

Middle

and upper Tertiary rocks occur near the south end of the route. covers many valley floors, and local areas of divides. Holocene

Pleistocene Pleistocene alluvium

stream alluvium windblown

sand occur on some of the interstream

is found along modern stream channels, many of which are entrenched alluvial valley floors. and Tertiary rocks are best known, with respect lithology, petrography, and engineering and Holocene to

in the Pleistocene

The Cretaceous their areal distribution, istics. The Quaternary

character-

units, of both Pleistocene

ages, are not

well known. tributaries,

Except for a few areas along the Belle Fourche River and its they have not been mapped. Their age, distribution, observations and character-

istics are known only from scattered personal

and by extrapolation

from other areas in the High Plains and Rocky Mountains

(Osterwald 1974).

Folds The route of the proposed railroad River Basin syncline, angles. is on the east limb of the Powder at low

so that beds along most of the route dip westward

Beds dip more steeply near the margin

of the basin, in the vicinity

of Orin Junction

and Shawnee; dips of as much as 110 to the north and south route (U.S. Geological Survey 1972).

occur at the south end of the railroad

Dips of as much as 300, toward the north and south, occur about seven miles west of Orin Junction, near the Burlington Northern station at Foster. Several small

II-58

folds trend northeastward

near Orin Junction

and Shawnee.

Other variations

in

strike and dip may be encountered Western mainline. the proposed

along the wye connection

to the Chicago North

No other folds are known at the surface along the route of although subsurface folds probably exist in rocks below

railroad,

the coal bearing

sequence

(U.S. Geological

Survey 1961, pp. 337-390).

Faults Faults are known only at the south end of the railroad the Powder River Basin and the Hartville unmapped, southern may be encountered uplift. route between

Other small faults, as yet

along the route, similar to faults known in the (U.S. Geological Survey 1961, 1972).

Powder River uranium district

Joints There are no known detailed studies of the attitudes and spacings of of

joints in the Eastern Powder River Basin (Leggett 1939). joint directions along the railroad

Some predictions

route can be made by inference Throughout

from other large areas

areas in the Powder River Basin and the Great Plains. of the Great Plains in eastern Nebraska ing northwest and the other northeast, in nonresistant two prominent cut resistant

joint sets, one strikrock units at the surface

and can be detected Similarly,

rock units on aerial photographs. on aerial photomosaics of

a northeast-trending

set can be detected

a large area of the Powder River Basin east of Buffalo, Wyoming. probably 1961). will be encountered along the railroad route

Similar trends Survey

(U.S. Geological

Seismicity Eastern Wyoming, zone 1 (Osterwald 1974). including the Powder River Basin, is in seismic risk of intensity V or greater have been

Four earthquakes

II-59

recorded.

Although

epicentral

locations

of the early earthquakes

probably

are

very poorly known because

of lack of instrumentation occurred

and very sparse populathe Powder River

tion, all of these probably Basin on the south.

along faults bordering

No earthquakes alignment.

are known to have occurred near the north-

ern part of the railroad A description

of the geologic

formations

that outcrop

along the pro-

posed route is given in Chapter

IV, Part I.

Coal resources Many coalbeds western alternate route crop out near the proposed (generally railroad route and the Other coalbeds

to the east of the routes). route.

crop out in the vicinity are minable valuable

of the eastern alternate conditions,

Many of these beds

under present economic resources.

and most must be considered are enor-

potential

The reserves are between

of coal along the routes Bill and VJyodak. About

mous, but the largest reserves

350 feet

of coal, some of it in beds 100 feet thick, occurs in about 2,500 feet of stratigraphic presently million section in the Gillette coal at two places, area. The proposed route crosses about 161

minable

the right-of-way

covering

tons of coal buried under less than 200 feet of overburden.

Oil and gas fields Many oil and gas fields are near the railroad route crosses the large Hilight Oil Field. routes and the proposed

Uranium

deposits A few small uranium deposits, both disseminated deposits in sedimen-

tary rocks and small veins along joints and faults, are known near the southern end of the proposed railroad route. Most of these deposits are in T. 32 N.,

11-60

R. 69 W. seminated

Ore was produced type.

from two of these, one of vein type and one of disincluding the disseminated one from

Two of the deposits,

which ore was produced,

are in the Tullock ~1ember of the Fort Union Formation; Formations. Although other

the others are in the vfuite River and Arikaree deposits of uranium may be discovered

in the future along the railroad routes,

they probably will also be small.

Sand and gravel Sand and gravel for construction the railroad purposes is scarce in the area of to supply present

route, and in some places is barely sufficient

local needs for concrete aggregate.

The only kno~m sand and gravel deposits of the North Platte River Creek locally condiameter.

along the route occur in the channel and floodplain at Orin Junction. tain pebbles

Small ridges and benches along Lightning

of granite and quartzite

up to two inches in maximum

Sand deposits, in diameter, Deposits

in which the largest particles

are about a quarter of an inch Dry, and Sand Creeks.

occur in the stream channels of Antelope,

of sand and gravel occur principally part of the railroad

along small stream terraces near occur along tribu-

the northern

route, and other deposits

taries and in the headwaters are eight to ten feet thick. some sandstone, percent Another

of the Belle Fourche River. Pebbles

Some of these deposits limestone, with about 45

in the gravel are mostly and chert.

limonite, quartzite,

The gravel contains

sand, and lenses of fine sand are interbedded deposit near the point where the proposed

with coarse gravel. the Belle Fourche

route crosses

was about three to four feet thick and contained about 2,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel in 1946. Another deposit, two to three feet thick, near the

point where the western alternate in 1946; it contained Geological

route crossed the Belle Fourche, was mapped (U.S.

about 1,500 cubic yards of sand and fine gravel

Survey 1958). 11-61

Water Resources Supply Ground water resources shallow aquifers Arikaree in alluvium along the proposed right-of-way as Wasatch, include Fort Union,

and in such formations

and White River.

Most of the route is underlain

by the Wasatch the

Formation.

About 18 miles of the north end of the route, including

Amax spur, and about 18 miles near the center of the route from 4 miles northwest of Bill northward route with the mainline is underlain by the Fort Union. Both connections of the

east of Douglas are underlain

by the Arikaree--about

1-1/2 miles of the west leg of the wye and about 3 miles of the east leg. North of the Arikaree is the White River Formation which underlies about 4 The

miles of the west leg and only one mile of the east leg of the wye. north switch of the wye to 7 miles northward Fort Union. development All of these aquifers of water resources. will be underlain by the

are considered

to have potential

for quan-

(Detailed information

on the location,

tity, and quality of each aquifer is given in Chapter IV, Part I.) The proposed Fourche River) route begins near Caballo Creek (tributary (Amax spur) and proceeds to Belle cross-

at the north terminus

southerly

ing the upper Belle Fourche River and its tributaries, tributaries, and finally Shawnee Creek, a tributary

upper Cheyenne River

to North Platte River, at since most than perennial.

the wye of the south terminus.

Surface water supplies are limited or intermittent rather

streams crossed by the route are ephemeral

Such streams flow only as a result of direct runoff from snowmelt or rainfall. Beginning at the north terminus and proceeding south major streams which will

be crossed by the route include Caballo Creek, Belle Fourche River, Coal Creek, Little Thunder Creek, Porcupine Creek, Antelope Creek, Dry Fork Cheyenne River,

11-62

Dry Creek, Box Creek, Lightning

Creek, and Shawnee Creek. 12 bridges

Drainage

structures

for the l13-mile route include approximately ous sizes. an easterly With the exception direction

and 220 culverts of vari-

of Shawnee Creek all of the major streams drain in

into the South Fork Cheyenne River which flows eventually

into the Missouri, River in South Dakota.

Quality Chemical analyses of ground water from alluvium show dissolved solids

range from about 500 to more than 2,000 milligrams commonly range between 1,000 and 1,500 m~/l.

per liter

(mg/l), but more contains dissolved

Wasatch water

solids from less than 500 to more than 2,000 mg/l, but commonly ranging between 500 and 1,500 mg/l. Fort Union aquifer analyses show dissolved solid ranges

from about 300 to more than 1,500 mg/l, but commonly between Dissolved while solids in waters of the Arikaree Formation

500 and 1,000 mg/l.

are mostly about 300 mg/l

those of the White River Formation

range from about 300 to more than

4,000 mg/l. The quality of water in the Cheyenne their tributaries in sediment is influenced and Belle Fourche Rivers and solids

by erosion and the amount of dissolved flood runoffs.

transported

during intermittent to moderate

Both sheet and Since

channel erosion contribute

sediment

loads in most streams.

large amounts of the eroding soils are shale-derived solids, runoff waters are estimated

and high in dissolved solids

to contain a range of total dissolved

(TDS) of 200 to 3,000 mg/l for the Belle Fourche River, and from 1,000 to 4,000 mg/l for the Cheyenne River. TDS values normally go down as volume of flow rates for streams mile/year

goes up and increase when flows get smaller. crossed by the route are estimated to as much as 1.0 acre-foot/square

Sedimentation

to range from 0.15 acre-foot/square mile/year.

11-63

Relationship

between

ground and surface water railroad route originate in the

All streams crossed by the proposed

plains of the semiarid Powder River Basin and are mainly ephemeral, as a result of direct runoff from snowmelt contribution of groundwater to streamflow or rainfall. Therefore,

flowing only there is no of

and, conversely,

little recharge

alluvium aquifers

from intermittent

streamflow.

Uses and rights Water uses will be limited to those described struction period. to be a problem Acquisition of the required for the two-year con-

amount of water is not considered

but must be in conformity with state water law.

11-64

Vegetation Terrestrial vegetation railroad occupying the area along the 113 miles and

2,400 acres of proposed grass route, type.

right-of-way communities

is predominantly are found along

a big sagebrush/ the proposed (#4)

Three broad vegetation 2,225 acres

but approximately

of the area are a shrub aspect-type A.) The two minor

dominated

by big sagebrush. of about type

(See map 8, Appendix of a greasewood

communiof

ties consist broadleaf plains

125 acres

type

(#5) and some 50 acres and flood-

forest

(#10), and both are limited crossed by the route. nonexistent

to the bottoms

of major

streams

Aquatic mainly ephemeral

vegetation streams

is almost

along

the route

since

are found

in the area.

11-65

Archeological The right-of-way

and Paleontological

Values

for the proposed railroad has not yet been intenvalues. It is not known how many nor where corridor. indicate a high Nineteen sites

sively surveyed for archeological the archeological

sites exist within the right-of-way sites recorded nearby

Archeological probability

(within 10 miles)

of sites occurring

inside the railroad right-of-way.

have been reported

on the Amax coal leases in a general archeological of Montana. A Kerr-McGee anthropology

surface expert

site survey by the University reports

sites in a general surface survey of that lease. of Wyoming (State Archeologist)

Dr. Frison from the site site

University

will soon begin an intensive and will finish intensive

survey of the proposed railroad right-of-way surveys of the Atlantic and Sun Oil leases.

He reports many sites from all

these units and one of high scientific value from the Sun Oil tract which was recorded during preliminary proposals (Frison 1974). Dr. Frison indicates railroad right-of-way are typologically that archeological evidence is strong along the All the materials field reconnaissance in preparation of research

but sites have not yet been discovered.

dated as early as 12,000 years ago. collections of Llano materials and the single Altithermal

The private site investigated cultures'

("Hawken" site -
 see Figure 36, Chapter IV, Part I) prove the in the Powder River Basin, possibly within 40 miles northeast the proposed

existence

right-of-way. route.

This site is approximately

of the proposed

II-66

Historical No historic routes sites or structures or spurs).

Values exist along the proposed railroad alternate route near

(main, alternates,

The Douglas Corridor

Douglas,

crosses a ISO-foot strip of the Bozeman Trail where erosion has eradiAll historic sites and buildings of the region

cated this segment of the trail.

are out of range of the railroad proposals. is 14 miles west of the proposed route.

Fort Fetterman

the nearest site

11-67

Aesthetics This is a description of the landscape along the proposed route from

its junction with the Amax spur south to where it meets the main line at Shawnee Creek. As the route leaves the existing The surrounding spur line and proceeds south, it climbs Vegetation is

a gentle incline. generally

terrain is gently rolling.

an even distribution

of sagebrush

and grass; with some exposed soil, As the route drops into the Belle The drainages As

part of which is the red clinker material. Fourche drainage, the landform becomes

a little more rugged.

are cut deeper, and there is a good deal more exposed red clinker material. the route proceeds up Coal Creek, the terrain becomes more gently rolling Through

again

with more sage and grass cover and less exposed soil.

the Hilight Oil sage and

Field, the land is generally very gently rolling with considerable grass cover, and many intrusions Much of the area is criss-crossed and gas wells. of ranching Immediately from oil and gas development

activities. oil pumps

by roads and pipelines with numerous

south of the Hilight gas plant there is a great deal the cover is almost entirely grass.

activity

and almost no sagebrush;

About two miles south of the Hilight and passes between material exposed.

gas plant the route climbs a gentle incline cone-shaped ridges with red clinker

several flat-topped,

After the route passes between

the cones, the terrain opens

into a very gently rolling cover of sage and grass. mostly of the low-growing topography continues

topography with less exposed soil and mostly good Drainages vegetation. are shallow and fairly stable. This evenly textured, Color is

gently rolling Creek and Creek, soil,

all the way down the route through Porcupine As the route approaches

into the Antelope

Creek drainage.

Antelope

there is less grass and more sage in the vegetation and still very gentle slopes.

with not much exposed

As the route climbs out of Antelope

Creek, sage

11-68

dominates

the vegetative

cover and there is quite a lot of exposed soil.

Here

the soil color is the soft brown tone, almost ocher yellow, which contrasts with exposed clinker material line. As the route crosses into the Dry Fork of the Cheyenne River, the drainages become steeper with sharply eroded cuts to the drainage bottom. patterns of sagebrush are more scattered, The along the red hills directly to the east of the

there is more grass, and much more along the ridges.

soil exposed.

There are quite a few more sandstone outcrops

The bottom of the Dry Fork drainage number of scattered cottonwood

is fairly wide in this location with a

trees. toward Bill, it

As the route climbs out of the Dry Fork drainage crosses State Highway 59. leaves the highway,

From this point south to where the route again

the landscape becomes very gently rolling with scattered The only intrusions and a number of

grass and sagebrush mixed almost equally in broad patterns. in this area are a major pipeline, roads. several minor pipelines,

There are a few farming and ranching operations

at the valley bottoms, Not much soil is

but very little to detract from the natural environment. exposed throughout cast to it.

this section, but what there is has a definite yellow ocher

Drainage bottoms are not nearly as deeply incised as those in the and they seem to be quite well healed. the terrain ridges on the

Dry Fork drainage,

As the route drops down into the Shawnee Creek drainage, again becomes steeper and more deeply eroded. Several flat-topped

flank the drainage on both sides, and a few scattered pines are visible ridges to the east. cottonwoods

The drainage bottom itself again picks up a few scattered a fairly gentle grade all the way down to the junction

and maintains

with the main line.

Due to the very gently rolling nature of the terrain along

11-69

the entire route, the very slight contrasts

in vegetative

patterns

and textures,

and the generally muted tones of the colors throughout values along this proposed

the area, the scenic

route are generally very low.

11-70

Wildlife Big game Pronghorn antelope With few exceptions. along the proposed route Bill is an especially road right-of-way

and Fish

the antelope is the most common big game animal five miles of

(Map 9. Appendix A); the area within area.

important wintering

The lineal nature of the railWinter concentration areas.

makes quantification

difficult.

such as the area near Bill. probably per square mile. Antelope population

support winter densities is believed

up to 50 animals at

to be stable and probably

or near the carrying

capacity

of the habitat. during

Important browse fall and winter months. grasses are utilized

species utilized by antelope particularly and rabbitbrush.

include big sagebrush

Forbs and

in spring and early summer.

The single most important

forage species is big sagebrush which also serves as cover during adverse weather and fawning. Extensive area. Antelope seasonal migration disperse by antelope are not traditional in this

seasonally

and often move several miles to more suitareas. The extent and significance of these

able winter ranges from surrounding movements

varies with the severity of the winter.

Mule deer Mule deer are found primarily broken along drainage courses and areas of In

topography where there is brushy cover (see map 10. Appendix A). topography provides suitable cover. Extensive

some areas broken

sagebrush-grass

regions with gentle topography few deer.

such as those making up most of the route support

11-71

Big sagebrush,

rabbitbrush,

skunkbush

sumac, and a variety

of forbs

provide most of the mule deer forage.

Other mammals Predators Little information No data on present populations control predator high fur prices tors economic populations on predator use of the railroad area is available. attempt to

or trends are available.

Ranchers

in the general area to some degree.

The currently give preda-

($30-40 for coyotes and fox and $80-100 for bobcat)

importance.

Rabbits Two species of hares (jackrabbits) and one species of rabbit jackrabbit (cotton-

tail) may be found along the route. common, but populations jackrabbits are present

The white-tailed

is fairly Black-tailed

vary in a more or less cyclic pattern. in small numbers in the general area.

The desert cottontail the jackrabbits, year. Cottontail populations densities

may be found along the entire route. vary considerably

As with

of cottontails are greatest

from year to

along drainage

courses which provide or trends for and cottontails are

more abundant cottontails

brushy cover.

No data on present populations are available. is light. Both jackrabbits

or jackrabbits

hunted, but hunter harvest

Rodents Although the presence of a variety of rodents is likely along the are available. Species

route, no data on densities, observed

trends, or distribution

in similar habitats within

a few miles of the route and, therefore, include the deer mouse, whitefooted mouse,

likely to occur along the railroad,

11-72

northern

grasshopper

mouse,

thirteen-lined

ground squirrel,

Ord's kangaroo

rat,

sagebrush vole, olive-backed vole

pocket mouse, western

harvest mouse,

and meadow

(Sun Oil Co., 1974, p. 74; Peabody Coal Co. and Panhandle The northern pocket gopher,

Eastern Pipeplains pocket prairie dog

line Co., 1974, pp. 75-82). gopher, least chipmunk,

porcupine,

black-tailed

prairie dog, and white-tailed

can be expected

to occur here. small numbers

TheCh~yenne of muskrats

and Belle Fourche Rivers and Anteand beaver.

lope Creek support

Bats No information available. concerning the presence of bats on the railroad is longbat, and

Species possibly Keen's myotis,

occurring

here include little brown,myotis, myotis, hoary bat, Townsend's

legged myotis, big brown bat.

long-eared

Upland game birds Sage grouse The entire route is habitat density is 5-8 grouse per square mile. brush for food and cover. (mating) and nesting areas. The proposed Available for sage grouse. Estimated sage grouse sage-

Sage grouse depend on abundant

route falls on or near crucial strutting data only partially delineates such areas.

Sage grouse are harvested

as a game species.

Sharp-tailed

grouse are found along the proposed grassland route. Where they with brushy cover route.

