2008-06-20_REVISION - C1980007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources Health and Safety control measures are expected to minimize the extent of this adverse effect to minimal levels. If the No Action Alternative were selected, the mining operations may slow substantially or cease entirely due to unsafe levels of methane making coal recovery uneconomical and would result in a significant loss in the long-term productivity of the West Elk Mine. This loss in productivity would result in economic impacts to the local economy as a significant number of people within the community are employed at the mine. Transportation Though transportation system modification (upgrade and new construction) would be considered long term, impacts to related recreational use would be considered short term. Use of the existing Sylvester Gulch Road as primary access, with project related access on NFSR 711 and associated roads would be long term and for the life of the subsurface West Elk Mine-coal mining operation. As discussed in Chapter 2, proposed new roads would be reclaimed upon completion of methane drainage activities, while upgraded roads would either continue to be maintained as such in perpetuity (existing roads) or restored to their original use (OHV-specific access). Unavoidable Adverse Effects Water Under Alternatives 2 and 3, mining related activities would occur, generating potential short-term direct and indirect effects upon the environment; however no unavoidable long- term adverse effects are expected with regards to surface water and ground water resources. Soils Despite project design criteria, BMPs, and lease stipulations to minimize erosion during implementation of Alternatives 2 and 3, some loss of soil due to erosion would occur due to wind and run-off, especially if run-off occurs on steep disturbed slopes before BMPs or lease stipulations are implemented. However, erosion Also, excavation and stockpiling of soil would destabilize soil aggregates (i.e. soil structure) which would reduce water holding capacity and increase susceptibility to erosion (Brady and Weil 1999). Under Alternative 1 continued mining related activities such as installation of monitoring wells and exploratory drilling, recreational OHV use, and grazing would cause some degree of unavoidable soil loss but this effect would be much less extensive compared to that occurring under Alternatives 2 or 3. Vegetation There are no unavoidable adverse effects on vegetation resources. Species composition and productivity might change as a result of site reclamation and revegetation for up to 10 years. Roadless Past land use and development associated with any alternative would continue to have unavoidable adverse impacts on roadless character within the West Elk IRA beyond the life of the project. Transportation There are no unavoidable adverse direct impacts to transportation system management and use from any of the alternatives. Livestock Management Changed patterns of livestock use may be a short-term unavoidable adverse effect resulting from this project. Social and Economic Alternative 1 would have an unavoidable adverse effect by reducing employment levels at the mine, loss of personal income to workers, loss of federal royalties and loss of tax revenue to counties caused by the curtailment of mining at the West Elk Mine. Irreversible and Irretrievable Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project FEIS 151