GENERAL50821 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• Water Quality • Safety/Emergency Response • Cumulative Impacts Alternatives Considered in Detail In addition to the No Action Aleemative (Alternative 1) and the Proposed Action (Alternative 2), the Forest Service considered several alternatives in response to issues raised by the interdisciplinary team, national policy changes, and input from other agencies, associations, and the public; however, only the No Action and Proposed Action were carried for detailed analysis. Alternative 1 - No Action Under the No Action alternative, current management plans, existing approvals related to coal mining, and non-coal related activities would continue to occur or guide management of the project area. The proposed E Seam methane drainage well project and shaft construction would not be approved. Mining- related surface disturbance would not occur, or would be limited to surface resource monitoring activities such as monitoring wells, surface water monitoring stations, subsidence and related effects, etc. Surface activities related to development of the E Seam methane drainage within the West Elk IRA would not occur. Methane generated during mining operations would be handled through the existing mine ventilation system. The ineffectiveness of handling methane solely through the ventilation system would likely cause underground coal mining operations in the E seam to slow significantly or diminish entirely over time. This could result in a reduced capacity for MCC to meet its coal contractual obligations, create unsafe working conditions, and render the coal reserves uneconomical to recover. Further, there would be a decreased ability to recover currently leased federal coal reserves. Alternative 2-The Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to authorize MCC to conduct surface operations associated with accessing, drilling, constructing, operating, and reclaiming 168 MDWs on 137 drilling locations, and one ventilation/escapeway shaft, and associated road construction or reconstruction. Aportion of these activities is proposed in the West Elk IRA. Operations related to these authorizations are expected to begin summer 2007 and continue for about 12 years. Five of the drilling locations would also serve as staging areas. An additional six staging areas may be used, two of are currently reclaimed areas. The proposed action includes granting relief from the lease stipulation on federal coal lease C-1362 that restricts activities between December 1 and April 30 for the protection of big game winter range to facilitate construction of the Deer Creek shaft. The Forest Service would issue a SUA for these uses of NFS lands. The SUA would be consistent with the terms of the federal coal leases on which operations are proposed, and would include conditions identified in the environmental analysis and final Forest Service decision on the project. Specific activities involved in the Proposed Action are given below: Deer Creek Shaft Includes: Constructing a ventilation shaft to create an airshaft 20 to 28 foot diameter by 400 feet deep. Constructing an emergency escapeway 4 feet in diameter and 400 feet deep. Constructing an enclosure (20 foot by 30 foot steel-sided shed) for the emergency escapeway and electrical generation equipment for emergency escape hoist. • Shaft and escapeway would use a previously approved and constructed pad and access road southeast of Minnesota Creek Reservoir (see Error! Reference source not found.). Deer Creek Ventilation Shafl and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells DEIS S-5