Few sharp-tails occur

(less than 5 per square mile), habitat.

in association

provides

Little or no hunter harvest

is likely from the railroad

11-73

Hungarian

(grey) partridge Hungarian partridge occur throughout consists the area in a wide variety scattered flocks. of

habitat

types.

The population is very low.

of small, widely

Harvest by hunters

Mourning

dove Little population data on the mourning dove is available. Doves nest for

throughout wintering. courses. harvest

the area during summer months Greatest nest densities A variety

and migrate

south out of Wyoming

are in riparian vegetation the diet of doves.

along drainage

of seeds comprise

No data on hunter

is available.

Waterfowl Waterfowl stockwater Waters ponds, habitat along the proposed the Cheyenne route is limited to a few small Creek.

and Belle Fourche Rivers,

and Antelope

in the general

area are used by waterfowl Larger permanent waters

as rest areas during spring and brood gadwell,

and fall migrations. rearing.

are used for nesting

Species most likely in the area are the eared grebe, mallard, teal.

and green-winged

Other birds Raptors The most common raptors legged hawk, and American kestrel. are red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, rough-

All of these species nest in the general area. During winter months, significant

area and forage over the railroad numbers of rough-legged

hawks, bald eagles, and golden eagles move into the from areas to the north where winters include the ferruginous are more severe.

general area, probably Species present

in lesser numbers

hawk, marsh hawk,

11-74

prairie falcon, great-horned with medium species.

owl, and short-eared

owl.

Drainage

courses

to large trees provide nesting habitat

for many of the raptorial

Prey species include various rodents, and insects. Most raptorial

cottontails,

jackrabbits,

birds,

species found here prey primarily

on small mammals.

Song birds The number of species of song birds present year probably exceeds 100. Almost no information of the railroad meadowlark, at various times of the of these

on the occurrence

species along specific sections common species are the western lark. The western meadowlark

is available.

Some of the more and the horned south

the lark bunting,

feeds primarily

on insects and most migrate

for winters.

Horned larks occur on the area throughout Lark buntings, also migratory,

the year, feeding on feed primarily on

insects and small seeds.

seeds while their young utilize The greatest densities

insects until fledging

(leaving the nest). courses

of birds at all seasons are along drainage provides greater habitat diversity.

where riparian vegetation

Fish Fish habitat along the route is limited to intermittent as the Cheyenne River, Belle Fourche River, Antelope Available information indicates streams such

Creek, and Caballo Creek.

that 10 to 15 species, mostly rough fish, may Included are the plains plains killfish, supplies and

be found in these streams flathead minnow, green sunfish,

(Baxter and Simon, 1970).

sand shiner, plains minnow, black bullhead,

creek chub, white sucker, and carp. suitability

Undependable

quality of water reduce overall

of this habitat.

11-75

Reptiles

and amphibians Several species of reptiles and amphibians have been identified within

a few miles of the proposed 1974, p. 60).

railroad

and in similar habitat

(Sun Oil Company eastern shorthorned

These include leopard frog, tiger salamander, snake, wandering populations

lizard, plains hognose Reptile and amphibian

garter snake, and prairie to be relatively

rattlesnake.

are believed

low.

Invertebrates Local insect populations grasshoppers, plant eaters, of spiders beetles, are abundant. Representative groups include most are A variety groups (No infor-

ants, wasps, bees, and butterflies. predators,

Although

some species are scavengers,

or parasites.

(mostly predators)

is also present.

Other invertebrate leeches, and snails.

likely along the railroad mation

include earthworms,

on species available.) streams.

All are most likely to be found along or in the

intermittent

Threatened Black-footed

species ferret ferret is on the D. S. Department (D. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries indicates of the Interior and Wildlife 1972

The black-footed list of endangered p. 289). Available species.

(

information

that prairie dogs are usually dog colonies the principal

the habitat.

primary food source for ferrets and prairie Some prairie dog colonies

are in the vicinity

of the railroad.

Peregrine

falcon This rare falcon may occur on the railroad area during periods of

migration

but is unlikely

at other seasons.

11-76

Prairie

falcon Relatively rare in Wyoming, route. Prairie this falcon has not been sighted in the falcons are known to be present area. in the

area of the proposed

Powder River Basin and likely forage over the railroad

11-77

Recreation The recreation minimal opportunities along the proposed route are rather

due to the high, windswept

ridges and hills.

This route also is of the Powder, high, unsheland

located at the heads of all major drainages Belle Fourche, and Cheyenne Rivers.

and tributaries

Because of this naturally

tered area (except for antelope), hunting wildlife or providing

less opportunity

exists for viewing

other forms of outdoor recreation. water is located -
 344,000 acres) days in 1973). the railroad. use. Local groups gem stones if (

The area east of this route, where some permanent consists of large blocks of public land (National Grasslands opportunities (31,600 recreation

with good recreation Additional

visitor

access to those lands will result from constructing and agriculture

Also, roads will be kept open for industrial Another contacted recreation interest

in the area is collecting. of collectible

indicated no significant

concentrations

and petrified

wood, but opportunities

to locate better sites is possible Construction

public access is protected railroad may be interesting

across the railroad. to the highway

of the proposed 59.

traveler along State Highway

11-78

Agriculture The railroad North Western landowners, route proposed by Burlington Northern 1nc./Chicago

Transportation

Company will cross lands owned by 50 private The right-of-way will cross

the State, and Federal Government. surface;

80.6 miles of private

9.2 miles owned by the State, 2 miles adminisand 20.9 miles administered by the

tered by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service.

Livestock

grazing Bureau of Land Management lands are leased to contiguous ranches

for grazing purposes fragmented adjoining

for periods

up to ten years.

These lands, due to the with

land pattern, private lands.

are usually

fenced with and used in conjunction

The Forest Service lands which the route would within the Thunder Basin National The proposed pastures Grasslands. lands included

cross, are located

route crosses

in 91 individually

fenced

and fields which are part of the land base for 39 ranching

operation~ oj

These ranch units derive the major portion of their income from the grazing cattle or sheep, or a combination or introduced tion. forage species. of both.

These fields contain either nativE

Over 90 percent of the land receives no irrigaalong the Belle Fourche River and hay fields arE area and north along Shawnee Creek.

There is subirrigation in the Shawnee-Fisher

irrigated

Farming The Powder River Basin is not noted for extensive and this is especially true along the proposed railroad farming activitie~ Some dryland

route.

farming activity is located along the route, notably

in the area of Bill.

11-79

Small grain production is marginal management probability year and demands is mandatory

is basically

limited

to wheat practices

and barley.

Production Soil

special management and summer

to be profitable. to reduce the

fallowing years.

is practiced Fields

of crop failure

in drier

are left fallow

every other

to increase

and conserve

soil moisture.

Strip farming

is also practiced

to reduce

erosion. Wheat yields average 16.5 bushels per acre and barley be grown along averages 19

bushels

per acre. averages

Some oats may occasionally about 20 bushels per acre.

the route averages

and

production averages

These yield the route.

are dryland

since no small grain

is irrigated

along

11-80

Transportation The general vicinity only one designated highway,

Networks railroad route is traversed by

of the proposed

State Highway 59. carrying

Traffic flow along the highway per day; but it is (Wyoming

is heaviest north of Reno Junction

1,120 vehicles

only lightly traveled at 380 vehicles State Highway Commission, 59 south of Reno Junction, is going on between 1972).

per day south of the junction.

Due to the light traffic flow along Highway to work

it appears that very little daily commuting The proposed railroad

the two counties.

route is planned

to cross Highway 59 at two points south of Reno Junction route plans one crossing. road undercrossings. Many numerous lesser unimproved Crossings are proposed

and each alternate via rail-

to be accomplished

and graded dirt roads throughout These roads a few

the area provide access to many oil fields and ranch operations. are to a large extent privately maintained although roads.

counties maintain The proposed

but unknown number of the more significant an estimated 50 of these lesser roads. available,

route crosses

Traffic flow figures on these roads be described as extremely

are not generally light.

but traffic can accurately

The proposed on Figure 82, Chapter pipelines not shown.

railroad

route crosses 4 of the major pipelines

shown

IV, Part I, and a limited but unknown number of lesser Major electric transmission lines in the area are shown

on Figure 83, Chapter IV, Part I.

11-81

CHAPTER III PROBABLE Construction will cause environmental of an estimated IMPACT OF PROPOSED ACTION and Douglas, Movement along the 18 bridges for use

of a l13-mile railroad between Gillette impacts along the line of construction. cubic yards of cut and fill material of an estimated 220 culverts,

15,000,000

main track and sidings, placement and overpasses, as subballast,

mining of 740,000 cubic yards of clinker material construction of access roads, construction

camps, reservoirs, environ-

drilling wells and other associated mental components. Primary and secondary Primary

activities will affect various

impacts will occur from railroad

construction.

impacts will take place onsite, in a linear fashion along and adjacent corridor. Secondary impacts will occur offsite and with employment operations. of conBy 1990

to the 2,400 acre railroad will be related

to population

increases associated personnel

struction workers an estimated railroad Basin.

and permanent

for railroad

2,700 increase

in population

will occur as a direct result of the Eastern Powder River Coal to coal exportation via

construction

and operation within

Other off site impacts will be related to distant places such as Lansing

the railroad

and Council Bluffs, Iowa; Oklahoma; and

Pueblo, Colorado; Amarillo Redfield, Arkansas.

and Cason, Texas; Muskogee,

Transportation

of coal to these locations will impact and populations. If new facilities

air quality,

transportation

networks,

are built to handle the rail transported

coal or if other modes

11-85

of coal transportation facilities

are contemplated, as appropriate

the environmental

impacts

of these

will be examined A major secondary

under federal and state law. from railroad construction within

impact resulting

the Eastern Powder River Coal Basin is development coal reserves. Coal development

and mining

of the vast basis

impacts are analyzed

on a regional

in Part I, and on a site specific basis in Parts III - VI of this statement. Impacts analyzed here relate track, l13-mi1e construction strictly to development of a single Spur

railroad, with nine sidings,

from Gillette

to Douglas.

is considered

part of mine development Assuming precise

and is covered under Parts no mechanical fail-

III - VI of this statement. ures and operating track is estimated on projected

scheduling, capacity

365 days per year, the maximum

of this single Based

to be 48 trains per day (24 loaded and 24 empty). of 48 million

coal exportation

tons per year by 1980 (24 trains tons

per day), 68 million

tons by 1985 (34 trains per day), and 93 million capacity

by 1990 (46 trains per day), the maximum reached until 1990. problems, However,

of the line would not be allowing for mechanical

in all practicality, and staggered

track maintenance,

scheduling,

the capacity will

probably be reached

sometime between

1980 and 1985.

When this occurs and a statement will

second track is required, need to be updated. adjacent

this portion provided

of the environmental

However,

the second track is located directly as analyzed here, will need only impact environ-

to the first track, the impacts, Construction

minor revision. mental others. components

of a second tract would probably and agriculture

of soil, water, vegetation

more than the

Air Quality Construction of the proposed rail line, involving of approximately disturbance of

2,400 acres during removal and hauling

15 million

cubic yards

11-86

of embankment,

will create dust and wind blown particulate Carbon monoxide (bulldozers,

matter which will oxide emissions used in

reduce air quality of the basin. from the various construction tion.

and nitrogen scrapers,

types of equipment

rollers)

activities will be increased dust and particulate of associated camps.

in the immediate

area of construc-

Additional

matter will be added to the atmosphere facilities such as access roads, powermaterial (grass, shrubs)

as result of construction lines, and construction will add pollutants Besides

Burning of right-of-way

to the air. the constant and dust

the dust created by human activities,

sometimes high winds experienced and wind blown dirt particles materials.

in this area will create additional

from the exposed fine grained

soils and parent

Dust will be produced

along haul roads, access roads, fill areas, for subballast.

cut areas, borrow pits and from mining of clinker deposits Air quality will be reduced for an approximate as a result of construction activities.

period of two years

Some dust will be created by wind areas are reand

action for a longer period of time or until all disturbed vegetated.

Some of the steeper and deeper cuts may never be revegetated source of wind created dust and soil particles. to the immediate vicinity

will remain as a constant Reduction

in air quality will be localized Where construction

of the 59, wind

rail line construction.

takes place near Highway

blown dust could reduce visibility accidents

and may increase probability

of traffic

during periods of high wind. Train emissions and coal dust created by loading facilities will

cause long term impact on air quality. and 110 cars) consumes an estimated coal. Assuming

Each unit train (five diesel units of

4,873 gallons of fuel per trainload

an average load of 11,000 tons per train, the 1980 exported

11-87

coal production of 21.3 million from burning

(48 million gallons

tons) would fuel.

require

4,364

trainloads annual

and combustion resulting

of diesel

The estimated

emissions 606 tons

this amount

of fuel is:

266 tons of particulates; oxides;

of sulfur dioxide;

3,937 tons of nitrogen

1,383 tons of carbon monoxProtection Agency 1973, by 1990 resulting tons

ide; and 1,000 tons of hydrocarbons Table 3.2.2-1). Forty one million 93 million gallons

(Environmental of diesel

fuel will be required annual emissions

to export

tons of coal.

The estimated

from burning

this amount

of fuel are:

513 tons of particulates; oxides;

1,170

of sulfur dioxide; ide; and 1,930

7,597 tons of nitrogen

2,669 tons of carbon monox-

tons of hydrocarbons. of these emissions on air quality effect, levels is indetermidegradation is

The impact nate. Because

of strong winds

and dilution

air quality will

not expected decrease

to be serious.

However,

these emissions

add to the overall

in air quality. Minor long-term impacts on air quality will result from use of wildfires

access started

roads

to maintain

the rail line and frequent (10 to 50 per year).

accidental

by train operations

11-88

Topography Major impacts l13-mile, 2,400-acre to the existing topography will occur along the The topography along this cubic yards

right-of-way

corridor.

linear area will be changed by moving an estimated of cut and fill material. Based on a maximum

15,000,000

one percent

grade, fills Cut depths will

will vary from three feet high to a maximum vary with a maximum 1.5 percent percent

of 85 feet.

depth of 102 feet occurring.

Of the total length, than 40 feet deep and 1.6

(1.7 miles) will be in cuts greater

(1.8 miles) will be on fills greater than 40 feet high. Cutting operations could remove prominent points of land and

will create steep, unnatural

slopes in areas where none existed before. relief,

Long fill slopes, which will be located in areas of low topographic will create unnatural, by roadbed embankments, elevated embankments.

Minor drainages will be blocked Some

which will alter stream characteristics. by diversion ditches

drainages may be consolidated

to direct water flow ditches and

into culverts and other drainage cessation

structures.

The diversion

of flow in some channels will alter and create new topographic

forms and shapes. Major drainage abutments and embankments. channels may have to be altered Other drainage to protect bridge

channels may need to be modified Possible modification and Cheyenne Coal, Little

to accommodate

the grade and curvature

of the roadbed.

of major drainage River crossings,

channels may occur at the Belle Fourche and the Antelope, Lightning,

Shawnee, Caballo,

Thunder and Walker Creek crossings. a change in existing topographic

These modifications

all represent

characteristics.

Besides having a direct or alter of

impact at the site of modification, stream velocity.

these changes may increase

They could cause increased 11-89

erosion and headcutting

the streams,

creating new and deeper channels and topographic or downstream

changes many

miles upstream

from the point of the primary impact.

Impact on topography will also result from opening of an unspecified number of clinker pits along the northern route to obtain the estimated subba1last. An indeterminable 75 miles of the proposed for

740,000 cubic yards of clinker required

amount of sand and gravel will be required such as road bridges and underpasses.

for construction

of concrete structures

Part of the gravel will be obtained the Irvine siding. An estimated

from existing gravel pits located at of 311,000 cubic yards of quarry located at Guernsey,

requirement

top ballast will be obtained Wyoming. Extracting

from the limestone

these materials the Guernsey

from the gravel pit at Irvine, river

and creek bottoms, additional

quarry, and new clinker pits, will cause Borrow areas for supplying fill

alterations

of the topography.

and waste disposal will be required.

areas for disposing

of unsuitable

excavated material or steep along

All of these actions will create depressions Obtaining

slopes where none existed before. the right-of-way within

the necessary material

will affect 1,500 acres in addition

to the 2,400 acres

the right-of-way. Alteration of topography on 3,900 acres represents approximately for coal

one-tenth

of one percent of the regional

area being considered the topographic

development. significant.

Viewed on an areawide basis, However,

impact is not corridor.

the impact will be severe along the railroad

11-90

Soils Impact on soils will result from disturbance the right-of-way; ballast, of 2,400 acres within by a cover of hauling of of topsoil

removal of 1,100 acres from productivity

track, steep slopes, bridges, 15 million

etc.; digging, moving,

approximately

cubic yards of soil material; increased

compaction

and lower horizons

by equipment;

erosion from removal of vegetaconstruc-

tion, and deep cuts exposing

fine grained soil and parent material; camps; mining and removal

tion of access roads and construction cubic yards of clinker and material and removal

of 740,000

for use as subballast;

and development The majority for construction.

of soil from borrow pits along the right-of-way.

of these impacts will occur over the two-year span required The removal from productivity

and exposure of soil to wind and water erosion impacts. erosion, Soil properties sediment yield,

on unvegetated

steep cut slopes will be permanent which will be impacted are: infiltration

and characteristics soil moisture

relationships,

rates, available water holding capacity, soil structure,

capacity, permeability,

bulk density, bearing composition. the acreages

soil texture and chemical Table 1 provides

to be disturbed

and lost to pro-

ductivity by soil associations. ations and a description impact statement.

Map 7, Appendix A, shows the soil associIV, of this

of each is located in Part I, Chapter

11-91

Table 1 Acreage of Soil Associations Disturbed and Removed from Productivity by Railroad Construction within the Right-of-way Acres Disturbed 50 50 975 150 440 735 Acres Permanently 23 23 447 69 202 336 Removed

Association 1 3,5,8 11 13 14 20

Total

2,400

1,100

Surface disturbance and microorganisms

will destroy

present

topsoil characteristics rates. Permeabilload

and will impact runoff and permeability

ity will be reduced and runoff increased, of the various drainages

adding to existing

sediment

crossed by the right-of-way.

Productivity

levels

will be lowered until the soil has had time to reestablish structural and microorganism Handling relationships. 15 million disrupt

its various

and disturbing

cubic yards of soil material the present soil

in cuts and fills will completely horizon relationships

and destroy

which have been established

over a long geologic above will be affected.

time span. Material sulphate

All of the soil characteristics

described

which may be toxic

(sodium chloride,

sodium sulphate, magnesium to the will

and calcium sulphate)

to plant growth could be brought problems.

surface and create revegetation be increased as permeability destroyed.

