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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT <br /> 2.4.7 Use of Electric Trucks and Other Electric Machinery Alternative <br /> This alternative was considered to reduce the amount of emissions from operations and transport of <br /> the mine's coal. The current emissions from mine operations, including for coal transport, were <br /> analyzed in the 2017 Lease Modification EA(BLM and OSMRE 2017) as well as in Chapter 3 of this EA. <br /> The continuous mining machinery used in the mine is powered by electricity.This alternative was not <br /> carried forward for analysis because it would not be economically feasible as the use of electric <br /> vehicles and machinery would be cost prohibitive for a minimal reduction in air quality emissions.This <br /> alternative would be beyond the scope of authority for both the BLM and OSMRE to require the use <br /> of machinery that is not specifically required by statute or regulation. Although, it is allowable to <br /> analyze alternatives outside an agency's jurisdiction, the alternative was dismissed because it is not <br /> economically feasible.The specific analysis of the direct and indirect air impacts related to this Project <br /> are in Section 3.4.1.2. <br /> 2.5 SEPARATE NEPA ANALYSES FOR THE BLM AND OSMRE <br /> A scoping commenter called for separate and sequential NEPA analyses for both BLM's and OSMRE's <br /> decisions.This option for analysis was not carried forward because it would not implement basic policy <br /> or CEQ guidance, and therefore would not meet the purpose of and need for the action. CEQ guidance <br /> for preparing NEPA documents encourages agencies to combine preparation of NEPA documents <br /> whenever possible in an effort to streamline NEPA. Additionally, the agencies will prepare separate <br /> Decision Records/FONSIs, if appropriate, at the end of this analysis. Therefore, the decision-making <br /> portion of the overall NEPA process would be kept separate. Finally, the impacts would be similar <br /> regardless of whether the analyses were conducted separately or together. <br /> Dunn Ranch Area Coal Lease by Application COC-78825 and Mine Plan Modification EA 2-14 <br />