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NE PA COMPLIANCE COLORADO MESTMORELAND INC. RIGHT-OF-WAY APPLICATIONS FOR ORCHARD VALLEY WEST MINE Page -3- 6. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION 1. NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE A no action alternative would reject the rights-of-way ap- plications allowing no development of the Orchard Valley West Mine site, including no improvement to the existing access road nor construction of the 46 KV powerline or tel- ephone line, Rejection would deny CWI an economically fea- sible method to transport coal from the Orchard Valley Nest Mine to the Orchard Palley Mine for processing or provide electricity to operate the ventilation, coal handling or other facilities at the Orchard Palley West Mine, CWI would have to either not haul coal from the mine or utilize a less cost effective method (in the short-term) to gener- ate electricity and transport coal to the Orchard Valley Mine for crushing and screening and final transport to the train loadout, Either alternative may jeopardize CWI's ex- isting coal supply contract. 2. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED -ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS Other alternatives considered to transport coal from the Orchard Palley West Mine to the existing processing facili- ties at the Orchard Valley Mine include an overland convey- or and innovative methods such as an aerial tramway. Based on only a two-year coal haulage requirement, these alterna- tives are too capital intensive, thus are economically in- feasible and were eliminated from detailed analysis. A new road alignment was also considered, but was elimin- ated from detailed analysis because of the significant ad- ditional disturbance to the public lands creating adverse impacts to soils, wildlife habitat, and the viewshed. A diesel generator was considered to provide electricity to the Orchard Valley West Mine, but was also eliminated from detailed analysis. Diesel power generation would be both cost ineffective and would create a noise impact. III. DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT CWI's access road, telephone line, and northern segment of the power- line traverses moderately steep to steep slopes of 30% to 60% of north- easterly and southwesterly aspects. The southern segment of the power- line crosses slopes of 10% to 30% of the same aspects. Three vegeta- tion types are found in this area: oakbrush, mixed shrub, and pinyon- juniper. Common species include oakbrush, serviceberry, fendlerbush,