Erosion and sedimentation Soil structure

is decreased.

and texture

will be completely in formation unrelated

The end result of this action could result and properties completely

of new soils with characteristics soils.

to the present

II-92

Compaction

impacts will not be confined of equipment

to the right-of-way

proper.

Use of access roads and movement will cause compaction rates, permeability last beyond

into and out of the right-of-way will affect infiltration These impacts will

on a wider area.

Compaction

and available water holding

capacity.

the two-year construction

period and could affect vegetation rates. The natural soil

growth and will affect runoff and sedimentation development process will be affected stage. of bridges and placement

and set back in development

to a prior,

less developed

Construction of drainage

of culverts

and other types alteration of

structures will require permanent channels.

and/or temporary

natural drainage right-of-way

Some major drainages

to be crossed by the proposed

beginning

at the north terminus are Caballo Creek, Belle Fourche Creek, Antelope Creek,

River, Coal Creek, Little Thunder Creek, Porcupine

Dry Fork Cheyenne River, Dry Creek, Box Creek, Lightning Creek. These alterations will concentrate excessive

Creek and Shawnee of water into of their

amounts

one channel or area and deprive natural

stream bottoms

and drainageways

amounts of water where streams are rechanneled of surface and subsurface soil moisture

or channels merged. requirements has a

The alteration

direct long term impact on the natural soil-climatic-vegetation ways will accelerate environment.

soil development The concentration

process and related of water in drainage-

soil loss and sedimentation. of ballast and subballast

Off site impacts created by excavation material sites, development of reservoirs of disposal

areas for liquid and solid wastes,

construction

to provide a source of water and control surface of work camps, equipment storage areas,

runoff or flooding, construction

construction

of spur rail lines, access roads, service roads and power 1,500 acres, outside of the right-of-way. 11-93

lines will impact approximately

Nearly 550 acres will not be reclaimed structures.

nor revegetated

because

of permanent

A total of 3,900 acres of surface soil will be affected by railroad construction. This represents approximately one-tenth of one percent of the The

total surface soil area within impact on soils from railroad corridor is not considered

the Eastern Powder River Coal Basin. construction, outside the right-of-way

to be significant.

11-94

Mineral Resources Construction area of construction of the railroad will impact mineral resources in the

as well as outside the right-of-way. 161 million

The proposed under economic tons of

route crosses an estimated conditions of 1974.

tons of coal strippable

The route crosses an additional

195 million

coal covered by less than 400 feet of overburden. Even though location of the railroad over coal will not cause a physical ience. loss of coal resources, it can cause a deferral loss and inconven-

When the adjacent

coal is mined, a pillar of coal will have to be Some of the bypassed nonrecoverable coal might be more at that time.

left to support the rail line. expensive

to mine or even economically Construction of the railroad

through clinker deposits will cause

an impact. approximately

The major impact on these deposits will result from the use of 740,000 cubic yards for subballast material base material for structures, and an indeterminable overpasses,

amount for backfill, underpasses, etc.

road surfacing,

Use and acquisition

of clinker will impact soils and vegefrom this use

tation outside the right-of-way. is indeterminable. The estimated

The total area affected

311,000 cubic yards of top ballast required Northern's Guernsey quarry located 40

will be obtained from the Burlington miles southeast of Douglas. availability

Use of this material will further deplete the An undetermined amount and

of ballast for use on other projects.

of sand and gravel will be used in construction overpasses.

of six underpasses

This material will probably be obtained locally from streamThe rail The right-

beds and banks and could affect water quality and fish life. line construction will not impact any oil and gas operations. to cover or cause any measurable

of-way is not expected bearing material.

impact on uranium

11-95

waters

through percolation.

Herbicides

and their carriers

used on mainte-

nance of the right-of-way

for selective vegetation

control may be carried These contami-

into ground water aquifers by percolation nants would adversely

of surface waters.

affect ground water quality. and ephemeral streams (Caballo

Surface waters of intermittent

Creek, Belle Fourche River, Coal Creek, Little Thunder Creek, Dry Fork Cheyenne struction River) crossed by the route may be adversely of embankments and the installation Disturbed affected during conand

of pilings,

12 bridges,

an estimated

220 culverts.

soils and open excavations rainstorms solids,

will be

subject to erosion should high intensity tion.

occur during constructurbidities and sediInstal-

This erosion would increase dissolved in perennial, structures intermittent

ment concentrations lation of drainage turbidities Increased diversion

or ephemeral of streamflow

flows.

during periods

may increase

if equipment

is permitted

to operate in the stream channel. and

turbidities

and sediment

loads may also result from blockage structures. increase

of small drainages

to adjacent major drainage structures

This would be caused when improper diversion along diversion normal volumes channels, of water.

erosion

and also in downstream Abandonment

channels due to larger than sanitary

or spills of oils, chemicals,

wastes and other construction

materials

may occur, and these could add polluHerbicides used in selective control

tants to streams from surface runoff. of right-of-way vegetation

may be accidentally

spilled, applied

to, or

carried into streams and would cause water pollution. dents could cause accidental waters and drainages. containing spilling

Coal train acci-

of diesel fuel and coal into surface could also spill cargo Extraction

Other rail traffic accidents

toxic materials

into surface waters and drainageways.

11-98

of sand and gravel from stream bottoms for construction increased erosion. turbidities and may increase sediment

purposes would cause due to accelerated

transport

11-99

Vegetation Vegetation 2,400 acres along will be totally or partially during removed on approximately construction

the 113 mile

right-of-way

the two-year

period.

Included

in this acreage

are 2,225 acres of broadleaf would

of big sagebrush/grass, forest. Additional vegeand roads

125 acres of greasewood, tation destruction

and 50 acres

outside

the right-of-way during

occur where

embankment access

clinker borrow are built; population be damaged

areas are cleared

construction

activities; and where

staging

areas and campsites with the railroad

are established; settles.

additional would

associated during

Other vegetation vehicle

construction

of the project

from off-road

and equipment right-of-way

use on areas adjacent fences will damage

to the right-of-way. amounts

Construction

of

and remove varying associated with

of vegetation. and operation

Increase of the railroad It is estimated lost as a result

in population result

construction

will

in additional

damage

to and loss of vegetation. of vegetation will be

that the following of population

cumulative

amounts

increases: Increased

95 acres by 1980; 124 acres by use originating amount from

1985; and 141 acres by 1990. this population will result resource

recreational

in additional, within

indeterminable Most

of damage out-

to the vegetative

the study area.

of the damage community

side of the right-of-way estimated at 1,500 acres. Construction range Range fires would

would

occur

to the big sagebrush

and is

and maintenance

of fire guards

for prevention

of

destroy

up to 350 acres of big sagebrush/grass by railroad or related operations

vegetation. may burn adjacent an

fires started

accidently

from 200 to 3,000 acres per year of sagebrush/grassland to the right-of-way. Of the total 3,900 acres

vegetation

of vegetation

disturbed,

11-100

estimated

42 percent

(1,650 acres) will be permanently ballast, siding tracks,

lost to facilities do not increases,

such as the roadbed, readily adapt

steep cut slopes which population

themseleves

to revegetation,

fire guards,

and access

roads. Minor adverse minor effects drainage to vegetation areas may occur along the railroad through of vegeof soil

embankment major tation

where

are intercepted occur

and diverted

drainage

structures.

This damage will

from inundation

on the upstream normally

side of the right-of-way by flood irrigation

and from elimination on the downstream

moisture

supplied

side of the

embankment. The use of herbicides the right-of-way target species. would damage to control target plant certain species types of vegetation as well as some nonvegealong

Wind drift

off target areas could

cause additional

tative damage.

11-101

Archeological

and Paleontological

Values survey of the proto analyze

Since a detailed archeological posed railroad right-of-way

and paleontological

has not been conducted,

it is difficult

the impact of railroad be 2,400 acres involved side of the right-of-way sites, etc. the proposed of dirt.

construction

on these scientific values.

There will out-

in the right-of-way

and 1,500 acres disturbed

for borrow areas, subballast,

access roads, campConstruction 15 million of cubic yards

If sites do exist they will be destroyed. route will involve disturbing an estimated

Several deep cuts (up to 102 feet deep) and fills (three to 85 feet The cuts will destroy any archeological or paleontological

deep) will occur.

values which may exist in the area. archeological

The fills will cover any potential for future study and salvage. construction will have on

sites, making them unavailable

Besides

the direct impact that railroad

any of these values which may be located in the area, indirect impacts will occur. expected The indirect impacts will be associated to be generated by construction will permanently with the population increase In-

and operation

of the railroad. acreage

creased population

remove and disturb additional contain archeological

(141 acres by 1990) which could possibly ational use associated unknown archeological rock collectors,

values.

Recre-

with this population sites throughout

will impact known as well as Arrowhead hunters,

the study area.

pot hunters and off-road vehicle users will all disturb addievidence which could provide information

tional surface acreage, destroying on archeological sites.

11-102

Historical Construction ical sites or values. of the railroad

Values any impacts on histor-

will not create

11-103

Aesthetics Construction will which impact existing of the proposed elements (texture, railroad lines, between color, Gillette and Douglas intrusion)

landform,

collectively Removal

make up the visual of vegetation texture

resource

(aesthetics). over 2,400 acres will of a vegeby

in a linear

strip,

impact

the existing

of the area

(texture here consisting

tative pattern). the railroad remain barren of-way), These will

The removal create

of vegetation,

fills and deep cuts created Part of the area will outside of the right-

a new vegetative

texture.

(1,100 acres of roadbed

and 550 acres with

the remainder will

will be reclaimed change

a different

type of vegetation. if successa

two results produce

the existing

texture.

Reclamation,

ful, will

a grass cover, with

a height

generally

lower creating

contrasting

texture with native

vegetation

outside

the right-of-way. the landscape. Most

The railroad lines in nature shape.

will result

in a sharp line across but rather will

are not sharply

defined

take a soft, irregular unnatural and contrast

The line created

by the railroad

appear

with natural

lines in the area. color scheme of soft grays, will greens and browns present band and

The natural

in the area will be altered. of different impact will colors result throughout from using

The railroad the length

introduce

a long, narrow

of the line. clinker

The major

contrast

the red colored

for a subballast. colors

The

rail line and unvegetated color scheme. the differing

areas will also add different areas will

to the natural of colors by

The revegetated

add to the contrast with

color of introduced -- a mixture on existing

vegetation

that of the surrounding shrubs and brush.

native vegetation Impact

of various

grasses,

landform

will be caused by the cuts and fills. to 102 feet. These will create a

Some of the cuts will range in depth

11-104

new shape of landform 15 million numerous structures cubic yards

in contrast

with

the natural

landform.

An estimated so

of soil will be moved by railroad Since

construction,

cuts and fills will be required. (bridges, culverts) generally

the railroad,

and required

have a low profile, landscape.

the railroad

will not have a significant Any vertical as powerlines intrustive this route. increases

impact

on the natural

structures along

which may be required the right-of-way, will

by the railroad, cause an impact. travelling

such An

or buildings

impact will

result whenever

a train passes

a viewer

This impact will be compounded of expanding

as the daily

train frequency

as a result The major

coal production. quality of the landscape will of

impact

on the aesthetic

occur Bill

in the stretch (approximately Oil Field.

between 30 miles)

the Amax spur line and a point where the proposed route

just north

joins roads

in the and disalong

Hilight

This part of the area has had few disruptions of roads, powerlines, state. etc.

turbances

from construction

The landscape

this part of the line is still in a natural The impact cent to Highway turbed blocks on aesthetics

from that portion

of the line lying adjabeen dis-

59 will not be as great. as a utility view

This area has already

and developed a highway

corridor.

Some impact may occur as a train area.

traveler's

of the surrounding

11-105

Wildlife Construction or disturbance mately of the proposed

and Fish railroad will result in removal Approxi-

of up to 3,900 acres of big sagebrush removed

and grass.

1,650 acres will be permanently habitat production.

from all types of aquatic removed will be and housing and

or terrestrial occupied

The area permanently access roads,

by railbed, with

ballast,

slopes,

fire guards

associated operation

the increased

population

induced

by construction

of the railroad. Fires caused by train operations retard re-establishment and maintenance of habitat along projects such as

brush burning of-way.

will

the rightfires off the operper

Habitat

will also be destroyed fires started

or damaf,ed by periodic by railroad

right-of-way. ations may burn year.

Range

accidentally

or related habitat

from 200 to 3,000 acres of sagebrush/grassland

Train-animal This will

collisions

will

occur despite

right-of-way

fencing.
(

cause an indeterminable There will be numerous

annual specific

loss of all species. biological impacts. Where the

'(

railroad during

crosses

a stream,

riparian

habitat

will be destroyed, and Porcupine

particularly

construction riparian

activities.

Box Creek which

Creek have well by construction by the line

developed

"marsh" vegetation of other major

could be destroyed that are crossed

activities.

Segments

streams

(Shawnee Creek, Dry Fork of the Cheyenne Fourche River) have lesser amounts on downstream

River, Antelope habitat

Creek and the Belle could be destroyed. from sedimentation during con-

of riparian

which

Secondary resulting struction

impacts

fish populations

may result

from disturbance activities.

of 15 million

cubic feet of material

II-l06

Threatened

species No significant impact on peregrine or prairie falcons is antici-

pated.

No impact on prairie to the railroad

dog towns is anticipated.

The town in closest

proximity Reservoir,

route

(1\ miles) is located near the Little Thunder town lies approximately five miles from railroad route the destruction

while the next closest

the railroad

and no others were observed along the proposed Impact Analysis, 1974).

(VTN, BN/CNW, Environmental of any prairie dog colonies or by reducing

However,

could affect black-footed

ferrets either directly

their food supply.

Big game Approximately 25 percent, or 975 acres, of the total disturbed route also passes will disturb area is

crucial antelope winter range.

The proposed

through summer The

and year long use areas of which construction

2,925 acres.

total impact of the action will result in an estimated and loss or serious impairment An estimated

loss of 75 antelope

of 3,900 acres of antelope habitat. rates the proposed

three deer per section of habitat area. Approximately

route as a low concentration will be lost or significantly

1,200 acres of deer habitat 10 to 20 deer will fencing and

disturbed.

An estimated

be lost through habitat disturbance collisions. Construction during construction

and other factors including

of the railroad,

accompanied

by intensive

human activity

and later with use and maintenance

of the route, and inaway. Other

creasing human populations impacts such as accelerated mortality

will force most deer and antelope poaching by transient

labor will result in higher

of deer and antelope.

11-107

In all probability Extensive

the right-of-way

will be sheep-tight

fenced.

use of culverts, bridges,

and "cattle passes" would be utilized.

Approximately

220 culvert sites, 12 bridge sites, and several cattle passes along the route. Some of these structures, passage, although

would be installed physically

capable of allowing deer and antelope effective

should not be antici-

pated to be particularly characteristics

for this purpose due to behavioral If the railroad is fenced to be "sheep-tight," to antelope

of both species. of the bridges

with the exception movement

it could become a l13-mile barrier

and, to a lesser degree, deer movement. reduced

The 3,900 acres directly in value as deer and antelope

affected by the railroad will be seriously habitat. Lands occupied by the railroad

and any needed access roads will be Resultant "grasses-only" rehabilor deer.

totally lost as available big game habitat.

itation efforts will not satisfy basic habitat

requirements

of antelope

Other mammals Predators Human activity will cause predators construction. Coyotes, to avoid the railroad during

red foxes, and bobcats will experience

few immediate striped

impacts due to their wide ranging nature. skunks, and badgers initiate a decline minor overall

Species such as raccoons, Direct habitat

are less mobile and flexible. in these species. Operation

removal will

of the railroad will have a

impact on predators.

Rodents and rabbits Removal or damage of grasses and shrubs will result in initial adverse impact and elimination of the disturbed area as suitable habitat

II-l08

for rodents and rabbits. population

Stress tolerances

are high in these species and successful rehabilitawill be

recovery will be relatively Long term effects

rapid following

tion efforts.

from a total population (about 1,650 acres).

standpoint,

limited to actual habitat removal

Upland game birds Destruction of vegetation during construction will remove disturbed

areas from game bird habitat. will be affected. Sagebrush

An estimated

3,900 acres of sage grouse habitat the value of land for sage of herbicide for

removal will eliminate Periodic

grouse for the life of the railroad. weed control, which also removes indefinitely.

applications

sagebrush, will eliminate provides

sage grouse habitat

This amount of habitat

seasonal or year long habitat in

for at least 35 to 50 birds.

Anticipated

losses could be considerably

excess of the above figure due to the almost certain destruction of mating and nesting areas along the proposed route.

or damage

Sharp tail grouse may occur along the proposed portions. species. Insufficient information is available

route in the northern impacts on this of less than five

to analyze density

vfuere populations

may exist an estimated applies.

birds per section of habitat Actual operation mortality

of the railroad will result in an undetermined

of all game birds through "collisions."

Other birds Disturbance during construction Eventual and operation will disrupt use by of lands adjacent to the

raptors and other species.

"re-discovery"

railroad will depend on individual as well as the availability

species tolerance of foreign intrusions

of forage or prey species.

II-I09

Fish Drastic modification of drainages or loss of riparian vegetation

will upset an already fragile situation. over streams including

Crossings would be constructed

Caballo Creek, Belle Fourche River, Coal Creek, Little Creek, Shawnee Creek and to fair aquatic habitat

Thunder Creek, Mike's Draw, Box Creek, Lightning possibly Walker Creek. for various

Many of these contain marginal Extensive

species of fish.

use of culverts will be required in habitat deterioration

near Antelope

and Shawnee Creeks. and sedimentation,

Changes resulting

such as siltation probably

oil and grease spillage, would most

occur during initial construction. The line as staked (March 1974) passes through one stock pond

reservoir,

destroying Application

any aquatic habitat of herbicides

associated with it.

near aquatic habitat would result in habitat.

damage to surface water quality and riparian

Reptiles

and amphibians Available information is not sufficient to allow a specific analysis

of impacts.

Refer to Part I of this statement.

Invertebrates Permanent brates. loss of vegetation will result in direct loss of invertesuitability will govern

The degree of reclamation reinvasions

success and habitat

population

by invertebrates.

11-110

Recreation Construction is not expected Only 20 percent land. of the proposed rail link between impact Douglas and Gillette

to have a significant of the proposed

on recreational federally

use of the area. surface land. route The

line crosses

administered state

The remainder

of the line would

cross private hunting

and/or area.

A majority

of the area is a popular 21 miles

antelope

The proposed

does cross approximately total recreational 31,600 visitor use

of the Thunder

Basin National

Grasslands.

