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Coal Methane Drainage Project - Panelr 16-24 Wen E!k Mine • Page 24 <br />4) Methane emitted from the West Elk Mine would contribute in some way to global climate <br />change for a period of 6 to 8 years <br />The EA should discuss project permitting requirements for the State of Colorado, <br />reclamation bonding requirements, and opportunities for public involvement in these <br />processes. -Please refer, in part, to the rationale for the previous exclusion. Project permitting <br />requirements for the State of Colorado are detailed in the, "Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land <br />Reclamation Board for Coal Mining". These regulations include requirements for submission of <br />relevant ownership information (Rule 2.03); environmental baseline information (Rule 2.04); <br />complete operating, mitigation, and reclamation plans (Rules 2.05.1-2.05.5); and evaluation of <br />mining-related effects (Rule 2.05.6). Opportunity for public input and involvement is provided <br />through public notification, review, and comment requirements and mandatory review periods (Rules <br />2.07-2.08). Provisions for bonding of any mining-related disturbance and bond release (Rule 3.0) are <br />included in these regulations to assure completion of reclamation consistent with reclamation plans <br />approved by the CDMG during the project permitting process. <br />2.3 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES <br />Alternatives were developed that satisfy the purpose and need (See Section 1.2) and respond to <br />project issues (See Section 2.2). A number of potential project alternatives were identified by the <br />public and through inter-disciplinary analysis. The alternatives were screened to detezmine which <br />alternatives would be cazried Eonvard for detailed analysis and which would be eliminated from <br />further study. The following sections summarize those alternatives that will be carried forward in the <br />analysis and those eliminated from further study. For those alternatives eliminated from further <br />study, a brief discussion of rationale is provided. <br />Alternative 1, No Action is a required alternative. Although it is not consistent with the rights and <br />responsibilities of MCC under the terms and provisions of their federal coal leases, it is analyzed to <br />provide a basis for comparison with the four action alternatives. <br />Alternative 2 was developed to reflect the proposed action developed by MCC and accepted for study <br />by the USFS. This alternative is based on underground mining plans developed to optimize both coal <br />conservation and recovery and mining economics. This alternative optimizes mining efFcienry and <br />community socioeconomic health by allowing construction of the new Sylvester Gulch access route, <br />other roads, and approximately 70 MDWs to vent methane from the underground coal mine. <br />Alternative 3 was developed to display an alternative that allows construction of all the requested <br />MDWs, but reduces wildlife, riparian, and roadless chazacter impacts by not permitting construction <br />of the Sylvester Gulch access route. <br />Alternative 4 was developed to display an alternative that optimizes mining efficienry and reduces <br />roadless character impacts. This alternative allows construction and use of a temporary road in <br />Sylvester Gulch, then requires obliteration of all temporary roads by 2007. <br />Alternative 5 was developed to display an alternative that doesn't allow construction of facilities in all <br />locations where "no surface occupancy" lease stipulations apply. Approval of Alternative 5 would <br />not require exception to any lease stipulations. Alternative 5 minimi,es impacts to geology, surface <br />water, wildlife, and riparian resources. <br />All alternatives respond to the livestock issue by closing the internal roads to public motorized use <br />from 2002 to 2007, then obliterating all roads, eliminating future ATV access. The ATV option was <br />developed to provide an alternative to this action. The ATV option allows motorized ATV access on <br />certain roads during and after the project. The ATV option could be applied to any of the action <br />alternatives. <br />Environmental A.rrerrment <br />~MPIAbui~LdG/ElluMr I/a/0]F.r UfFS <br />3/f/0$dY <br />