2020-10-27_PERMIT FILE - C1981035 ‎(23)‎

• Permit No: C1981035
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 10/27/2020
• Section_Exhibit Name: KII Appendix 15 E.A. Dunn Ranch LBA
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ...............................................1-1
1.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND.....................................................................................1-1
1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED............................................................................................................1-4
1.2.1 Purpose...............................................................................................................................1-4
1.3 RELATIONSHIP TO STATUTES AND REGULATIONS..................................................................1-5
1.4 DECISIONS TO BE MADE.......................................................................................................1-5
1.5 PLAN CONFORMANCE..........................................................................................................1-5
1.6 SCOPE OF ANALYSIS.............................................................................................................1-6
1.7 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION..................................................................................1-6
1.8 SCOPING AND ISSUES...........................................................................................................1-6
1.8.1 Internal Scoping..................................................................................................................1-6
1.8.2 Public Scoping.....................................................................................................................1-6
1.8.3 Issues...................................................................................................................................1-7
1.9 PRELIMINARY EA PUBLIC COMMENT AND AGENCY RESPONSE..............................................1-8
CHAPTER 2 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES .....................................2-1
2.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................2-1
2.2 ALTERNATIVE A- PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................................................2-1
2.2.1 Overview.............................................................................................................................2-1
2.2.2 Access to the LBA................................................................................................................2-2
2.2.3 Reasonably Foreseeable Mine Operations.........................................................................2-6
2.2.4 Annual Production and Life of Mine...................................................................................2-8
2.2.5 Design Features.................................................................................................................2-10
2.3 ALTERNATIVE B—NO ACTION.............................................................................................2-10
2.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS...........................2-10
2.4.1 Northern Mine Area Underground Access Alternative.....................................................2-10
2.4.2 Northern Mine Area Surface Access Alternative..............................................................2-11
2.4.3 Central Mine Area Surface Access Alternative..................................................................2-12
2.4.4 Southern Mine Area Surface Access Alternative..............................................................2-12
2.4.5 Smaller Amount of Coal Alternative .................................................................................2-13
2.4.6 Mandatory Methane Flaring and/or Capture Alternatives...............................................2-13
2.4.7 Use of Electric Trucks and Other Electric Machinery Alternative.....................................2-14
2.4.8 Separate NEPA Analyses for the BLM and OSMRE Alternative.........................................2-14
CHAPTER 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ........3-1
3.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................3-1
3.2 OVERVIEW OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT.......................................................................3-2
3.3 RESOURCES NOT ANALYZED IN DETAIL.................................................................................3-3
3.4 RESOURCE ISSUES ANALYZED IN DETAIL...............................................................................3-5
Dunn Ranch Area Coal Lease by Application COC-78825 and Mine Plan Modification EA i