(1973) occurring

in the grasslands

was approximately

days. impact of the railroad it joins on recreation use is expected to

The major

occur from the point where Gillette to the Hilight intervals,

the present

Amax spur line south of 40 miles, These areas

Oil Field

(25 miles)

and an additional route. roads

of varying

along

the balance

of the proposed

are basically trails.

uninhabited

and served

only by a few county in this area could

and truck on

Construction access.

of the railroad Construction user, access

cause an impact

recreational

will make east-west the hunter.

access more crossings truck

difficult will be

for the recreational limited off. to the major

especially

Grade

routes with many of the minor will tend to create areas.

trails cut north-

The railroad

right-of-way

a long,

linear,

south barrier

through

these undeveloped and vegetation

The acreage the railroad affect

that will be removed

or disturbed

by

right-of-way

(3,900 acres) will probably for the acreage habitat. trains, as many removed

not significantly from productivity

recreation

use except

(1,650 acres)

or disturbed

aquatic

The noise displace wildlife.

from frequent Reductions

as 46 a day by 1990, will noise of rail

of wildlife

populations,

11-111

traffic, impact

and the visible

intrusion

of the railroad ratios.

will have a corresponding

on hunters Train

and hunting

success

frequency

through

this area could also impact crossings, 93 million expected

the recreational hauling

user in other ways. the estimated cause more yearly

Over-the-grade production of

rail traffic,

tons of coal by 1990 will the right-of-way. accidents Also,

inconvenience probability

for those trying

to cross

an increased The noise ationist

of train-recreation will interrupt

vehicle

can be expected. the recre-

of train operations now enjoys here.

the peaceful

solitude

Substitution along Highway if this would prefer

of one type of sightseeing occur. However,

use for a different it is not possible it may be

type

59 will probably be an adverse

to say

impact

or not.

To some,

(those who unit train

to see antelope)

while

to others

(those who enjoy watching

operations)

it may not be an adverse Construction, and especially and,

impact. operation, increase remove of the railroad recreation additional will cause

an increase Population ductivity

in population increases

therefore, than likely impact

use levels. land from pro-

will more

for wildlife Total

and further increase

the recreational result

use of hunting. construcfor

population

as a direct

of railroad

tion and operation residential over current

is projected oriented levels

to be 2,820 by 1990, removing needs. This would

141 acres

and service population

be a 15 percent Counties.

increase The recre-

in Campbell

and Converse

ation use generated orate existing

from this population facilities

increase

could overload

and deteri-

recreation

in or near Douglas construction

and Gillette. is

The overall the restriction

impact

of railroad access

on recreation The

on recreationist

and the safety hazard.

11-112

barrier travel

cuts off traditional

access

roads, hindering cross

freedom

of cross country

or, in cases of emergency,

impedes

country

travel.

11-113

Agriculture Construction agricultural and outside outside areas, related land use. of the proposed railroad will have varying impacts on within

Impacts will result 2,400-acre

from construction

activities

of the proposed

right-of-way. or required

An additional for access

1,500 acres

the right-of-way campsites, staging

will be disturbed areas. Secondary

roads, borrow

impacts will also occur and will be in by construction and operation

to the increase

in population

brought

of the rail line.

Livestock

grazing Based on an average of 6.5 acres per animal unit month will be fenced, the removal (AUM) and the

assumption manent grazing

that the entire

right-of-way with

there will be a per-

loss of 369 AUMs associated use.

of 2,400 acres of land from use on 160 acres

This total AUM loss involves

75 AUMs of grazing

of hay field after harvesting duced on 345 acres approximately

of the hay crop has occurred,

and 160 AUMs proloss of AUMs is

of seeded pastureland. of that produced

The total permanent in the study area.

0.04 percent

Disturbance estimated AUMs) 231 AUMs.

of the 1,500 acres An estimated

outside

the right-of-way

will affect loss

an (85 The

550 acres of this will be a permanent population increase

due to access

road construction,

and fire guards. period.

remainder

will be a temporary

loss for the two-year furnishes

construction

Use of

an additional

9,530 acres, which

1,466 AUMs of forage, will be impaired. source. Without grazing loss. adequate stand-

The rail line will livestock point. water

sever this acreage

from its water unusable

this land may become

from a livestock a permanent

In this case these AUMs may be considered

11-114

The rail line as presently water wells and one reservoir

staked

(March 1974) will destroy four livestock. rangeland Loss of water and create an

used for watering of the adjoining

sources will impair utilization inconvenience water sources rechanneled velocity

and expense for the rancher who has to supply additional for cattle. Some drainage patterns may be interrupted grade. The rechanneling and

by the railroad

could increase water land surface

and erosion.

This could result in a loss of productive

and would increase

sedimentation

and siltation which would affect downstream Diversion of water to different the irrigation channels

stock water storage facilities. would also decrease forage adjacent infiltration

which reduces

effect on

to the channel and lowers grazing capacity less than ten percent

in these areas.

Although of the railroad production

of the acreage in the vicinity role in livestock

is irrigated,

this acreage plays an important supplemental feed.

by furnishing

crucial winter

Some irrigation

systems could be severed or disrupted structures

by the railroad

grade, including

conveying water as well as flow of water in the severed fields. capacity of the fields will be reduced as

If this occurs, the productive they become nonirrigated

rangeland.

An unknown number of these fields irrigation.

have been seeded to introduced All production re-established

species that cannot survive without

in these fields would be lost until native species become and even then production would be lowered.

Impacts on ranching of pastures by the railroad. the data presently available.

operations will also occur from severance It is difficult Severance to assess this impact with

is complex and must be viewed manageable size, and those The proposed

in two forms; severance of units of economically severed that are too small to be economically

manageable.

11-115

route will divide

65 pastures.

When the right-of-way

parallels

the boundary

of

a pasture or the roads and highways may not always be synonymous additional manageable. land, approximately In five instances,

along the route, the right-of-way fence or road.

boundary

with the pasture 29 pastures, headquarter

This will sever

that may not be economically facilities will be severed from a in

part of the ranch property. reaching their pastures

This will cause inconvenience their operating

to the ranchers

and could increase

costs, which in the

long term could make ranch operation The railroad the area.

uneconomical. of access in

grade will change the freedom of and pattern

The loss of free access could have a major effect on livestock Since access points will be limited, more travel on the Cattle will have further distances to

grazing operations.

part of the rancher will be required. travel to reach certain pastures. cattle, as well as cause overgrazing to reduce grazing capacity

This could effect the weight

gain of the tend over time The operation

in certain areas which would to the railroad.

on the area adjacent

of the rail line will cause a certain amount of cattle death from train-cattle collisions, despite the fact that in all probability the right-of-way will be

fenced to prevent

this type of mortality.

Livestock drift with a storm during extreme blizzard conditions. Historically heavy livestock losses have occurred due to traps created by fences, deep-cut draws and other obstacles. The fenced railroad right-of-way would be an additional obstacle. Some additional livestock losses could be expected during these conditions. As observed in other areas, railroad rights-of-way are susceptible to the establishment of invader species of plants through natural revegetation. The disturbed soil becomes more susceptible to this type of species invasion. The possibility also exists for seeds of invader species to be brought in by trains. The forage value of these species range from undesirable to poisonous. In any case they often spread, crowding out more desirable forage plants. If poisonous species become established and spread off the right-of-way, livestock death could occur.

11-116

Fills

(maximum height of 85 feet) and cuts (maximum depth of in the immediate area. The area generally

102 feet) will alter wind patterns experiences drifting

snow during winter months. downwind

New cuts and fills will grade. drifting

have a tendency

to cause snowdrifts

from the railroad

The drifts will occur in areas that have not previously and could alter the vegetation. allowing livestock Drifting

experienced

could also cause fences to collapse, and onto the rail line where

to drift between

pastures

they would be subject to mortality Operation of-way.

from trains. starts fires along the right-

of trains occasionally

Based on past fire statistics

for this area, trains may cause As frequency could also

10 to 50 fires, burning

from 200 to 3,000 acres per year.

of trains increases with coal production, increase. temporary

the fire frequency forage.

Fires will cause a loss of livestock

Loss would be

for a period of one to two years until the area become revegetated. Noise from construction activities and especially train operations

after completion

of construction

could disturb cows and ewes during calving

and lambing periods. range.

Each train could produce noise in the 88- to 98-decibel averaging 26 per day in 1980 and 46 per day The effect on cattle is

With train frequency

in 1990, the noise level could be significant. not as pronounced, during lambing. Herbicides the rail line.

but ewes may leave their lambs if they are disturbed

are used to inhibit or prevent plant growth along soil sterilants livestock are used. If the herbicides

On occasions

drift off of the right-of-way, a resulting loss in AUMs.

forage could be reduced, with and accumulation outside

Long term use of soil sterilants

in the soil could in time inhibit all plant growth for some distance the right-of-way. 11-117

Farming The proposed 168 acres of cropland. right-of-way will permanently remove from production this will be out-

Based on a ten-year average production, Construction

a loss of 227 tons of annual hay production. side the right-of-way of hay production one percent will cause a temporary The permanent

activities

(1 year) loss of 81 tons loss is approximately 0.3 of

on 60 acres.

of the total production

for the study area. too small for economical instances in the

Rayland management.

severed by division may be in parcels

This may occur in six fields. the homestead

In two specific

Shawnee Creek drainage, the right-of-way.

has been severed from the cropland by may impede marketing In all probability of farm

Loss of access to homesteads of operation supplies.

products and delivery

an inconven-

ience to the rancher will occur.

11-118

Transportation The proposed

Networks and

rail line ~ill cross as many as 50 unimproved

graded dirt roads and many lesser roads which are all generally used for access to ranches and oilfields. and state roads which are intersected a simple grade crossing. separations identified. Approximately Most of the private.

lightly county

will be routed across the rails via 18 grade crossings and five grade

(bridges or underpasses) Highway

of county and state roads have been undercrossing four miles north overcross-

59 will have a railroad Highway

of Bill and 17 miles south of Bill. ing.

20 will have a railroad

The grade crossing at Hoadley road will require a railroad undercrossing road relocation; and the railroad at Matheson Road only minor road relocation of county road 3-38 (sec. Table 2 lists

or a three-mile will be required

undercrossing

35. T40N. R7lW) may require road relocation the possible crossings and type. activities

to the south.

During construction

traffic will have to be rerouted speed. This will cause an inconven~

and will be subject to delays and reduced ience for the traveler as well as ranchers The impact at anyone type of inconvenience period. The possibility the downwind of increased

and other users of the area. to be of long duration. This

point is not expected

impact will not last beyond the two year construction

snow drifting along Highway

59 on particularly

side of railroad

fills looms as a strong possibility

when the railroad

is located on the west side of the highway westerly winds. requirements

and most subject

to influence by the prevailing

The result would be hazardous by the State Highway Department. slope depress-

driving and increased maintenance Furthermore,

if roads at the grade crossings have pronounced

ions in them as they ascend or descend

the grade they will have a tendency

11-119

Table County and State Highway Road Description Bishop Road T-7 Road Hoadley Road Lawver Road Hilight Road Mills Road Keeline Road Sec. 14-23, T44N, R72W Small road @ Station 2213+00 Gopher Booster Road Antelope Road (Tekla) Edwards Road Matheson Road Antelope Road Forest Service Road (N. of Antelope Creek) County Road 3-38, Sec. 35, T40N, R71W Highway 59 (4 miles N. of Bill) Tillard Road Highway 59 (17 miles So. of Bill) Walker Creek Road County Road, Sec. 2, T33N, R70W County Road, Sec. 17-20, T33N, R69W County road, Sec. 15, T32N, R69W Highway 20 Crossings

2 Along the BN and C&NW Route Comments

Type of Crossing Grade crossing Possible grade separation Railroad undercrossing or Railroad undercrossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade Grade Grade Grade crossing crossing crossing crossing undercrossing undercrossing

3 mile road relocation 1 mile road relocation

May require signals and road relocation Minor road relocation

railroad Railroad

Possible road relocation to south

Grade crossing Railroad undercrossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Grade crossing Railroad overcrossing

Source:

Adapted from Burlington Northern and Chicago Environmental Impact Analysis, 1974.

and North Western

II-120

to fill with drifting possibly block someone

snow and thus impede public from access

access

across

them and

to his property. transmission lines, water

Some minor and oil pipelines causing

relocations

of electric

may be required. impacts

These relocations

can be made without

any significant The major

on the utilizer

of these facilities. arise from train Based

impact

on transportation

systems will

operations

over the proposed amounts

rail line and existing

rail lines.

on projected

of coal to be exported

from this area of 48 million tons in 1990, as many to make the trip A train (1.2

tons in 1980, 68 million

tons in 1985 and 93 million

as 24, 34, and 46 unit trains per day may be expected over the proposed line. These include loaded

and unloaded

trains.

of 110 cars and 5 diesel miles). point

units would

be approximately

6,165 feet long

One train operating

at 20 miles

per hours would

pass any given i.e., road in 1980, 119 to be crossed some restriction is also the at grade and

in 3~ minutes. would

Therefore,

any given stretch

of track, 84 minutes the roads

crossing, minutes

be occupied

per day approximately in 1990. Although

in 1985 and 161 minutes

by road crossings of freedom potential crossings impact

are less traveled across

than the state highways, There

of movement

the tracks will occur. number of train-auto

for an indeterminable

accidents A major

to occur due to increased

train traffic. mainline

problem

could occur on the existing Highway 26 and 87.

at Glendo where train traffic has indicated time

the tracks at this road that a potential

cross U.S. crossing, traffic signal

With increased Department

the Wyoming

State Highway could occur.

tie-up problem

At the present

(April 1974) a

and gate is located Increased

at this crossing. across the existing mainline could

unit coal train traffic of the mainline.

cause a rapid deterioration

The present

mainline

was not

11-121

constructed to be mined. all lines

to standards Burlington

that would Northern

allow useage

as projected

to export

the coal of

is planning

and programming

the upgrading

that will experience

coal train traffic.

11-122

Socia-Economic

Conditions impacts

This section does not reiterate any of the socia-economic identified in Part I, but will describe

the changes and impacts on employ-

ment, income, population Counties

and capital investment in Campbell and Converse

that are directly related to the railroad. Projected employment for the railroad is based on the number of tons of coal shipped. Railroad employment

employees required per million is estimated

to be between 2.5 and 5.0 men per million tons of coal shipped, on the shipping distance. The projected rail-

the variance being dependent road employment

for Campbell and Converse Counties is shown on Tables 4 and

5 in Appendix D and is based on the employment projection model used by the Northern Great Plains Resource Program (NGPRP)~ Combined railroad employ-

ment in the two counties is expected to increase from 17 in 1970 to 258 by 1980, 70 percent of which will be employed in Converse County. employment is summarized in Table 3. Projected

Table 3 Railroad Employment Actual 1970 Campbell County Converse County Total 11 6 17 Projected 1980 1985 77 181 258 91 256 347

1975 11 22 33

1990 91 304 395

An additional 300 temporary positions will be created during construction of the railroad, 85 percent of which the railroad estimates will be filled from local trade union personnel. Source of this labor will likely *Developed by University of Wyoming, Water Resources Research Institute.

11-123

be by a combination other employment A beneficial opportunities

of employing

the presently

unemployed,

attraction

from

sectors and importation

of labor from outside employment

the area. of employment

impact of the new railroad for the presently

will be provision

unemployed

and allowing people to possibly Resultant labor deficiencies would be

move from lower paying jobs to higher ones. in other employment an adverse impact. It is estimated the 258 railroad employees

sectors should labor demands exceed supply

that the average annual income to be paid to in 1980 will be approximately $15,000.~ This

is nearly $3.9 million

annually.

The net impact of this income will be incomes in the two counties to a level the

to raise per capita, mean and medium above that of 1970 and higher new railroad economy employment.

than would have been expected without

This annual income will be worth more to the it will generate demands for

than the salaried amounts because goods and services both within know as the multiplier

additional

and outside the two counties. effect. It is not unrealistic

This is generally

for the income multiplier income originally created.

to be from 3 to 5 times the amount of disposable The $3.9 million, less state and federal taxes, income which could

yields approximately generate

$3.1 million

in annual disposable disposable

a total of $9.3 to $15.5 million

income to a broad

market area. The number of additional economy to accommodate estimated. the increase jobs required in the services sector of the (railroad) can be used by

in basic employment

Based on the ratios of basic employment

to total employment

*This derives from an estimated per annum up to 1980.

1974 salary of $11,200 increased

five percent

11-124

the Water Resources

Research

Institute,

University

of Wyoming,

for the Northern in Campbell jobs in

Great Plains Resource and Converse secondary Counties

Program,

each addition

to basic employment two additional

will generate sectors.

approximately

employment business

This includes services,

employment education

in new construction and government, the

for housing, general tunities

and consumer

impact of which

is to create an increasing

wider variety

of job oppor-

for the local populace.

Table 4 summarizes

this increase.

Table 4 Total Employment Increase Attributable 1975 Campbell County Railroad Employment** Secondary (Services) Employment Converse County Railroad Employment** Secondary (Services) Employment to the Railroad* 1985 1990

1980

o o

66
134

80 162

80 162

16
32

175 355

250 506

298 605

*Based on model developed for NGPRP by Water Resources Research Institute, University of Wyoming. **Base year 1970 existing railroad employment is not included.

Estimates employment in Table 5.

for total population secondary

increase

as a result of new railroad

and induced

employment

can be made and are summarized

11-125

Table 5 Total Employment and Associated 1975 Campbell County Total Employment** Population (Rounded) Converse County Total Employment** Population (Rounded) Population 1980 Increase)'( 1985 1990

0 0

200 470

242 550

242 550

48 120

530 1,290

756 1,800

903 2,150

*Based on model developed for NGPRP by Water Resources Research Institute, University of Wyoming. **Summation of new railroad employment and induced secondary employment.

Burlington road will be nearly valorem

Northern

estimates

its capital investment

for the rail-

$35 million.

The new rail mileage will add to the ad County. Based on a report prepared Institute, the

tax base for Campbell Northern

and Converse

for Burlington additional

by the University

of Denver Research

tax base for Campbell County. Shipment

County is estimated

to be $50,000,

and $98,000 the

for Converse

of coal is intended markets

for markets United

throughout States,

midwest with future potential Colorado economic and Texas. effects

in the southeast

The shipment

of coal to these markets will produce but they cannot be assessed or traced

in those localities

out at this time.

II-126

the Water Resources

Research

Institute,

University

of Wyoming,

for the Northern in Campbell jobs in

Great Plains Resource and Converse secondary Counties

Program,

each addition

to basic employment two additional

will generate sectors.

approximately

employment business

This includes services,

employment education

in new construction and government, the

for housing, general tunities

and consumer

impact of which

is to create an increasing

wider variety

of job oppor-

for the local populace.

Table 4 summarizes

this increase.

Table 4 Total Employment Increase Attributable 1975 Campbell County Railroad Employment** Secondary (Services) Employment Converse County Railroad Employment** Secondary (Services) Employment to the Railroad* 1985 1990

1980

o o

66
134

80 162

80 162

16
32

175 355

250 506

298 605

*Based on model developed for NGPRP by Water Resources Research Institute, University of Wyoming. **Base year 1970 existing railroad employment is not included.

