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Coal Methane Drainaee Proied - PaneG 16-24 Wert E!k Mine • Pane 2-16 <br />Riparian Stipulation <br />56) In areas where planned disturbance activities would occur in riparian areas or the Water <br />Influence Zone (WIZ), the limits of the riparian area and WIZ will be mapped and staked by <br />a qualified soil scientist, hydrologist, geologist, or biologist. The USFS will approve WIZ <br />staking and planned activities prior to ground disturbance activities. No soil disturbance will <br />be permitted within the active floodplain of any surface water channel, except for crossings, <br />subject to approval by the USFS officer. <br />57) Where construction in or immediately adjacent to WIZ cannot be avoided, specific <br />protection and mitigation measures designed to protect or restore riparian values will be <br />implemented. These may include, but would not be limited to: use of sIlt fence, berms, straw <br />bales, or other measures to minirnize sediment contributions to the riparian area; use of <br />geotextiles as a base for road fills to avoid disturbance of riparian soils; placement of <br />appropriate drainage structures to maintain effective flows through the riparian area, stabilize <br />slopes, and minimi>e erosion; recovery, stockpihng, and replacement of riparian so$s by <br />horizon where soil disturbance is unavoidable; and use of a USFS approved riparian seed mix <br />and riparian plantings. Sediment filters and traps must be used, unless waived in writing by a <br />USFS representative. Silt fencing alone will generally not be considered adequate. All <br />sediment control structures must be routinely inspected and maintained until their function <br />has been replaced by adequate reclamation practices. <br />58) Any mud pits located within the WIZ will be designed to provide total containment of all <br />drilling fluids and drill pad runoff <br />59) Roads constructed within 660 feet of a riparian azea will be surfaced with 3-inch minus clean <br />crushed rock <br />60) Use of anything other than water for dust suppression in any WIZ will not be allowed <br />2.5 PAST, PRESENT, AND REASONABLY FORESEEABLE FUTURE ACTIONS <br />Past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions in the cumulative effects area were analyzed to <br />estimate cumulative impacts for the proposed action and alternatives. <br />2.5.1 West Elk Coal Mine <br />The West Elk Mine has been operating for 20 years with another 20 years of mining projected. <br />Mining in the F Seam commenced in 1982 and progressed from a "room and pillar operation to the <br />current high-capacity longwall operations. Longwall mining commenced in the B Seam in 1992. The <br />mine area includes approximately ]0,000 acres under lease, including private, BLM, and Forest <br />Service surface ownership. Two lease modifications, adding approximately 300 acres in proximity to <br />the project area, were submitted to and approved by the USFS and BLM. Applications for revision <br />of MCC's CDMG Mining and Reclamation Permit to incorporate these additional areas were <br />submitted in eazly 2002. Required approvals are pending completion of the CDMG review. As <br />stated, another 20 years of mining is projected at West Elk Mine, however, additional reserves, leases, <br />and permit approvals must first be obtained as described in Section 2.5.3. <br />2.5.2 Past and Currently Approved Methane Drainage Activities <br />MCC has been venting methane through a pilot system in Sylvester Gulch since 1997. This system <br />was intended to vent methane ahead of development from geologic faults. The surface components <br />of this system aze on MCC lands and were permitted through the CDMG. In 2001, high levels of <br />methane were encountered as mining operations progressed into Panel 14. In order to address the <br />EnuronmenJalA.aeffinent <br />IY.VP/N.nri. (m'G/FA/~rgM1 J/~/0?E~ L'fFl <br />J/S/0}u <br />