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Coal Methane Drainage Project - Panelr 76-24 Wert E!k Mine • Page 2-18 No plans have been developed for this project and the location and number of drillholes are unknown, so potential impacts cannot be accurately projected. 2.5.5 Future Coal Mining - E Seam If the reserve south of the project area is explored, proven, and successfully leased and permitted, required development activities and longwall mining of the E Seam would proceed in this azea within the next ten years. Mining would entail similar activities to those associated with MCC's current B Seam mining operations. These activities could include, but would not be limited to: • Environmental baseline data collection (primarily hydrologic and geologic data acquisition) • Supplemental exploration activities • Constrvcdon of required access roads and surface support facilities (primarily mine access portals and mine ventilation installation(s)) • Underground nvning and related activities All activities would be conducted in full compliance with CDMG, MSIIA, BLM, USFS, and other local, state and federal agency plans and approvals. At this time it is not possible to predict the extent of these activities, nor can associated impacts be quantified. Activities and impacts would be managed and monitored by the appropriate federal and state agencies. MCC has expressed interest in the unleased reserves south of the project area, which would require completion of the full lease by application process, including environmental analysis. Their short- range plan projects underground construction in 2003 and initial reserve development in the northern E Seam reserves, which are akeady leased, in 2004. If this initial development indicates mining is feasible, MCC would proceed with leasing and initiation of active longwall mining in 2007, continuing for approximately 13 yeazs. 2.5.6 Future Coal Mining - B Seam MCC's long-range plan includes additional mining in the B Seam following completion of the E Seam mining. There are 6 longwall panels south of Panel 17, outside of the present lease area, projected to be developed starting in 2016. Longwall mining of these panels would proceed immediately after mining in the E Seam is completed in 2020. Final B Seam mining is projected from 2020-2023, with 2023 being the projected end date for all mining under the current long-range mine plan. 2.5.7 Future Methane Drainage Methane gas is antiupated in the 6 panels south of Panel 17 in the B Seam proposed for mining in 2020 to'2023. It is reasonable to expect that methane drainage would be required to successfully accommodate projected coal production in at least 4 of the 6 panels. A methane drainage system similar to that proposed in this project is anticipated for these 4 panels. It is possible that planned E Seam mining would drain some of this gas and reduce methane drainage requirements, but this possibility is solely speculation at this time. It is anticipated that 10-40 MDWs and 10-35 drill sites would be needed Eor the 4 additional panels in the B Seam. A road network similar to the proposed project would be required to access and drill these MDWs. Roads would be needed in Dry Fork, Long Draw Saddle, Deep Creek, Upper Sylvester, and other locations. Roads would likely be constructed in the same location where roads are planned for construction and rehabilitation in the project studied in this EA. Tt is projected that about 1.5 miles of road construction in new locations would be required. Envirorrmental.4rrermrent V'.YT/FIUOa'x Cy'G/P 1/Orvq l/!/iitl:l l'T!'S 3/f/O)W