Estimates employment in Table 5.

for total population secondary

increase

as a result of new railroad

and induced

employment

can be made and are summarized

11-125

CHAPTER IV MITIGATING MEASURES

Air Quality Proper compliance with all applicable laws, regulations state and federal air quality in the right-of-way, ease-

and standards will be stipulated

ments and other granted permits. tions will minimize Air Quality.) adverse

Inclusion and enforcement

of these stipula-

impacts to air quality.

(See Chapter VI, Part I,

Topography Mitigating actions required construction to reduce topographic alterations and

impacts due to railroad earthwork

will require the prevention land surfaces. Minimizing

of unnecessary impacts

and repair of the altered

secondary

to soils, vegetation, ing topographic

water and scenic values are also dependent The following stipulations are designed

on mitigatto mitigate in

changes.

impacts resulting

from topographic

alterations

and may be incorporated

similar form into Interstate and BLM right-of-way 1. grants.

Commerce

Commission

and Forest Service permits

All operation

shall be conducted

so as not to change the character Topo-

or cause pollution graphic alteration

of streams, ponds, seeps, and marshes. which may induce soil movements, landforms shall be corrected agency.

water pollution to the satis-

and/or objectionable

faction of the appropriate 2. Activities conducted employing

government

use of wheeled

or tracked equipment

shall be The

in such a manner

as to minimize

surface damages.

11-127

railroad

company shall effect a minimum of topographic with practical construction operations.

alterations

consistent

Drainage bottoms

and high erosion hazard areas shall be avoided for use as borrow areas, waste disposal areas or material of these sites shall be obtained agency. 3. The railroad and their contractors shall avoid construction activiexcavation sites. Approval

from the appropriate

government

ties outside of the right-of-way ground conditions. 4.

boundaries

during muddy or wet

Existing roads and trails shall be used whenever possible to construction and other sites. Construction

for access

of steep hillside

roads shall be avoided. best access routes. priate government road development

Ridge tops or level sites usually offer the shall be approved by the approaccess

Road locations

agency.

In order to reduce additional

due to blockage

of existing trails and roads, by the appropriate on the rail line. or railroad embankments. shall not alter the government

suitable crossings

deemed necessary

agency shall be provided at locations 5. Drainages

shall not be blocked by roadbeds of drainage crossings,

Installation

culverts, or bridges

cause siltation drainage course.

or accumulation Culverts

of debris or materially

shall not be installed

in large drain-

ages but shall be bridged as determined government 6. Permanent condition agency.

necessary by the appropriate

service roads shall be constructed for automotive to minimize vehicles. erosion.

and maintained

in good shall

Adequate water drainage

be provided

Erosion of borrow pits of both

II-128

permanent

service roads and railroad water

embankments

shall be prevented intervals by

by diverting culverts

from the borrow pits at frequent Erosion of road surfaces broad-based

or cutouts.

shall be prevented dips, gravelling

by installation or as determined 7. Temporary

of culverts,

drainage

by the appropriate

government

agency. upon abandonment. shall be topography

access roads

shall be rehabilitated

Spoil banks, windrowed replaced in the roadbed

soil, debris and fill material and graded to conform

to original

to the degree possible. grade consistent in a condition 8. The railroad and roads. purposes. 9. with

Cut slopes should be reduced the adjacent topography,

to a gentle and left means. trails

waterbarred

susceptible

to revegetation

by mechanical

company

shall prevent

the creation

of shortcut

Access needs

shall be properly

constructed

for such

All cut slopes shall be constructed practical vertical and consistent

to as gentle a grade as is requirements. Deep

with construction

cuts shall be avoided.

Construction

slopes on cuts of

40 feet or less shall be on a 3:1 slope. than 40 feet shall not exceed a 2:1 slope. shall be smoothed the adjacent government waterbreaks, Construction present and graded to conform

Those cuts greater All construction areas to

as near as practical

terrain.

Where deemed necessary

by the appropriate by installation of

agency,

slopes shall be protected or diversion ditches

terraces

or protected

from erosion. zone that

sites or other areas within such as erosion

the construction

problems

or bank sloughing

will be corrected

11-129

by either contour furrowing, fill slopes to an acceptable 10. All excavation

terracing,

reduction

of steep cut and

grade or corrected by other means. (scoria) pits, borrow areas to

sites such as clinker

and other such sites shall be closed by filling and grading conform grading to and be compatible of backfills with the adjacent terrain.

Final

shall be performed

to present a surface

susceptible be required 11. Drainage natural whenever

to revegetation. to prevent

Water breaks and/or terracing will

erosion of these sites. or cause unshall be used

alterations

shall not change the character Suitable rip-rap

erosion of water courses. drainage channels

are altered and is to be placed at locacutting or headcutting

tions necessary of the existing 12. After cessation other ancillary or portion condition

to prevent bank sloughing, channels. of use of any construction sites required

site, storage areas, or purposes, that site

for construction

thereof no longer in use shall be restored to the degree possible. so as to present to the adjacent

to its original

Final grading and backfilling a surface terrain. susceptible to reveg-

shall be performed etation and conform

Erosion control on by the appropriate

such sites shall be installed government agency.

as determined

11-130

Soils Impacts tective Federal ment). to soils can be minimized in the right-of-way (ICC, U.S. Forest of certain by including and enforcing permits pro-

stipulations Government

and other

granted

of the

Service,

and U.S. Bureau practices

of Land Manageloss

The application

land treatment

will minimize

of topsoil properties; measures areas,

and productivity;

disruption

of physical, erosion

chemical

and biological Mitigating

and soil loss by wind include stockpiling Mechanized

and water topsoil

and compaction.

will

for later replacement such as scrapers

on disturbed

cuts and fills. soil mixing. Ripping

equipment

will be used to

minimize

and tilling

the soil surface

prior

to seeding

will be required off-road soil compaction. and developfurrows, away from up

to minimize vehicle

soil compaction

effects.

Restriction

of unnecessary will minimize

use by equipment Soil erosion

operators

and employees

will be minimized including

by mulching,

revegetation contour water

ment

of erosion

structures

waterbars,

terraces,

grassed

waterways

and interceptor areas.

ditches

to divert

running

unprotected smooth,

disturbed

Wind erosion

will be minimized

by roughing

exposed

soil areas with

a disk or harrow. will be provided by Burlington Northern to locate

Detailed Inc. in accordance and identify

soils inventories with standards

designated within

by BLM and Forest the right-of-way. and chemical

Service

each soil series

situated

Soil samples analysis.

will be collected Chemical boron, sulfur,

down to 60 inches include organic

for physical matter,

tests will

pH, exchangeable nitrogen,

sodium percentage, potash, Physical Soil

sodium,

chloride,

calcium, cation

selenium,

phosphorus,

base saturation, include

exchange

capacity,

and conductivity. properties.

tests will mineralogy

soil mechanical

analysis

and engineering

11-131

and moisture

relationships after

will be determined.

Additional and before changes

soils information seeding to deter60 and

will be obtained mine profile, inches.

soil has been replaced mechanical

chemical,

and mineralogy

in the upper

Results

from current

or past research

studies

on revegetation

reclamation

of disturbed Construction

areas will be utilized. will include mechanical treatment practices onsite control to reduce

designs

such as contour to benefit measures sediment waters. downstream communities

furrows,

terraces and reduce

and mulches soil loss. waterways areas

to retain moisture Design will and water

revegetation

include

such as diversion yield and runoff

ditches,

spreaders

from compacted

or concentration to identify desirable

of runoff productive vegetative

Studies

and investigations

are necessary sustaining

soil areas that are presently from being Suitable deprived

of soil moisture. that will not have detrimental and identified effects

disposal need

areas

upon the environment wastes. Service

to be selected

for solid and liquid and ballast; rehabil-

haul roads; material storage

sites

for sand, gravel,

campsites; itated

and equipment

areas will be cleaned plans must include

up, scarified, measures

and revegetated. spillage

Contingency

to cleanup oils

accidental

of detrimental damaged

or toxic materials

such as gasoline, condition.

and chemicals

and restore

soil to a near natural that are easily

Service dust and sediment binders used.

and haul roads

susceptible

to producing of water. approval Chemical must be

will be surfaced materials

or treated with a binder state and federal

and surfacing

that meet

The edges will be sloped tation.

or sides of all excavated 3:1 slope

material

sites and borrow and enable

areas revege-

to a minimum

to minimize

sloughing

11-132

Water Resources Proper compliance legal use and minimum Compliance standards with state water laws and regulations will insure route.

consumption

of water supplies along the railroad

with all applicable

state and federal water quality in the right-of-way, Inclusion easements

and regulations

will be stipulated

and other granted permits of stipulations

(See Part I, Chapter VI).

and enforcement

will minimize

adverse impacts to the quality of both ground

and surface waters. Through requirements handling, stipulations in granted easements and permits, specific

for protecting

water quality will be effected.

These include of herbicides of all disunderpass and

storage and disposal

of all wastes and the application timely revegetation

in a manner turbed areas

to keep them out of all waters; (excavation and embankment etc.); rip-rapping permitted

slopes, around bridge,

culvert abutments, of equipment waters.

around bridge abutments;

and restriction

operations

in stream bottoms

and in and around open

11-133

Vegetation Loss of vegetation protective stipulations will be minimized by including and enforcing permits

in the right-of-way (ICC, U.S. Forest

easements Service,

and other granted and U.S. Bureau

of the Federal Management).

Government

of Land

Rehabilitation adjacent provide acres

of all disturbed

areas

(required by stipulation) facilities

on and will

to the right-of-way replacement vegetation

that are not covered by permanent on 1,278 acres of right-of-way Revegetation or surface

and up to 950 to

adjacent

to the right-of-way. agency

plans will be subject owner. plan including for approval

approval

by the administering On the National

Grasslands,

a revegetation

specific by the

measures Forest

will be submitted

in the easement

application

Service. Control of off-road vehicles and other equipment during construction

of the railroad

will

reduce damage and operation

to vegetation

along the route. fire protection and fire of

Development rehabilitation vegetation for spark program

of a stipulated companies

by the railroad

to lower the incidence Stipulated

damage

from range fires will be required. on all appropriate the chance equipment

requirements to the

arrestors

operated

on and adjacent

right-of-way

will decrease

of accidental

range fires.

11-134

Archeological Legislative federal approval authorities

Preservation which guide issuance of a are the Antiquities Quality Act Act of

and obligations

to develop

the Powder River Coal Resources Act of 1957, Wyoming

Act of 1906, Wyoming Antiquities of 1973, Reservoir 1966, National May 13, 1971. Preservation

Environmental

Salvage Act of 1960, National Historic Protection

Preservation

Environmental

Act of 1969, and Executive

Order 11593,

A brief description

of the laws concerned with Archeological Chapter VI, Part I. of the railroad, which lands, a program of buildings and objects

may be found in regional mitigation,

Prior to granting

the permit for construction on federal or nonfederal

might effect cultural resources inventory, evaluation

and nomination

of sites, districts,

will be developed Officer.

in cooperation

with the Wyoming

State Historic

Preservation

No rights-of-way its archeological The company's

will be approved until the company has coordinated State Historic Preservation Officer.

surveys with the Wyoming

survey report will be submitted approving

to the State Historic

Preservation

Officer with a copy to agencies certified agencies,

plans and permits.

The report will be

by the State Preservation with a statement archeologists

Officer and forwarded

to the approving by competent, surveys before if significant

that surveys have been conducted and a recommendation for required

professional

plans and permits surface evidence

are approved.

These surveys may be necessary work.

supports additional

11-135

It is recommended establishing

that the railroad companies share in the cost of under the supervision will aid in

a full-time resident basin paleo-archeologist Officer.

of the State Historic Preservation reducing lead time and development support facilities,

The basin archeologist

delays by performing employees,

advance surveys for

educating construction and conducting

sampling soils, responding Pending the establishment

to company discoveries

salvage work.

of a basin paleo-archeologist, satisfy the requirements by the Wyoming contracting

the railroad companies will be required to archeologist and surveys as described

for a professional

State Historic Preservation

Officer and if so stipulated by him, during construction.

the archeologist

for examinations

11-136

Aesthetics The right-of-way of Interior resource and Agriculture grant will contain visual resource stipulations guided by Departments in agency

standards

contained

management Probably

guidelines. the most critical factor in reducing the impact of the lineal lines in the landscape. of the approved

project

is its location the following

in relation stipulations

to naturally

occurring

Therefore, permit.

will be made a condition

Native natural unbroken

grasses patterns

and shrubs will be seeded in the vegetation. vegetation

to hasten

the return

to

Tilling to break

and planting the unnatural

will be lines of

irregularly construction.

seeded

into adjoining

Nonreflective and buildings located

materials on federal

will be used on transmission lands and the right-of-way. sites will be the minimum

lines,

towers,

Soil disturbance necessary to meet the

of the right-of-way needs

and material

of construction. and seeded

The tops of cut slopes and bottoms to blend with adjoining natural

of fill slopes will

be rounded

slopes.

11-137

Wildlife Reestablishment areas occuring of a perennial managed

and Fish grassland vegetative cover on disturbed and would partially

on federally losses

surface will be required

mitigate

habitat

for some species. barriers (fencing) to wildlife movement must be minimized which would

Right-of-way to the extent encourage of-way possible

by constructing of game movement.

crossings

or other structures

some degree

This is particularly

true should right-

fencing

be constructed design

to be "sheep-tight." of drainage to minimize facilities, modifications water such as culverts of existing Rapid and bridge

Engineering openings, patterns

must be sufficient and maintain

drainage revegetation and

or improve

downstream

quality.

of exposed checking

cut and fill slopes will be accomplished

to assist

in reducing

soil erosion. Proper control and disposal of maintenance from herbicides wastes and protection to of

riparian minimize

vegetation surface

and surface water quality

will be required

water

changes.

II-l3S

Recreation In areas existing ationists on National Grasslands where public access is minimal,

truck trails with and hunters

legal access will have of crossing

crossings

to allow recre-

a means

the railroad.

11-139

Agriculture Livestock grazing All appropriate will meet those required official specifications by local, state for construction or federal and rehabilitation The local, said officer.

authority.

state or federal permits,

responsible

for issuing

and administering

rights-of-way, Mitigating

etc., will be referred

to as the authorized during

measures

should be undertaken

the construction of additions

of the proposed or modifications Before and construction both sides

railroad

since most measures grade

taken will

consist

to the railroad fences between activities,

or attendant are removed

facilities. to facilitate clearing to

pastures

temporary closing cannot

fences will be erected the pasture

parallel

of the right-of-way, so that livestock

on each side of the pastures. with pipes areas. via aqua-

right-of-way

drift between

All ditches capable of transmitting

and canals will be bridged total design volume

or culverted

in subgrade

embankment

All ditch

and canal flows structures

in excavation across

areas will be transmitted

duct or flume

the excavations. streams will be culver ted to allow drainages will have drop structures

All ephemeral passage of normal

and intermittent

streamflow.

All diverted

installed

along diversion All vegetative

sections material

to prevent and litter

headcutting. resulting from construction by the of

clearing authorized water

operations officer

will be disposed to guard against used

of in a manner occurrence

to be specified

of wildfire

or pollution

sources.

The method

shall comply with other

EPA regulations. from the clearing accidental spillage

All waste operations,

materials,

than those resulting

will be stored

in containers

which will prevent

11-140

or disposal

and disposed officer.

of at a site and by a method

to be determined

by

the authorized

Water occurring of railroad

on lands crossed will not be used for construction facilities or service of attendant authorization facilities from the

grade or attendant

except in conformity authorized authorized

with state water law and written Authorization

officer or the land owner.

to drill for water may be of the State of Wyoming that com-

by special permit when pertinent Provisions

regulations

have been complied with.

of special permits will require

pleted wells capable of producing permanently cased and appropriate

five gallons per minute measures strata. taken to assure

or more will be surface contaminuse of any to specifito

ation cannot enter water-bearing completed cations. wells is terminated, Unsuccessful

After construction

the wells will be capped according attempts will be plugged officer.

well drilling

according

specifications

furnished

by the authorized

Specifications

used will

equal or exceed the requirements Any attendant be destroyed

of the State of Wyoming. (corrals, loading chutes, etc.) that will construction activities will be replaced to be agreed The authorized and normal

facilities

as a result of railroad reimbursed

or the landowner

for the value thereof in a manner etc., will be issued. with his authorities

upon before any permits,

rights-of-way, commensurate

officer will decide disputes appeals procedures. The completed according

railroad

will be fenced on the right-of-way by the authorized officer.

boundaries

to specification

furnished

These specifi-

cations may equal or exceed the State of Wyoming Upon completion activities fications of all construction, and revegetated

fencing requirements.

the areas denuded by construction in a manner and according to speci-

will be protected furnished

by the authorized

officer. 11-141

The effect areas during

of blowing

soil can be mitigated As a final adequate

by watering

denuded areas and

all stages

of construction. to assure

step the denuded of water

should be watered

and disked

penetration

given a final water particles movement. Herbicides to livestock mended harmful

sprinkling.

This will

tend to bind

the soil into larger will slow soil

less susceptible

to wind movement.

Revegetation

can be used to treat invader as noxious

species

that are poisonous with recompossible

or that may be classed for chemicals

weeds.

Compliance

use rates effects

recommended

by EPA will mitigate

of certain herbicides. will be performed to livestock on the right-of-way drifting fence to

Annual maintenance lessen the frequency

of mortality commence permit

onto the rail line.

This maintenance

should

as soon as practical should specify

each spring. are taken

The construction with concurrences

the above actions

of the landowners.

11-142

Transportation Mitigative the railroad grade speeds

Networks locating road crossings of All

action will be taken to avoid train-auto accidents

that may induce

due to poor visibility. stopping distances

crossings of travel

will be located on the railroad

to provide

adequate

for the

and highway.

Road depressions and gradual

at grade and declines line will

crossings

should be avoided

in favor of longer

inclines railroad

to avoid snow build be upgraded

up at road depressions. comparable

The existing

to a standard

to that of construction

on the new line

to limit train accident

probability.

11-143

Other Statutory mitigate potential authority adverse for imposing conditions or stipulations with to

environmental is contained

impacts

associated

the pro-

posed railroad Commerce Act

construction

in Section

1 (20) of the Interstate provides that

(49 Stat. 543; 49 U.S.C. shall have the power the construction

1 (20)).

This section to the issuance

the Commission cate authorizing ditions

to attach

of a certifi-

of a line of railroad convenience

such terms and conmay require. conditions

as in its judgment support

the public

and necessity

In addition,

for the imposition

of environmentally

related

may also be found under provisions of 1969 which

of the National courts agency.

