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I' Summary Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study Federal agencies are required by NEPA to rigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable alternatives and to briefly discuss the reasons for eliminating any alternatives that were not developed in detail (40 CFR 1502.14). Public comments received in response to the Proposed Action provided suggestions for alternative methods for achieving the purpose and need. Some of these alternatives may have been outside the scope of compliance with Mine Safety and Health Administration requirements for methane gas management, duplicative of the alternatives considered in detail, or determined to be components that would cause unnecessary environmental harm. Therefore, a number of alternatives were considered, but dismissed from detailed consideration for reasons summarized below. Flaring of Methane Gas Flaring of methane gas may cause mine explosions due to fluctuations in the levels of methane. This is an undesired condition and is not approved by MSHA. area within the boundaries of the Somerset coalfield under 3,500 feet of overburden will be managed for recovery of coal reserves. The project area falls within these boundaries. Should the gas lease nominations come up for sale, they could be purchased and the coal mine methane could then be captured, however infrastructure (including pipelines, compression facilities, etc) would have to be installed in order to transport gas from the collection points. This alternative was not considered in detail because it does not meet the purpose and need. Methane Drainage Wells only on Currently Leased Coal Areas Public comment requested that the project be limited to areas within existing federal coal leases. It was mentioned that a decision to allow the methane drainage wells in currently unleased areas would serve to improve the prospects of leasing and developing unleased federal land. This alternative was not considered in detail because, with the sale of the Dry Fork Lease effective date March 1, 2007, all lands in the project area have been leased. Capture/Use of Methane and Leasing of Coal Mine Methane Capturing the coal mine methane rather than allowing it to vent was brought forward as an alternative. The natural gas that occurs in the coal seams and adjacent strata that will be encountered during production of the E seam coal reserves in the project area is considered a federal resource that is managed by BLM. Lands in the project area were identified in the GMUG's 1993 Oil and Gas Leasing EIS as having high potential for oil and gas to occur, and made available and authorized for oil and gas leasing. Gas lease nominations have been made for the project area, however none of the parcels has been offered for lease. Absent an oil and gas lease, the methane encountered as a byproduct of the mining cannot be captured and put to beneficial use. Further, the BLM has identified that mineral resources occurring the Use Horizontal Boreholes or Longhole Horizontal Boreholes Mine Ventilation Plans including design of ventilation system are approved by MSHA from submittals and measurements made by MCC. Based on preliminary plans these types of boreholes alone are inadequate for proper ventilation and efficient mine operations. These methods are already used by MCC where possible. Directionally Drill MDWs from Outside IRAs Directional drilling is limited by the thickness of overburden (or amount of rock) overlying the coal E seam. This limited thickness of overburden precludes the ability to drill exclusively from outside the IRA boundaries and hit the MDW targets needed in the Deer Creek Ventilation Shafl and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells DEIS S-11