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3 <br />Commitments of Resources <br />Irreversible commitments of resources are <br />those that cannot be regained, such as the <br />extinction of a species or the removal of mined <br />ore. Irretrievable commitments are those that <br />are lost for a period of time such as the <br />temporary loss of timber productivity in <br />forested areas that are kept clear for use as a <br />power line rights-of-way or road. <br />Air Quality <br />Installation and use of methane relief drainage <br />wells under Alternatives 2 and 3 would <br />irreversibly release methane gas. <br />Soils <br />Under Alternatives 2 and 3, some irreversible <br />loss of soil due to erosion would occur due to <br />wind and run-off, especially if run-off occurs <br />on steep disturbed slopes before BMPs and <br />lease stipulations are implemented. Excavated <br />and/or stockpiled soils would exhibit <br />irretrievable losses of soil structure resulting in <br />reduced water holding capacities. <br />Under Alternative 1 continued mining related <br />activities such as installation of monitoring <br />wells and exploratory drilling, recreational <br />OHV use, and grazing would cause some <br />degree of irreversible soil loss but this effect <br />would be much less extensive compared to that <br />occurring under Alternative 2 or 3. <br />Vegetation <br />Irreversible or irretrievable commitment of <br />resources would occur under Alternatives 2 and <br />3 if a special status plant or isolated <br />populations of plants were missed during field <br />inventories at MDW location sites. Disturbance <br />associated with the construction and operation <br />of the MDW and ventilation shaft could destroy <br />these plants. General loss of vegetation could <br />be considered an irreversible commitment of <br />resources, however this loss would only last <br />until the vegetation regenerated. <br />Recreation <br />A long-term, life of subsurface coal mining <br />operations irretrievable impact on recreation <br />experience with the presence of MDW and <br />direct extremely limited short term project area <br />access may occur in Alternative 2 and 3 during <br />equipment mobilization or demobilization. This <br />commitment would be minimized and <br />eliminated upon completion of operations and <br />concurrent site restoration and reclamation. <br />Roadless <br />Cumulative loss of roadless character in this <br />portion of the IRA would result in the long <br />term (extending beyond life of project <br />estimated at 12 years) loss of manageability <br />and planning consideration for this resource. <br />Since roadless character effects currently exist <br />and a long term negative trend would be <br />anticipated, considerations of impacts as <br />irretrievable are limited. <br />Transportation <br />A long-term (through approximately 2030) <br />irretrievable impact to transportation system <br />management and direct short term project area <br />utilization would occur in Alternatives 2 and 3. <br />Other Required Disclosures <br />NEPA at 40 CFR 1502.25(a) directs "to the <br />fullest extent possible, agencies shall prepare <br />draft environmental impact statements <br />concurrently with and integrated with ...other <br />environmental review laws and executive <br />orders." <br />National Historic Preservation Act for <br />causing ground disturbing actions in <br />historical places. <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the <br />National Marine Fisheries Service in <br />accordance with the ESA implementing <br />regulations for projects with threatened or <br />endangered species. <br />National Environmental Policy Act (40 <br />CFR 1500) to assess environmental effects <br />and disclose decision-making process. <br />152 Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project FEIS