Environmental

Policy Act protection

has been held by various of every federal

to make

environmental

a part of the mandate Unlike

the other federal impact

agencies

participating

in the preparation of the Interrail federal

of this environmental state Commerce line.

statement,

the mitigating

authority

Commission

extends

over the entire route

of the proposed with

It is not restricted of the surface Utilization

to those portions but extends

of the right-of-way to private

ownership

estate,

and state land ownertherefore, would

ship as well. enable

of the Section

1 (20) authority,

conditions

and environmental

control measures

to be applied

on a con-

sistent basis

over all portions the Commission the Interstate

of any authorized has authority Commerce

new construction. conditions, it is any

While doubtful whether

to impose

Act grants

the Commission

enforcement

power

or even the power to a certificate

to determine

whether

such provisions Instead, to juris-

as may be attached it provides

have in fact been violated. operation or abandonment

that any construction,

contrary

the provisions diction

of the Act may be enjoined States,

by any court of competent the Commission,

at the suit of the United

any Commission

11-144

or regulatory interest.

body of a state an involved

or states

affected,

or any other party landowners

in

Thus,

land-management

agency,

adjacent the imposed

to a proposed requisite

rail line, may

or conservation

groups which

can demonstrate with

standing

sue to enjoin

a railroad's

noncompliance

environmental

conditions.

11-145

CHAPTER PROBABLE

V

ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED Air Quality

Impacts be avoided. struction borrow

on air quality

resulting

from construction affected during

activities

cannot con-

Air quality

will be temporarily

the two-year

period

by dust from haul pits

roads, access

roads,

fill areas, periods.

cut areas, Emissions of

areas,

and clinker

(3,700 acres) will

during windy result

resulting

from construction

activities

in localized

lowering

air quality. Long-term of up to 23 loaded 10 to 50 per year, Despite unavoidable coal trains along impacts will result from loading and hauling fires,

per day by 1990. will

Frequent

accidental

the right-of-way

cause temporary

air pollution. on diesel

the use of all available a certain level

maintenance will

to reduce occur.

emissions Based

locomotives, exportation per year is:

level of emission tons),

on the 1990 coal diesel dioxide, emission 7,597

(93 million

the amount 1,170

of unavoidable

513 tons of particulates, oxides, 2,669

tons of sulfur

tons of nitrogen hydrocarbons.

tons of carbon monoxide,

and 1,930

tons of

The projected Wyoming Intrastate

train

emissions Control

take place Regions.

in the Casper 1 compares

and adjacent projected air

Air Quality

Table

unavoidable quality

train emissions regions.

with

the 1970 quantities

for the two combined

control

11-147

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II-148

Topography Permanent of the railroad alterations of topography and moving associated with construction cubic yards of materials

bed embankments Other

of 15,000,000

will be unavoidable. and removal

topographic

impacts will

occur from the excavation and crushed limestone Extraction and

of 1,050,000

cubic yards

of clinker,

gravel,

from pits and quarries of an unknown realignment systems will amount

to provide

ballast

materials

for the railroad. areas, construction

of fill materials roadbed

from borrow crossings

of access roads, occur.

and alteration

of drainage

Removal where

of prominent

points

of land and creation the topographic

of steep slopes shape. Creation patterns of

none existed before embankments

adversely

changes

elevated

in low areas

could cause changes Some alteration

in drainage of stream

and

create unavoidable struction be avoided changed

impacts

on them.

channels

for concannot

of bridges and would

and placement be adverse

of culverts will occur.

These

changes is

to the extent stream

that the drainage occurs.

pattern

to the point where

increased

erosion

11-149

Soils The major soil productivity by the railroad significant unavoidable adverse impact will be the loss of which will be covered structures and facilities. and microthe

on 1,100 acres roadbed, ballast

of the right-of-way slopes,

and associated

Topsoil orga~isms proposed sediment

or upper

soil layers

containing

plant nutrients

will be destroyed right-of-way. yield,

or disturbed

on the entire will result

2,400 acres within

This disruption

in increased in moisture

soil erosion, infiltration

loss of soil moisture, during the anticipated in erosion especially

and decrease two-year

and percolation

construction during

period. the construction and intensive rain

Some increase period is unavoidable, storm occurrences. and resulting impact

and sedimentation during

high wind periods channels

Alteration

of some drainage

during

construction sedimentation alterations and lost

on depletion during

of soil moisture period.

and increased

will be unavoidable will probably soil moisture.

the construction

Some permanent

be made,

resulting

in a long-term

impact

on sedimentation

Soil compaction, activities

topsoil

disturbance,

and other off-site

construction outside this However,

cannot be avoided.

This will

cover approximately measures period access

1,500 acres are followed,

of the right-of-way. impact

If the suggested

mitigation

should be limited

to just the construction to structures, lost within

of two years. roads,

550 acres will be lost permanently pits in addition to the 1,100 acres

and clinker

the right-of-way.

11-150

Mineral Temporary under loss, the proposed this deferral to mine denial

Resources tons of strippable Although coai located

of 161 million

rail line cannot be avoided. might be an additional

not a physical

economic

loss as it may be more in conjunction

expensive with

the coal at a later mine operations.

time than if it was mined

the surrounding

11-151

Water The short-term during construction Some oils, consumptive

Resources use of 185 to 1,075 acre-feet over a two-year wastes, of water

of the railroad chemicals,

period will be unavoidable. will enter in

sanitary

and herbicides

ground and surface waters granted easements

even though adequate

stipulations

are included

and permits. of embankments and drainage when will structures at stream crossings

Construction will temporarily

cause increased

turbidity

perennial

or seasonal

flows are spills

present. of coal,

Some pollution toxic oils,

of surface waters and similar

also occur from accidental into streams

chemicals,

cargo

and drainages.

11-152

Vegetation The permanent by right-of-way loss of vegetation on 1,100 acres which ballast) will be occupied

facilities

(main rail line, sidings, The acreage permanently

will be unavoidable

for the life of the project.

lost off the right-of-way, Included in this acreage are

a total of 550 acres by 1990, will be unavoidable. 141 acres of vegetation The remaining to the right-of-way short-term be avoided. will lost to community 1,300 will acres expansion

due to population and 950 acres

increase. adjacent the

in the right-of-way

which

be disturbed

will be revegetated;

however,

loss of this vegetation Even though

for a period a return

of two to four years to present native

cannot

revegetated,

composition

not occur

for a period

of from 20 to 50 years. adding

Some deep

cuts and fills vegetative loss.

may never be successfully Damage accidental fires

revegetated,

to the permanent

to vegetation

from use of herbicides

in maintenance each year),

operations, and off-

(10 to 50 fires burning cannot be avoided. of small drainages

200 to 300 acres

site vehicle

travel

Diversion cause

through major downstream

adjacent because

structures

will in

some unavoidable normally

loss of vegetation provided

of a reduction

soil moisture

by flood irrigation.

11-153

Archeological If sites and values will be destroyed. on these values activities Increased

and Paleontological

Values construction, they

exist in the area of railroad population and recreational

use and their impact construction

cannot be avoided.

Even if sites are found during they will be eliminated

and examined

and excavated,

from any further by these tech-

study in the future. potential niques

The information through

that could have been provided the use of more refined

sites in the future

examination

will be unavoidably

lost.

11-154

Aesthetics There will be considerable both in the excavation and embankment interruption in the landform in many areas,

for the railroad bed and in the borrow and There will be an immediate short-term

waste areas, which cannot be avoided. adverse impact, at least on vegetative disturbed.

texture, in all areas where soil is over time; however, it will take

This contrast will be reduced

20 to 50 years to return to the present composition. vations along the route will be very difficult, and will remain a contrast Although

Some of the deeper excato entirely

if not impossible,

revegetate

in both color and texture. intrusions along the proposed land-

there are a number of existing one additional

route, the railroad will provide scape. Where the railroad

intrusion

to the natural

is in view of Highway

59, the adverse

effect on many it

people is unavoidable. will be impossible

Furthermore,

during construction intrusions

of the railroad,

to avoid visual

created by construction facilities needed

camps,

staging areas, storage areas, and additional struction crews.

to support conimpacts

Some people will find these unavoidable

aesthetic

displeasing

and objectionable.

11-155

Wildlife The permanent will be adverse

and Fish

loss of 1,650 acres of big sagebrush and grass habitat This acreage will be lost to permanent facil-

and unavoidable.

ities such as housing, Destruction from an estimated be avoided.

track, clinker pits, access roads, etc. of additional habitat, mostly sagebrush and grass type,

10 to 50 fires and 200 to 3,000 acres per year burned cannot habitat will be destroyed during construction of the rail-

Riparian

road, especially

at Box Creek and Porcupine

Creek.

Approximately range will be disturbed. estimated impairment

25 percent or 975 acres of crucial antelope winter The total unavoidable, adverse impact will be an and loss or serious

loss of 75 antelope

from the base population

of 3,900 acres of antelope habitat. Twelve hundred acres of deer habitat will be lost or significantly

disturbed. to habitat

An estimated disturbance,

10 to 20 deer per year will be lost from this area due fences, and collisions with trains. (up to 46 per day by 1990) This will cause

The noise associated

with train operations

will force animals away from the vicinity impacts from overuse on additional, Freedom restricted.

of the right-of-way.

indeterminable

amounts of habitat. for animals will be on

of access across the right-of-way patterns

This will change migration

and place more pressure

certain areas of habitat. carrying capacity

This, in the long-term,

could further reduce the

of the habitat.

The loss of 3,900 acres of sage grouse habitat cannot be avoided. Even though part of the area will be reclaimed, eliminated. of sagebrush. Herbicide treatment sagebrush will have been will prevent reinvasion

of the right-of-way

Direct loss will probably be in the range of 35 to 50 birds

11-156

from the base population. how many mating or nesting

Total

loss cannot be estimated

as it is not known

areas may be destroyed

by the route.

11-157

Recreation The major of freedom of access unavoidable adverse impacts on recreation Access involve across restriction the right-

and loss of wildlife to major

populations.

of-way will be restricted especially the noise,

road crossings. the solitude

Operation

of the railroad,

will disrupt

of the area for the recreationist controlled access, loss of

while he is using wildlife habitat,

the area. and reduced

Increased

population,

game populations

will result

in fewer recreational

opportunities.

11-158

Agriculture Livestock forage A permanent loss of grazing on the 2,400 acres of right-of-way cannot be avoided. Construction activity (access

(369 animal unit months-AUMs)

roads, clinker pits, construction acres (146 AUMs) adjacent

camps) will cause a temporary

loss of 950

to the right-of-way.

Even though this area is Therefore, 550 acres a long(85 AUMs)

reclaimed,

full productivity

will not be reestablished. An estimated

term loss of an annual 73 AUMs will occur. outside of the right-of-way clinker pits). The permanent by the railroad from the grade. loss of natural

will be permanently

lost (access roads, housing,

irrigation

by small drainages

severed

grade will lower the grazing capacity

of some areas downstream

This adverse impact cannot be quantified. runoff and siltation that occurs between the start

Accelerated of construction be avoided.

and reestablishment

of vegetation

on the denuded areas cannot cannot be avoided. Instal-

Loss of free access use by livestock

lation of cattle passes converts

free access to defined physical

access and

will result in overuse on some vegetation other vegetation, depending

and less than proper use levels on

on the location in a pasture.

Fires that may occur along the rail line (10 to 50 with 200 to 3,000 acres burned per year) will consume valuable age (31 to 462 AUMs) will be lost for a minimum area has been revegetated. The noise of train operations and ewes during calving and lambing. (46 per day by 1990) will disturb cows to the rail line probably livestock forage. This for-

period of two years until the

Pastures adjacent

cannot be used for calving and lambing.

11-159

There will be an irreversible livestock enterprises as adjustments

change in the normal operation

of

are made in the operation

due to the

severance of ranch units. There will be a short-term by the rail line construction. quantifiable loss of replaceable facilities destroyed

The total effects of these losses are not

at the present time (April 1974).

Farming There will be a permanent land along the railroad of production right-of-way. loss of production from 160 acres of cropthere could be a loss

During construction acres.

on approximately

60 additional

This will result in a loss loss of

of approximately

300 tons of hay for each of two years and a permanent

216 tons of hay production. There will be some cropland management or unirrigable severed in parcels too small for economical Six fields in the but the total

due to economic considerations.

Shawnee Creek drainage acreage affected

have been identified

in this category,

cannot be quantified

due to lack of data. of irrigation structures due to

There will be increased maintenance siltation during the construction Some irrigated struction period.

cropland may not be able to be irrigated severance of irrigation systems.

during conin

due to temporary

The reduction

crop production

during this period cannot be quantified.

11-160

Transportation Regardless produce of the location

Networks and its design, it will Prin-

of the railroad

some effects on local transportation

that cannot be mitigated. unrestricted

cipally will be its effect on the relatively numerous minor roads in the area.

travel across the cannot be provided inconvenience only.

Since grade crossings irritation

for every minor road, local resident

and added mileage

will be created from having to cross the railroad at specified Drifting of snow on State Highway

locations

59 and on lesser roads due to rail-

road fills and grade elevation The deterioration

is unavoidable. from increased coal train operations the mainline is

of the mainline

cannot be avoided, and the necessity unavoidable. The increased operations increased potential

of having to upgrade

for additional

car-train

collisions

due to

of 46 trains per day by 1990 cannot be avoided and could result in loss of life. (The amount is indeterminable.) Since the line will

have a number of grade crossings, railroad.

this impact may be higher than for a normal

11-161

Socia-Economic Employment, not pose adverse unavoidable income, population, impacts.

Conditions and capital investment themselves do

unavoidable

The discrete

effects of these produce on a cumu-

social and economic

impacts.

These have been analyzed

lative basis and can be found in Chapters statement.

V and VII of Part I of this impact

11-162

CHAPTER ALTERNATIVES

VI ACTION

TO THE PROPOSED

No Development The no development haul mines coal out of the basin. is part of the mining operation. alternative means no construction of a rail line to and Amax North required for

The spur line to the proposed plan and is considered under

Carter

in the approval

the mining

Therefore,

this alternative

the 12 miles

of spur

lines required

for those mines

would

still be considered. would mean that the environmental

Acceptance impacts analyzed

of this alternative

in Chapters other

III and V of this part will not occur. are likely to occur onsite as well as offsite.

However, As there eventually alternative associated although

impacts

is a high demand be developed means with delayed

and economic

need for the coal, the coal mines will delayed for a period Therefore, of time until the impacts

although

probably

of transportation

are developed. in Parts

these mines

as discussed

I, III and V may still occur, at a lesser scale. is for shipment coal is low in

for a period

of time and probably

The majority out of state sulfur to midwest

of the coal to be hauled and eastern points

by the railroad The basin in order

of demand.

content

and is required

by these power plants Without content

to meet current

EPA and state air pollution will need nation. pollution to obtain

regulations. sulfur sulfur

this coal these power plants from other areas of the result in increased air

coal of higher a higher

Use of coal with

content will to

in the power plant areas,

or inability

11-163

supply

the electrical impacts

energy created

demands

of their

service

areas with resultant and bro,vnouts. con-

environmental

by lack of power,

blackouts

Other means sequences tion could veyors,

of transportation rail line.

may have worse These

environmental means

than the proposed include

alternative

of transportacon-

any combination

of the following plants

methods:

trucks,

slurry pipelines, and mine mouth

gasification

and transportation

of gas by

pipelines is

power generating Section

plants.

Each of these methods VIII.

described

in Alternative

of Part

I, Chapter

11-164

Alternate There are a number be constructed major barriers Many on. would of possible

Routes routes that the rail '_ine could Lack of

Topographic allow

limitations

do exist, however.

construction impacts

along a large number would not vary

of alternate between

routes.

of the potential

significantly

these routes. Three alternate were based and amount on significant of construction A, and are: routes were differences which would (1) Eastern selected for analysis. Selections crossed

in location, be required. route,

type of terrain These

are shown on Map and (3) Douglas

12, Appendix corridor.

(2) Western

route

An impact analysis alternate routes, Figure 1.

matrix

was prepared

for the proposed

and selected routes

The net residual

impacts

of the individual system:

were analyzed

and rated

in accordance Impact

to the following

(0) - Negligible (L) - Low Impact (M) - Medium (H) - High

Impact

Impact Impact

(+) -

Beneficial

(-) - Adverse

Impact

Eastern Location

route Loop IA the main line spur east of the Belle Ayr mine and across the Belle Fourche the Campbell River and

This route leaves and goes generally to Four Horse

east past Piney

Ranch

Creek.

It then turns generally

south along

II-165

Figure 1 Analysis of Railroad Impacts Mternative Routes
lEnvii=nmental
.eer
Antelope

-L -M

-M -H
-H

-L -L

o
o o
-L

Elk
U:pland Game Birds Aquatic Cultural Valves

o
-L

o
-L

-M -L -L

o o

o o

o
o

Archeological Historical Aesthetics Socio-Economic Conditions Population Employment Social Services Living Conditions

-M

-H

-M

-M -L -L

o
-L

o
-H

o
-L

-M

-M

-M +M

-M

o o

o o

o
o

o
-H

II-166

Weston County Creek below passing

lines and east of the Rochelle with Bacon Creek.

Hills, crossing It continues

Black Thundler south,

the confluence

generdlly

to the west of Rochelle

and east of Dull Center. and Niobrara

The rout.e continues east of

generally the Miller

south along the Converse Hills,

County line, staying

thence turns southwest

along Lightning

Creek, passiing to It cO)]illtinues

the northwest

of Janet and then parallels

the Walker Creek Road.,

from Janet to Douglas Walker

to a point about one mile east o·f the FFiighway59) From this point, the route bears southeast: down to the point nf confluewce;with forks, the easterw l!nranch

Creek Road Junction.

the west fork of Shawnee Creek about 12 miles the main fork of Shawnee Creek. proceeding

Here the corridor

about five miles east to the BN/CNW main line at: Shawnee and the going south about five miles to the BN/CNW main. line tWi... ..•..
0

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1II-19

Office

and shop

Office and shop facilities will be required at the mine site but specifications as to size and type of structures have not been finalized at present. Sewage from the surface facilities will be treated in a septic tank and discharged to a drain field and sand filter bed of adequate capacity. Waste from the office and shop facilities will be buried under spoil piles in the mine. Little burning of waste is anticipated, but if necessary, burning will be done under controlled conditions and in accordance with local and state laws. Mining equipment has made plans 20 to 27 yard, to purchase the following equipment for the

The company mine: mounted shovels drills,

dump trucks - 100 to 180 tons, truck and track wheel scrapers - for topsoil, and bulldozers -

front end loaders, plus any necessary

for reclamation,

support

equipment.

Loading

equipment Coal will be hauled from the mine trucks. hoppers to the crushing facility by bottom

and/or

rear dump off-highway ramp into storage

The trucks will discharge which will feed the primary

the coal via a crusher.

drive-over

Storage

facilities Coal storage facilities for crushed from which coal will include outside surface by

storage

as well as enclosed

storage

the coal will be delivered The approximate are shown

conveyors

to the flood loading facilities

facility

for rail cars. system

location

and size of storage

and rail loading

in Figure

6.

