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Coal Methane Drainoge Project - Pan<G 16-24 Wert Elk Mine • Page 2-7 2.3.5 Alternative 5 -Modify Plan to Comply with Lease Stipulations without Exception In Alternative 5 any proposed surface disturbance (access roads and drill pads) would not require an exception from the existing USFS lease stipulations. Under this alternative, the Sylvester Gulch, Box Canyon, and East Fork of Sylvester Gulch roads and the associated roads to drill pads, except for the Sylvester Gulch Spur to drill pad 16-08 would not be constmcted. The drill pads specifically associated with these roads and other drill pads located within areas restricted by lease stipulations would also not be constructed. A total of 45 drill pads would be constructed under Alternative 5 and 57 IvIDWs would be completed. The existing mine ventilation system, underground horizontal degasification boreholes, and the IvIDWs that will be installed would allow full scheduled production through 2005. Production beyond 2005 in the Box Canyon area would not be economically viable, with methane venting limited to the existing mine ventilation system and underground horizontal degasification boreholes. If the mine closes, approximately 6 to 7 million tons of coal pex yeaz would not be developed or produced and approximately 13.0 million tons of production reserves would be lost. Under a caze and maintenance scenario, a small workforce would be maintained (less than 20) and expenditures would be minimal. The decision of whether to close the mine or go on caze and maintenance status would be dependent on prevailing market conditions and company financial considerations. Alternative 5 is premised on no exceptions to lease stipulations, so no exceptions would be required. Under Alternative 5, approximately 17.5 miles of existing roads would be used to access the project area, 11.4 miles of existing road would be used within the project area, 6.8 miles of previously constmcted road or trail would be reconstructed and used as temporary roads, and 2.7 miles of new temporary roads would be constructed. The maximum total length of existing, reconstructed, and new toads in the project area under Alternative 5 would be approximately 20.9 miles. The network of roads that currently exist or would be constructed in the project area under Alternative 5 is shown on Figure F8, Existing and Proposed Roads - Alternatives 5. On completion of all project activities, approximately 5.9 miles of existing roads would remain open to public access, approximately 1.4 miles of road would be reclaimed and converted to ATV trails, and approximately 14.5 miles of roads would be obliterated (all within the project area). Approximately 7.3 miles of roads and trails would remain in [he project azea at dte end of the project in 2007. 2.3.6 Public ATV Use Option All of the action alternatives reflect closure of the project roads to public motorized access for the duration of the project and reclamation of most new project road disturbance to obliterate the roads. As a management option, this EA considers the environmental effects of maintaining public All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) access on 6.2 miles of temporary roads throughout the project duration. In addition, the public ATV use option would involve reclaiming the West Flatiron, West Bench, and East $ench roads by converting them to ATV trails that would be open to public access rather than obliterating these roads on completion of project activities. Under this option, 6.2 miles of public ATV trail would be available in 2008 under each of the action alternatives. 2.3.7 Summary Comparison of Alternatives Table T2, Summary Comparison of Alternatives, summazizes the actions and effects of each of the project alternatives analyzed. The summary is organized to briefly present quantitative effects as a pazdal basis for direct comparison of the alternatives. Detailed descriptions of environmental effects and consequences are provided for each resource or subject in Chapter 3.0. EnvironmentalArzcrrment M.'®P/Alvuo. (..v is/! /Oy1 )/J/yEl ()Jpj f/I/03 ib