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Coal Methane Dn+inage Prajea - Pane6 76-14 Wcrt E!k Mine • Page Td <br />this analysis. A number of issues were identified that were beyond the scope of this analysis because <br />they do not relate directly to the activities and resources to be analyzed, have been considered and <br />evaluated in sufficient detail in a prior relevant environmental analysis document, or the information <br />and means to adequately evaluate the issue(s) are not reasonably available. The following sections <br />summarize those issues that are considered in the analysis and those issues that are beyond the scope <br />of this analysis, by resource or subject category. For those issues identified as beyond the scope of <br />this analysis, a brief discussion of rationale is provided. <br />2.2.1 Issues Considered <br />Geology. Surface Water. Ground Water, and Riparian <br />Surface disturbance has the potential to impact surface water flows, surface water quality, and riparian <br />areas. Drilling and operation of the MDWs has the potential to impact ground water levels and <br />quality. <br />Wildlife and Riparian <br />WIldGfe and wildlife habitat would potentially be impacted by project-related disturbance and <br />activities (including traffic, lights, noise, and human presence). <br />Livestock and Grazine <br />Livestock, existing range improvements, and livestock management activities would be impacted by <br />project-related disturbance and activities. <br />Air uali <br />Air quality conditions would be impacted by project-related constmction, traffic, drilling operations, <br />and methane venting. <br />Access and Recreation <br />Construction of the Sylvester Gulch access route would reduce traffic on the Minnesota Creek Road <br />and would affect recreation use in the project and adjacent azeas. Use of the existing Minnesota <br />Creek Road access would impact local residents along the road. Road consuvction, road closures, <br />and project activities would affect ATV use on existing roads and trails and could impact recreational <br />uses in the azea. <br />Roadless Chazacter <br />Project activities would impact roadless character within the West Elk Inventoried Roadless Area. <br />Socioeconomics <br />Continued economic development of the leased federal coal resource is dependent on effective <br />methane drainage. Both community and individual socioeconomic conditions would be impacted by <br />fluctuations in or reductions of coal production. <br />2.2.2 Issues Outside the Scope of This Analysis <br />The EA should evaluate the global environmental impacts of venting the methane - Coalbed <br />methane is formed during coalification, which is the process that transforms plant material into coal. <br />Contained within the coal seams and surrounding rock strata, coalbed methane generally does not <br />escape into the atmosphere unless exposed by coal mining activity. Released into the mines, the gas <br />becomes coal mine methane which must be removed from the coal mines for safety reasons. <br />However, once in the atmosphere, coal mine methane becomes a greenhouse gas, 21 times as potent <br />as cazbon dioxide (wa>tv.e a. ov/ulobahvarming). <br />Though emitted in much smaller quantities, methane is the second most important greenhouse gas <br />after cazbon dioxide. Over the last two centuries, methane concentrations in the atmosphere have <br />Environmental Arrevment <br />IPWP/Alunv.G/GF.I/U.y JIU@F.~ Uh3 <br />l/J/OS tlv <br />