Crushing

and processing

equipment to minus two-inch size prior to shipment at to

The coal will be crushed the purchasers. present. plant.

The type and size of crushers system is planned

have not been finalized for the crushing

A dust collection

and screening

111-20'

Mining The company during section has presently

Sequence contracted to mine 88,000 tons of coal of

1975 from a pit 250 feet wide and 400 feet long in the SE~SW~NE~ 27. This pit will be expanded 27 by 1977. to a north-south This working mining

face 2,000 feet

long in the N~ of section 1,000 feet to the west After

face will be advanced

in 1977; 1,200 feet in 1978; and 1,800 feet in 1979. in shape. Each year about 83 acres

1979 the pits will be irregular

will be mined. Overburden about will be removed from the coal for a minimum Loading operations distance of

300 feet ahead of the coal mining. of the operation

on the top bench coal quality strips at

will be independent and safe mining a selected width

on the lower bench will be mined

to maintain

conditions. depending

Coal benches on operating

in north-south

considerations. and safe, coal may be mined Furthermore, rather future in a

If proven more practical, single bench may indicate trucks. over the full thickness

efficient,

of the bed.

studies by

that coal should be conveyed that a conveyor

to the plant,

than hauled is 1979.

The earliest

system would

be installed

The overburden loading operation

will be placed

in its final position within a few months

behind

the coal

and the land reshaped percent

after an area has the year

been mined. after

Ninety

of the disturbed

land will be reclaimed

it has been mined.

111-21

Monitoring Two surface meteorological stations have been installed for one year

and a third will be added in the area of the lease. tained year around. temperature, They continuously

All three will be mainair

record wind speed and direction,

precipitation,

and relative humidity.

The company also has plans

to set up monitoring Twenty-five

stations

to record air quality data. ground water observation the lease area. wells have been in-

permanent

stalled by Atlantic Richfield within continuously continue

Ten of these wells have

operating water level recorders.

Pumping tests have been and will conductivity and storage on

to be carried out to determine of the aquifers. Recording

the hydraulic

coefficients

gauging stations will be established and below the

Little Thunder Creek above and below the lease boundaries, junction with North Prong -
 Little Thunder Creek. stations will be used by Atlantic surface management Richfield,

Data from all monitoring Survey and

the U.S. Geological

agency to determine mitigating

changes as mining progresses. beyond those proposed, are needed,

If additional the mining

measures,

and reclamation Monitoring

plan will be modified structure,

to show the changes. and phenology is underway

of herbage

production,

at the present time.

111-22

Transportation Coal will be loaded car unit trains for shipment. about two million Oklahoma

and Marketing and directly Public from the mine Company into 100-

from storage Southwestern

Service

will receive Texas; for its

tons of coal annually will receive

for its power plant about three million Public

in Amarillo, tons annually

Gas and Electric in Muskogee, 1.8 million

power plant recieve

Oklahoma;

and Nebraska

Power District plant

will

about

tons annually

for its power Texas,

in Sutherland, for September of

Nebraska.

The first shipments because

to Amarillo, delays

are scheduled

1975; however,

of anticipated actual

in commencement

of construction late

mine and railroad 1975 or early conditions,

facilities, Factors

deliveries

may not take place until delays are weather

1976.

that may cause additional delivery

equipment

and materials

time, and manpower

shortages.

1II-22a

CHAPTER DESCRIPTION

II ENVIRON}1ENT

OF THE EXISTING Climate

The description data in the Regional on the Atlantic

of general

climate,

temperature,

and precipitation the climate

level report lease.

(Part I) adequately

characterizes

Richfield

Data from the Rochelle all of which of climatic are within factors: 15 miles

3E, Dull Center, of the A.R.Co.

and Reno weather lease,

stations, ranges

show the following

Temperature Mean monthly Average

range temperatures period, 210F in January May 6 to September -60°F to 90°F in July

28°F frost-free in winter range

30 - 147 days

Chill factor Relative Average Average Average Average

to -70°F minimum to 100 percent to 55 percent per hour

humidity relative wind

5 percent ran~e 45 percent

humidity

speed

10 to 12 miles 12.72 inches 33.6 inches near the lease area.

rainfall snowfall have occurred

per year per year

Tornadoes

In 1970 an unofficial from the Atlantic The accuracy the event. lease measured

precipitation

gauge

on a ranch

three miles

six inches of precipitation is unknown. No frequency

(rain) in 12 hours. can be assigned to

of this measurement

111-23

Microclimate ~ficroclimatology between etc. where adjoining terrains is the study due to slight of slight differences differences are usually in climate as

in soil exposure, below the 4.5-foot

vegetation, level of

Studies standard

conducted weather

of microclimate stations

are located. The major

There are no known effect on climate

studies

microclimate mining

on the Atlantic

lease.

due to surface may be the

will occur factor

in the microclimate. revegetation

Changes

in the microclimate

limiting

in achieving

success.

111-24

R74W

R73W

R72W

R71W

R70W

R69W

R68W

R67W

R66W

R65W

R64W T52 N

I
I

T 51 N ~

I \ r-,
GIL L ;:TTE ~
{

B.NR.R.

T50N <,

I
,../

T49N

j
~~

•r

.- ....

~ ~

~ ~ ~

- ~T48N T47N

~I~ •......•......
~
<;::)<::J

...., ....,
T46N

I

/I
--:

J
~L

:1 ~l~
f}J~
~I~

T45N

::=1
~ /lfi/lici
'I.LLA

I

T44N

«c« r; Vt./ND£R
1\

T43N

c-:

~ ~

l
..

T42N
I

\

\\

~
\\

...•

....

....

--' . --

--

T41N

I

~

T40N

T39N Figure 1 Location of the Black Thunder Coal Property, Richfield Company, Campbell County, Wyoming. Atlantic

III-25

Air Quality Air quality over the lease is similar to the description in the Regional level (Part I) report. Intrastate Emissions Air Quality Region. from the Cities of given

The lease is located in the Wyoming Present air quality is estimated to be good.

Douglas and Gillette

and power plants at Glenrock and Wyodak probably do not Data concerning mixing heights are

affect the air quality over this lease. contained in Table 6, Chapter IV, Part I.

111-26

Topography The Black Thunder in the Northern flank Great Plains coal lease of the Atlantic Province of Fenneman downwarp Richfield Company is

(1931) and on the eastern of the Eastern between Powder River Mountains

of the topographic The basin

and structural is a topographic

Coal Basin.

depression

the Bighorn Powder

to the west and the Black Hills Basin lands, is a plateau

to the east. interrupted

The Eastern

River Coal and grass-

of low relief,

by low rolling

hills

capped by sandstone washes, rolling and broad,

and clinker alluviated

deposits, valleys.

and transected

by steep-sided is and and

gulleys, typically minor

This part of the basin local escarpments,

grasslands

on a dissected

plateau, narrow

badland

topography.

Sparse vegetation,

ravines,

sharp crests

pinnacles

characterize

the badlands. of the lease site, the terrain shallow intermittent probably ponds result is characterized and lakes. from a small deposits. hills To the typically by

In the vicinity dissected playa-like structural east, plains having ponds

small,

These

form in depressions

which

warp and the differential irregular, sandstone

settling

of underlying

steep bluffs,

steep-sided

ridges,

and isolated

form on interbedded clinker. plateau. the upland These

lens and claystone comprise indented breaks

and are capped by resistant at the eastern edge of the separates

ridges

and bluffs

Further

east, a rugged,

eastward-facing

escarpment

from the smooth, and persistent

low relief feature, Hills. buttes Slopes

of the shale to the east fringed by ponderosa forming

(Figure 3). is

This striking locally known

pine trees,

as the Rochelle

The claystone is protected

the escarpment, by cappings

the narrow of broken,

ridges, porous

and isolated red clinker.

and preserved

are steep or cliff-like

in these areas.

The Black Thunder lease lies entirely within the drainage basin of Little Thunder Creek which flows eastward into the Cheyenne River. The creek has a narrow, meandering, steep-sided channel on the uplands that bisects the 111-27

cd
(J)

...
cd H DO 0

P;
0 H

1II-29

lease and opens Creek

eastward

into a wide, North Prong

smooth-floored and Trussler

valley. Creeks,

Little

Thunder

and its tributaries, Altitudes

flow intermittently. side The

range from 4,847 feet in section

2 on the southeast the wide valley.

of the lease local relief

to about 4,630 feet where averages about 250 feet.

the creek enters Slopes

are less than 10 percent

on the

lease area but locally topography near

exceed

20 percent

east of the burnline.

The steepest Prong Valley,

on the lease site occurs corner of Section

on the southeast 21.

rim of North

the northeast

(

111-30

Soils This presentation the Campbell of soil data for the A.R.Co. Soil Survey. lease was taken from

County Reconnaissance by the USDA

The field work was completed Service in 1955. although It must a number

in 1939 and published be realized

Soil Conservation

that this survey identified.

is very general

(Reconnaissance) also includes due to minor concepts.

of series was series failure work

Each delineation or mentioned

several amounts Since

other soil or the

or variations

not mapped

of identification

according

to modern

the end of field through the Great the New the are

on this survey, major system

classification

methods

have passed

Soil Group

(1938), the 7th Approximation Soils indentified

(1964), and currently

Soil Taxonomy

(1971).

and classified similarity.

in 1939 bearing Interpretations

same series name of today may not approach based on the modern concepts

of the series identified may be somewhat

offsite;

therefore,

the implied

interpretations of 1939.

less desirable

than the basic significantly therefore, lands soil to

interpretation since

Soils of the area have not changed in the field of soil science has;

1939, but technology

inventories properly

must be conducted impacts

on the lease area and adjacent

in order

evaluate

on the land and the relationships

to the existing

environment. A soil map showing is illustrated in Table through 1. in Figure 4. the distribution Interpretations of soil units within of the soil units the lease

are summarized 10

Detailed

interpretations C.

of each soil unit are in Tables

28, Appendix

The following generalized distribution

soil unit descriptions

provide

definition

to the

of soil on the included map for the lease area.

Ab-Arvada

Clay loam

Arvada clay loam occupies sloping terraces and alluvial fans that have been formed by local alluvium from upland soils. The soil has alkaline 111-31

R. 70 W.
Ac

Uc

T. 43
N.

Uc

Uc

T. 42

N.
2

LEGEND
Scale

I
mills

@1
~ ~

Arvada Arvada McKenzie Renohi

Clay Loam Clay II Clay

Loam

§I
~

Loam Ro II i ng Phase Land Land (Sear i ng So i I Mater Phase i a I)

Renoh i II Rough Rough

Loam,

El
§]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Broken Broken Loam,

Ulm Clay Ulm Loam U 1m Loam,

Shallow

Ro I ling

Phase

Wibaux-Searing Searing Boundary Gravelly of Arco

complex Loam Coal Property Coal Property)

Figure 4
Gene ra I so i I s map (Areo

III-32

p-, ., rl "r! M «l .-{.-l..-lOO
ill

:::: ~ ~ ~
.::: •.• ~ :;:j
::J 0 0 ~ tf.l4-lU!=Q

ro en

W'"d

<1l Q}~to .......•. -Ml-l •....•.c ,
.j..J (lj"'; ()

..-I .j..J ..-I P r-l..-l4-lQJ -rl ~ '"0 l-l U cd Q [-l «I tf.l m .

«<

,..,

rl

]]
«<,..,
•.• -0

o '" 4-< ....• '" >.::<:

....•
rl

••..• 4-<

~ ... '" ~ ~
u:>U
H

., ... .,
'"

0

rl "' ....• ....•....• .., .0 ... P'''' .,rl ....• ." '0 "

...

.,u:> '" ....•

::> co OH 4-<

0 ....•...•

....• '" '0-0 " ....• ... <1l '" 0 '" ... '" '" 0
N
oj( oj(

.,"., .,"' ' '" '" ., "'''' '" ., .,
'"
....•

" eo ''"

:>
-0

0

rl

....•

'" ~
•••

"'''' '"

..,
'"

'" ts
....•

.,
;::>

P< 0 rl

'"
...• ....•
u:>
0

~'-{~"""~~"""NM~M~~M~~~rl~"""N~~"""NM"""N I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

o

0

~OOOOOOOOO
I"", I I

0

OOOOOOCOD

'"

s-e

u:>

O~O~OO~OOOOOooono~o~OOO~OO~O
HNMN~~NM~ rl 0 .0

I

I

I

I

I
r-tNM

I

I

I

I
•....• N

I

I r-l

u:>

~

«:

u

u ;::>

'" ;::>

.0 u:>

1II-33

or saline areas and bare spots where wind erosion has removed the surface and exposed the clay subsoil. The surface horizon is light brownish four inches thick. alkaline. The soil reaction gray friable clay loam about

(pH) ranges from slightly to strongly

The subsoil is brown to gray clay to clay loam about 20 inches thick structure. The substratum is clay loam to clay ranges

and has columnar to prismatic to 60 inches or more. from strongly

The soil reaction of the subsoil and substratum The internal drainage

to very strongly alkaline. sodium percentage

is very slow. is high, more

The exchangeable than 15 percent.

of the subsoil and substratum

There are an estimated

110 acres of these soils on the lease.

Ac-Arvada

loam Arvada loam occupies sloping terraces that have been formed by local

alluvium.

The soil has alkaline or saline areas and bare spots where wind the surface and exposed the clay subsoil. The surface The subThe subof The

erosion has removed horizon

is 5 to 10 inches thick and ranges from sandy loam to loam. to prismatic structure.

soil is clay loam to clay and has columnar

stratum is clay to silty clay loam to 60 inches or more. the subsoil and substratum internal drainage ranges from strongly The exchangeable

The soil reaction

to very strongly alkaline. sodium percentage

is very slow.

of the sub380

soil and substratum

is high, more than 15 percent.

There are an estimated

acres of these soils on the lease.

Mb-McKenzie

clay clay occurs in shallow, intermittent lakes on upland land-

McKenzie forms.

The soil consists of gray or dark gray clay materials which have eroded ~cKenzie clay varies in stage of development with carbonate

from upland soils. bearing

layers occurring

from a few inches to several feet below the surface. 111-34

The surface layer is 2 to 5 inches thick and ranges from sandy loam to clay. The substratum deep. is dominantly a massive, gray clay and may be more than 60 inches strongly to very strongly alkaline. Carbonate

Soil reaction is normally

content is variable but usually increases with depth. slow.

Internal drainage is very There are an

Saline and sadie salts are present in some locations. 140 acres of these soils on the lease.

estimated

Rb-Renohill

clay loam clay loam occupies gently sloping to rolling uplands. The

Renohill parent material tions.

is weathered

shale of the Wasatch, Lance, and Fort Union Forma-

The clay loam surface horizon is 3 to 6 inches thick and has granular The upper subsoil is clay to clay loam with prismatic It normally contains no free calcium carbonate. and blocky

structure. structure.

The lower subsoil is calSoil

is clay loam and contains calcium carbonate. careous extending

The clay loam substratum

to bedrock which occurs at depths of 20 to 40 inches. to moderately alkaline.

reaction is normally neutral material estimated

The depth to calcareous There are an

ranges from 6 to 20 inches.

Internal drainage is slow.

510 acres of these soils on the lease.

Re-RenohilJ

loam, rolling phase depth of

This rolling phase differs from Renohill loam in topography, soil, and degree of erosion. The topography is rolling to steep.

The depth to

bedrock ranges from less than 10 inches to 40 inches. some of the steeper slopes. The parent material Formations. thick. ture.

Bedrock is exposed on

Natural erosion has formed gullies in some areas. shale of the Wasatch, Lance, and Fort Union 3 to 6 inches struc-

is weathered

The loam to sandy loam surface layer is usually

The upper subsoil is clay loam to clay with blocky and prismatic It normally contains no free calcium carbonate. 111-35

The lower subsoil is

clay loam and contains eous. Soil reaction

calcium carbonate.

The clay loam substratum to moderately alkaline.

is calcar-

is normally neutral

The depth to is slow.

calcareous material

ranges from 6 to 20 inches.

Internal drainage

There are an estimated

930 acres of these soils on the lease.

~~-Rough broken

land land consists of steep, eroded, strongly dissected drainage channels, and rock outcrops. and limestone. The areas

Rough broken along escarpments, parent material

steep-walled

is interbedded

shale, sandstone,

Small areas The density

of shallow to deep soils are intermingled of vegetation is quite variable,

in rough broken land.

ranging from bare areas or sparse vegetation The physical and chemi750 acres

on rock outcrops cal properties

to dense stands on the deeper soils.

of the unit are very variable.

There are an estimated

of this land type on the lease.

Rh-Rough broken land, searing soil material This unit is a complex of rough broken land and eroded areas of scoria. Rough broken land includes steep, eroded, strongly dissected steep-walled drainage channels, and rock outcrops. areas Scoria

along escarpments, is a red or reddish and partial

colored shaly material

and clinker produced by the heating of underlying coalbeds. Searing about

fusing of clays during burning

soil is characterized five inches thick. blocky structure. Bedrock generally

by a reddish brown gravelly

loam surface horizon

The subsoil is a gravelly The substratum

clay loam to loam which has calcareous gravelly loam. This unit has frag-

is a friable,

occurs at an average depth of two feet.

ments and blocks of red shale, stone, and clinker scattered on the surface. Internal drainage on the lease. 111-36 is good. There are an estimated 480 acres of this land type

Sb-Searing

grav~ly

loam loam is developing in scoria, the beds of burned of underlying coalbeds.

Searing gravelly

shale and clinker that have been formed by the burning The scoria beds consist of red, hardened This soil occurs on undulating of scoria. thick. The surface horizon

shales and red to nearly black clinkers. scattered outcrops

to rolling areas and includes

is reddish brown gravelly loam about five inches

The subsoil is a reddish brown gravelly clay loam which has blocky The substratum is friable, calcareous gravelly loam. Bedrock is good. generThere

structure.

ally occurs at an average depth of two feet. are an estimated

Internal drainage

250 acres of these soils on the lease.

Db-DIm clay loam, shallow phase This phase differs from DIm loam in topography, of soil. The topography is rolling texture, and depth sedimentary

and the depth to interbedded

bedrock ranges from 10 to 20 inches. crops. The surface horizon

The steeper slopes have some rock outclay loam about six inches thick. structure. Internal The

is granular

subsoil is calcareous

silty clay loam with prismatic

The subsoil is mod-

normally becomes more loamy and friable with depth. erate to slow. alkaline. Soil reaction normally

drainage

ranges from neutral

to moderately

There are an estimated

10 acres of these soils on the lease.

Dc-DIm loam DIm loam occupies material is interbedded gently sloping to rolling uplands. shale, and loamstone. The parent

sandstone,

The surface horizon

is friable loam 3 to 7 inches thick. to clay loam and has prismatic

The subsoil ranges from sandy clay loam The calcareous to weathered substratum ranges

structure.

from sandy loam to clay loam and extends to 40 inches.

bedrock

at depths of 20 alkaline.

