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2.0. ALTERNATIVES Two Alternatives, A and B, are described and evaluated in this EA. Alternatives that were considered but dismissed from further analysis are then described. An analysis for selecting the environmentally preferred alternative is also provided. This section concludes with three summary tables comparing the two alternatives. 2.1. Alternative A, No Action The No Action Alternative is required under the NEPA and establishes a baseline or benchmark from which to compare the effects of allowing the proposed activity to proceed. Under this alternative, the proposed mine expansion would not occur. Existing operations would continue on the approximately 12.4 acres subject to the existing NPS Special Use Permit #IMR-CURE- 5300-001, issued on October 20, 2000. Figure 2.1 depicts the quarry and this area, referred to as "Phase 1" of the mining operation. Figure 2.2 provides an aerial photo view of the site as of 2003. The whitened area is the area that has already been mined. No other private lands exist within the park in this area. Mining would continue until all the permitted acreage is mined, which would take approximately 1 to 3 years to complete. Once the entire 12.4 acres is mined out, the disturbed lands would be reclaimed per the approved reclamation plan and the mitigation provided for in the permit, which would include revegetation of the site. The remaining undisturbed portion of the site (approximately 20.76 acres) would remain undeveloped and unmined, in its current condition. Table 2.1 summarizes the mitigation that would occur under Alternative A. A description of mining operations and reclamation that would occur under Alternative A are provided in Section 2.3. 2.2. Alternative B, Proposed Action Under Alternative B, Proposed Action, current mining operations would be expanded to include an additional 19.5 acres of the quarry site (assuming all this material is decomposed granite and intermixed materials). This acreage is the remainder of the total 33.16 acres of the mineral estate that was not included in the 2000 Special Use Permit, minus a 1.22-acre strip that would be preserved as a visual buffer. Upon completion, Alternative B would result in a total mined area of approximately 31.94 acres. Mining of the additional 19.5 acres would occur over a period of up to 42 years, at a rate dependent on market demand, but estimated by the operator to be approximately 800 to 1,000 tons per day. At the completion of mining, all disturbed lands would be reclaimed per the approved reclamation plan and permit conditions, which would include regrading and revegetation of the area. Figure 2.1 depicts the quarry and the area mined to date (Phase 1), plus the proposed expansion area consisting of Phases 2A and 2B, and the visual buffer. Mitigation has been included in Alternative B to protect park resources, especially archeological sites located on the property. The operator included certain mitigation measures in the submitted Plan of Operations, dated February 17, 2003, and supplemented by another submittal on May 26, 2003. In addition, there is mitigation stipulated by the NPS and other regulatory entities that must be included in this alternative in order to protect park resources and reduce impacts to the archeological sites to less than major levels. This mitigation, which includes an Archeological Data Recovery Plan, has been agreed to by the SHPO. Tables 2.2 and 2.3 summarize the operator-specified mitigation and the other stipulated mitigation that would be 14 ~I ~I