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Chapter 2 Alternatives During EIS preparation, follow only the guidelines for construction in "roadless areas" that were in effect during the time of submittal. The Forest Service is currently managing road constmction activities in IRAs according to an agency Interim Directive (1920-2004-1) issued in July 2004. This directive must be applied to all activities in IRAs for which NEPA decisions are made afrer the effective date of the directive. Analyze impacts to agriculture, specifically along the Minnesota Creek corridor. The Minnesota Creek corridor is outside the cumulative impact area for this coal leasing analysis. Discuss current and projected road management and closures. This issue is outside the scope of the leasing analysis. Where road management may have cumulative effects, an analysis occurs in the cumulative effects sections. Complete the NEPA process in an efficient and timely manner. The EIS is prepared according to all applicable laws, NEPA guidelines, and agency direction. Address impacts (from methane venting) to air quality, global climate change, West Elk Wilderness Area, and national resources. Methane venting is not part of the Proposed Action. Impacts related to reasonably foreseeable future actions that may involve methane venting are discussed in the cumulative effects sections. Provide information on stage 5 old growth. To the Forest Service's knowledge, no old growth that would be classified as stage 5 is present in the Dry Fork LBA area. 2.4 ALTERNATIVE A: NO ACTION Under the No Action alternative, the Dry Fork LBA tract would not be offered for competitive sale and no mining would occur in these specific areas. It is assumed that MCC would continue its present coal mining activities at the West Elk Mine. Impacts from mining would not occur on this tract, and the effects from ongoing land uses would continue. The land would continue to be managed according to Forest Plan standards, goals, and guidelines. 2.5 ALTERNATIVE B: PROPOSED ACTION The Proposed Action is consent to lease NFS lands in the Dry Fork LBA tract for underground development and production of Federal coal reserves, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including terms and conditions for protecting non-coal resources. The Dry Fork LBA tract as delineated by the BLM would be offered for lease by competitive bid. The tract would be offered with special coal lease stipulations for the protection of non-coal resources as determined through the NEPA process, in addition to the BLM Standard Lease Terms, and terms of the Standard Stipulation for Lands under the Jurisdiction of the USDA (see Appendix C). This alternative assumes that the successful bidder would extract coal in the lease tract using underground longwall methods (see Section 1.8.1). Discuss reclamation (bonding, native species). The CDMG oversees coal mining activity in Colorado. The mines are required to have State- approved mine permits. The State levies and administers all the reclamation bonds. The bonding Level is determined at the time a mine permit is issued or revised, and is not part of the leasing analysis (see Section 1.3). 2.5.1 Design Features of the Proposed Action The Proposed Action includes conditions for protection of non-coal resources in the form of lease stipulations derived from restrictions developed from application of the Coal Unsuitability Criteria Dry Fork Lease-ey-Application DEIS 2-5