Soil reaction normally ranges from neutral

to moderately

111-37

Internal

drainage

is good.

There

are an estimated

2,374 acres

of these soils

on the lease.

De-Dlm

loam, rolling

phase from Dlm loam in topography, is rolling texture, and depth dissected. on

This phase differs to bedrock, The depth The topography

to steep and often strongly Bedrock

to bedrock

is usually slopes.

less than 20 inches.

is exposed

some of the steeper shale, friable

The parent material have formed

is interbedded

sandstone,

and loamstone.

Gullies

in some areas. normally

The soil is more ranges from neutral

and sandy than Dlm loam. alkaline. Internal

Soil reaction drainage

to moderately

is good.

There are an estimated

330 acres of these soils on the lease.

Wa-Wibaux

- Searing

complex occupies rolling to hilly topography. It is characterthe general

This complex ized by numerous surface produced Wibaux

outcroppings Scoria

or knolls

of scoria which colored

rise above

of the land.

is a reddish

shaly material The very shallow It includes

and clinker to shallow mounds,

by the burning

of underlying

coalbeds.

soils occur on the knolls unweathered

and steep slopes. scoria

knolls,

and steep slopes where to very inches gravelly

is exposed.

The texture

is gravelly

loam and sandy

loam.

The depth

to bedrock

is less than 10

to 20 inches. Searing soil normally gravelly occurs between the knolls. thick. The surface horizon

is reddish-brown reddish-brown friable,

loam about five inches

The subsoil

is a is depth

gravelly

clay loam and has blocky loam. Bedrock

structure. occurs

The substratum at an average

calcareous There

gravelly

generally

of two feet.

are an estimated

100 acres

of these soils on the lease.

III-38

Mineral Stratigraphic and structural re.l~

Resources

The Atlantic

Richfield

Company's

federal coal lease in T42 and 43N,

R70W is on the gently dipping eastern flank of the Powder River Basin (Figure 12, Chapter flat-lying IV of Part I). This broad regional downwarp age in the center surrounded contains near 1: and

rocks of Tertiary

by Cretaceous

progressively

older rocks that are upturned mountains--the Black Hills

on the flanks of the bordering to the east, the Bighorn Mountainl

Precambrian-cored

to the west, and the Laramie Ranve to the south Northward, the basin indistinctly

(Figure 8, Chapter IV, Part I)

blends into the Great Plains. coal field. The following descriptions

The lease is in the Gillette

of the local geology and coal are summarized Barnett (U.S. Geological

from the report of Dobbin and to in Part I of plans

Survey 1927), from reports referred

this report, and from material submitted Formation by the Atlantic

in the proposed mining and reclamation Company.

Richfield

The lease area is on the Wasatch Fort

of Eocene age just west of its boundary with the underlying of Paleocene age (Figure 10, Chapter IV, Part I).

Union Formation between

The contact The or

the two formations

is drawn at the top of the Wyodak coalbed.

coal is not exposed

in the lease area; its subcrop is masked by alluvium

by the red, baked and fused rock, commonly called clinker, scoria, or porcellanite, that was formed when the coalbed burned sometime Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation is exposed just to the east of the lease area. Lebo and Tullock Members Hills Sandstone formations Sandstone in the past. The

(U.S. Geological It is underlain

Survey 1927) in turn by the and Fox

and then by the Cretaceous

Lance Formation

to a depth of about 3,000 feet. Mesozoic and P~leozoic

Increasingly

older, sedimentar

representing

ages lie below the Fox Hills

to a depth of about 14,500 feet below the surface where the top of III-39

the Pre-Cambrian alluvium composed

igneous and metamorphic of unconsolidated

rock complex is located.

Recent

sand and clay with thin gravel lenses Creek and North Prong of Little Thunder

occurs in the valleys Creek.

of Little Thunder

The Tongue River Member on the low, east-facing escarpment

of Fort Union Formation east of the lease area.

is partially The Wyodak

exposed (Roland)

coalbed at the top of the formation area. Below the coalbed,

is as much as 73 feet thick in the lease drab gray, brown, and interbedded with

the rocks are predominatly

dark gray to black

carbonaceous

clay shale and siltstone friable

light gray to yellowish beds of variable grained, highly form resistant igraphic

gray, fine-grained, Nonpersistent sandstone

sandstone

lenses and coalcoarse-

thickness. ferruginous

beds of reddish-brown,

and hard brown sandstone of the member.

concretions strat-

ledges that are distinctive

The following

section was measured

by Dobbin and Barnett

(U.S. Geological

Survey

1927, p. 10) about four miles east of the lease area:

Section of part of the Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation, between sec 21, T43N, R69W, and Little Thunder Creek in sec 34: Clinker of Wyodak (Roland) coalbed (top of Tongue River Member). (Bed is as much as 75 feet thick on the Atlantic Richfield lease area.) Shale, blue-gray, sandy Shale, carbonaceous, containing fossil leaves Coal Shale, carbonaceous, and bone Shale, blue-gray, carbonaceous Sandstone, gray, friable, with hard brown sandstone concretions containing fossil leaves Shale, carbonaceous Shale, sandy, and sandstone, friable, with hard sandstone concretions Shale, dark, carbonaceous Shale, gray, sandy (Continued)
111-40

Ft.
10 6

In.

5

1 10
5 1

9

4

33 9 7

Ft. Sandstone, gray, friable, with I-inch concretionary band at top Shale, dark bluish gray, sandy, with a few hard brown sandstone concretions Sandstone, yellowish gray, friable, with a few bands of carbonaceous shale Shale, dark blue, with fossil leaves and with selenite crystals in upper part Shale, brown, carbonaceous, with fossil leaves and fragments of conifers Shale, dark blue Shale, bluish gray, with brown sandstone concretions Sandstone, yellowish gray, friable Shale, bluish gray Shale, brown to black, with lenses of bright coal in upper part Sandstone, yellowish, friable Shale, blue, with l-foot lens of black carbonaceous shale near the middle Clay, yellow, sandy, with brown sandstone concretions near the base Shale. bluish gray Shale, brown, carbonaceous Concealed Sandstone, gray, friable, with I-foot brown concretionary band at top Largely covered but sandstone and shale exposed in places

In.

15

16
38 7 10 1 12
2 6

11 8
2 6 11 5

11

10
6

8 108

10
7

341

The Wasatch Black Thunder mine)

Formation

(the overburden

to be stripped

at the proposed of

ranges from 15 feet thick along the eastern boundary

the lease block R70W (Figure 5). about 80 percent grained, poorly

to 240 feet thick at the southwestern Where it is not clinker

corner in sec. 3, T42N, is

in the lease area, the formation fine-

drab gray clay shale and 20 percent yellowish-gray, consolidated lenticular sandstone. Discontinuous

impure coalcal-

beds generally

less than five feet thick and thinner and concretionary beds make up less than one percent. Formation The general

careous sandstone character

lithologic

of the Wasatch

is shown by the following Richfield Company:

logs of two core

drill holes furnished

by the Atlantic

1II-4l

mine

area

o
I

2000
I

4000
I Feet

6000
I

8000
!

Isopach

interval

40 feet

R.70W.

Figure 5 Thickness Map of Overburden at the Proposed Black Thunder Hine
1II-42

Sample

No.

*

De)2th From To Description

Drill Hole BT-82A
1

(Center Sec. 34, T43N, R70W)

14'0"

31'7"

Clays, carbonaceous, dark gray-black, some sand and silt layers; 7' to 8' and 26'8" to 28' lost. Sandstone, light gray, hard, calcerous.

2

31'7" 33'9" 53'6" 56'3" 69 '9" 82'1" 90'0" 99'0"

33'9" 53'6" 56'3" 69'9" 82'1" 90'0" 99'0" 106'2"

3

Sands, silts, and clays, light gray, soft, 33'6" to 34' and 49' to 50' lost. Limestone, light gray, hard, 53'8" to 56'3" lost. Sands and silts, gray, 59'3" to 60' and 66'4" to 68' lost. Sands, silts, and clays, gray. Clays, gray. Clays, carbonaceous, brownish-gray, 92' to 93'7" removed. Clays, carbonaceous, brownish-gray,

4

5

6

7 8

9

102'7" to 104' removed.
Drill Hole BT-110 (near the northwest 10 corner of Sec. 27, T43N, R70W). soft to

11'0"
26' 8"

26'8" 29'2" 41'4" 43'0" 46'2" 49'6"

Clays, light to medium-gray, medium hard. Siltstone, calcareous, light gray.

11

very hard,

12

29'2" 41'4" 43'0" 46'2"

Clays, light gray, some slightly carbonaceous, soft to hard. Sandstone, gray. very fine, very hard, light

13

14
15

Clays, some silt, light gray, medium soft to hard. Siltstone, moderate clay, light gray, medium soft to medium hard.

1II-43

Drill Hole BT-110

(cont)

16

49'6"

52'9"

Clays, silty, some highly carbonaceous, light gray to dark gray, medium soft to medium hard. Siltstone, bonaceous, very hard, slightly light gray. car-

17

52'9"

54'1"
77'11"

18

54'1"
77' 11"

Clays, some silt, light gray to dark gray, soft to hard. Clays, trending from silty to carbonaceous, soft to medium hard

19

82'11"

*

Numbers

refer

to analyses

listed

in Tables

2-5. School of Mines toxicity Research to plant

The cores were Institute growth for analyses

submitted

to the Colorado information

to provide

on potential

and other revegetation was placed

problems

that might

be encountered

if the

material

at the top of the graded by semiquantitative analyses

spoil piles x-ray

in post-mining spectrography WaterThe

reclamation. are shown holding analyses section indicate

The analyses

fluorescence in Tables

in Table

2; chemical and settling normal

are reported

3 and 4. 5.

capacities

characteristics

are shown in Table rocks

are in general

for these types of sedimentary IV, Part I). problems However,

(see

on trace elements

in Chapter potential

the analyses and

that the following arise

to plant

establishment

growth might

if certain

layers of the material

became

the soil zone:

1II-44

Interval Drill Core BT-82A 11'6" to 106'2" 31'7" to 33'9" 53'6" to 106'2" 99'0" to 106'2"

Indicated

Potential

Problem

deficiency of available phosphorous and nitrate extractable lead plant-available boron high exchangeable sodium percentage, i.e., poor physical properties in regard to water infiltration and erosion Indicated Potential Problem

Interval Drill Core BT-110 11'0" to 82'11" 11'0" to 26'8" 26'8" to 29'2"

41'4" 46'2" 49'6" 52'0"

to to to to

43'0" 49'6" 52'9" 54'11"

77'11" to 82'11"

deficiency of available phosphorus and nitrate plant-available boron deficiency of available potassium and high ratio of chelatable iron to chelatable copper and zinc plant-available boron deficiency of available potassium plant-available boron high ratio of chelatable iron to chelatable copper and zinc plant-available boron and relatively poor physical properties are not of major consequence because the mining, Richfield truck and

These problems reclamation, Company

and rehabilitation

plans as outlined by the Atlantic and control. selective The proposed

include methods

of correction facilitates

power shovel mining method

removal, special handling Application of

and burial of any toxic material specially nitrate formulated fertilizers

found in the overburden. will correct

the deficiencies

of phosphorous,

and potassium.

III-45

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1II-48

Table

5

Water Holding Capacities and Settling Characteristics of Core Samples of Overburden (Wasatch Formation) in Drill Holes BA-82A and BT-110 at the Proposed Black Thunder Mine, Campbell County, Wyoming

Sample

Depth From
To

No.

Water Holding Capacity l/3-Bar Section %(dry sample wt. basis)

*

Settling .. Ch aracterlstlc Final Pulp Volume, ml

**

Drill hole BT-82A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 14'0" 31'7" 33'9" 53'6" 56' 3" 69'9" 82' 1" 90'0" 90'0" 31'7" 33'9" 53'6" 56'3" 69'9" 82'1" 90'0" 99'0" 106'2" 22.7 48 30 37 30 60

8.7
16.9 15.7 24.1 17.5 28.8 30.8. 31.4

47
45 68 83

Drill Hole BT-110 10 11 12 13 11'0" 26 ' 8" 29'2" 41'4" 43'0" 46'2" 49'6" 52'0" 54'1" 77'11" 26'8" 29'2" 41'4" 43'4" 46'2" 49'6" 52'9" 54'1" 77'11" 82'11" 28.5 40
30

5.7
27.3 14.7 24.7 19.3 27.6 9.0 26.0 30.2

14
15 16 17 18 19

53 30 62 60 50 30
70

90

*Ceramic permeable pressure-plate method, 800F, deionized water. **15 g sample dispersed in 1,000 ml deionized water; 3 gpl CaCL2 added to water; 30 min settling time in I-liter graduate.

III-49

The Wyoming or construction Union

Highway

Department

encountered

no difficult through

engineering the Fort

problems

in cuts for an interstate in Campbell County;

highway

and Wasatch

Formations

however,

all rocks were near road-building bedrock of

surface

and weathered

and, thus, were rippable was not required

with

standard

equipment, commonly

and blasting

(Sherman

1974).

Unweathered

is found at depths foot.

less than 25 feet and has a bearing Unweathered removal. bedrock Landslides cuts.

strength

3 to 7 tons per square will have problems to be blasted

in surface mines

probably

before

or other slope stability Shale from the Fort Union in less than from

occur only locally Formations Consolidation shale

in oversteepened

and Wasatch one year.

used in fills breaks and differential is unstable were

down and deteriorates

settling

of the fill ranges

10 to 20 percent; compressible, 2:1 (Sherman

in slopes encountered

greater unless

than 2:1; some clay is slope ratios exceeded

but no problems 1974).

Strata imperceptable structure

on the lease area are essentially dip of about one degree 6. Minor local

flat lying but do have as shown by the to the regional parts of the lease

regional

to the west

contours

on Figure basins

interruptions and southern

dip consist separated north

of shallow

in the northern

by a high on the line between Thunder faults Creek

sections

21 and 28, T43N, R70W, just

of Little Major

(Figure 6). to offset the rocks similar in the lease area; by

are not known

faults with small displacement Osterwald and Dean

may be present, Survey

to those described Detailed

(U.S. Geological

1961, pl. 28). of joints

studies in rocks

have not been made of the attitude on the lease area; developed west the joint system

and spacing probably

or fractures

will be the same as regionally sets, one striking 1961, pl. 28). north-

in the Great Plains;

that is, two prominent (U.S. Geological Survey

and the other northeast

III-50

mine

area

A

A'
section on

1------Cross

figure

1.43 No

1.42 N.
0
!

2000

,

4000
I

6000
!

8000

Feet Contour interval 10 feet

R.7QW.

Structure

Figure 6 Contour Map on Top of the Coalbed at the Black Thunder Coal Property

III-51

Coal The Wyodak (Roland) coalbed underlying the proposed Black

Thunder mine area is a single bed ranging from 60 to 73 feet in thickness (Figures 7 and 8). 34 and 35. Erosion Areas of thickest coal are in sections 17,21, 27,

and burning have destroyed all or part of the coalbed

in a zone 500 to 1000 feet wide along its subcrop on the eastern edge of the proposed mine area. The remaining coal in these locales ranges from zero

to 60 feet thick (Figures 7 and 8).

Quality of the coal Coal from the Wyodak (Roland) bed that will be produced at the C in rank. The coal is low in ash and

Black Thunder mine is subbituminous sulfur.

The range and typical values of analyses of coal and ash of coal in

102 samples from the proposed Black Thunder mine are given in Tables 6 and 7. Proximate and ultimate analyses, sulfur forms, and oxides in ash for coal core drill hole are listed in Table 8.

samples by interval in a selected Samples of coal were submitted

for analyses of amounts of trace elements or concentrated in ash when the coal in-

that might be emitted to the atmosphere is burned. The results

of trace elements analyses of 29 coal samples, in Table 8, are shown in Table 9. of trace elements.

cluding those described show anomalously

The analyses do not

high concentrations

III-52

R.70W.

mine area

A
I
Cross section on

A'
I
fi gure

o
I

2000
I

4000
I Feet

6000
I

8000
I

72 I sopach interval 1 foot

R.70W.

Figure Thickness

7

Map of Coalbed at the Black Thunder Property

III-53

I: " e

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III-54

Table 6 Range and Typical Values of Analyses From 102 Samples of Coal From the Roland Bed at the Proposed Black Thunder Mine, Campbell County, Wyoming. (All analyses except Btu are in percent) Proximate Analysis As Received Moisture Ash Volatile Matter Fixed Carbon Btu Sulfur Ultimate Analysis As Received Moisture Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Chlorine Sulfur Ash Oxygen Sulfur Forms Pyritic Sulfate Organic Equilibrium Moisture Moisture Index (76 samples) 0.05 0.02 0.25 24.72 9,031 53.65 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.17 0.11 0.45 28.36 50.19 3.55 0.71 0.01 0.33 4.75 12.31 12.18 45.76 3.09 0.49 0.00 0.09 3.26 10.25 - 34.52 - 61.19 - 4.20 - 1.02 - 0.04 - 0.59 - 7.36 - 16.44

Typical 28.13 4.75 31.88 - 32.19 34.93 8,622 0.33

Range 12.18 3.26 27.39 30.96 - 34.52 - 7.36 - 43.36 - 40.02

7,765 - 10,590 0.09 - 0.59

19.23 - 27.72 8,539 - 9,740 37.00 - 67.50

Btu at Equilibrium Hardgrove

Grindability

Source:

Atlantic

Richfield

Company

III-55

Table 7 Range and Typical Values of Analyses of Ash From 90 Samples of Coal From the Roland Bed at the Proposed Black Thunder Mine, Campbell County, Wyoming

MINERAL ANALYSIS OF ASH (Percent) Typical Phosphorous Pentoxide Silica Ferric Oxide Alumina Titania Lime Magnesia Sulfur Trioxide Potassium Oxide Sodium Oxide I) Undetermined Alkalies as Na2O, DCB 0.94 29.51 4.95 15.49 1.19 23.93 4.85 15.68 0.33 1.05 2.41 0.10 48.33 Fusion Temperature of Ash (Degrees Kahrenheit) Reducing Typical Range Initial Deformation Softening (H=W) Softening (H=1/2W) Fluid 2160 2210 2238 2284 1950 2045 2080 2090 2610 2700 2700 2700 Oxidizing Typical Range 2210 2258 2289 2339 2020 2120 2130 2140 2700 2700 2700 2700 Range 0.07 19.64 2.41 10.57 O.ll 14.70 3.22 7.64 0.05 0.00 0.00 2.80 43.31 6.78 19.73 1.59 34.40 7.43 24.50 1. 67 2.45 12.78 0.21

0.02 34.n

Silica Value

- 56.99

Source:

Atlantic

Richfield

Company

III-56

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