PERMFILE70852 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Alternative 1 - No-Action Alternative In the No-Action Altemative, the proposed coal methane drainage project would not be approved. The existing . venting mechanisms, along with the previously completed MDWs, would allow production of approximately 3.5 million tons of coal from current active mining panels in 2002. Production beyond 2002 would not be economically viable. Loss of economic viability would result in closure of the mine. No new road construction, road rehabilitation, drill pad construction, surface drilling, or vertical methane drainage activities would occur. The Minnesota Creek Road, Dry Fork Road, and Horse Gulch Road would continue to retrain open for public full size vehicles and ATV use. The West Flatiron Road would be reclaimed to become an ATV trail when the previously approved MDW operation is completed. Existing motorized trails would continue to be open for public and administrative use. Alternative 2 - Svlvester/LonQ Draw Saddle Long-Term Access Altemative 2 is the Proposed Action. Altemative 2 includes construction of 54 drill pads and 70 MDWs and 10 exploration drill holes. A classified road called the Sylvester access route would be constructed in the project azea and used for the next 30 years for access to the coal lease area and potential future exploration license and/or lease areas. The existing Minnesota Creek/Dry Fork access would be utilized for initial project area access until completion of the Sylvester access route, in the fall of 2002 and would continue to be used for activities in Upper Deep Creek until 2003, or eazly 2004. Additional temporary roads would be constructed and exist for two to four years. Alternative 2 would involve construction of roads and drill pads in resnicted aeeas and require exceptions to the high geologic hazard; steep slope; and wetland, floodplain, and riparian lease stipulations. On completion of all project activities, new disturbance would be reclaimed with the exception of the Sylvester access route. The Sylvester access route would remain open and available for access to potential future coal lease aeeas to the south and east of the project azea. With the exception of [he Minnesota Creek, Dry Fork, and Horse Gulch roads, public motorized vehicle use would not be allowed on roads within the project azea at any time of the year. Alternative 3 -Minnesota Creek/Horse Gulch Access Altemative 3 includes construction of 54 drill pads, 70 MDWs and 10 exploration drill holes. Project area access would be from the existing Minnesota Creek/Dry Fork access for the duration of the project. The proposed Sylvester access route would not be constmcted. Temporary roads would be constructed and exist for two to four yeazs. No new classified roads would be constructed. Alternative 3 would require exceptions to the high geologic hazard; steep slope; wetland, floodplain, and riparian lease stipulations. On completion of all project activities, new disturbance would be reclaimed. With the exception of the Minnesota Creek, Dry Fork, and Horse Gulch roads, public motorized vehicle use would not be allowed on roads within the project area at any time of the yeaz. Alternative 4 - Svlvester Short-Term Access Altemative 4 includes construction of 54 drill pads, 70 MDWs and 10 exploration drill holes. A temporary road would be built on the side slope above Sylvester Gulch for access between the MCC mine facilities area and the project. This road would be obliterated in 2007 when this project ends. The segment of road that would connect the Long Draw Saddle Road to the Dry Fork Road would not be constructed. Temporary roads would be constructed and exist for two to four years. No new classified roads would be constructed. Altemative 4 would require exceptions to the high geologic hazard; steep slope; wetland, floodplain, and riparian lease stipulations. On completion of all project activities, new disturbance would be reclaimed. With the exception of the Minnesota Creek, Dry Fork, and Horse Gulch roads, public motorized vehicle use would not be allowed on roads within the project area at any time of the year. Alternative 5 - Modifv Plan to Comply With Lease Stipulations Without Exception Altemative 5 includes construction of 45 drill pads, 57 MDWs, and 10 exploration drill holes. Surface disturbance (access roads and drill pads) would only occur m areas where exceptions from the existing lease stipulations are not required. Under this alternative, the Sylvester, Box Canyon, and East Fork Sylvester roads and the associated roads to drill pads would not be constructed. Nine proposed drill pads would also not be constructed. Temporary roads would be constructed and exist for two [o four yeazs. No new classified roads would be constrncted. Alternative 5 would not require exceptions [o the high geologic hazard; steep slope; wetland, floodplain, and riparian lease stipulations. On completion of all project activities, new disturbance would be reclaimed. With the exception of the Minnesota Creek, Dry Fork, and Horse Gulch roads, public motorized vehicle use would not be allowed on roads within the project area a[ any time of the year. Final Version 5/31/02 Page I3