2008-06-09_REVISION - C1980007 (3)

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• CHAPTER 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES • • Introduction This chapter describes the existing condition of the physical., biological, and social resources in the project area. that may be affected and the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the alternatives described in Chapter 2. More detailed. information on each resource can be found in the project file. Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects are analyzed in context of the geographic and temporal scope of the project discussed in Chapter 1. Short-term and Long-term Effects Unless otherwise specified, short-term is the life of the project (approximately 12 years). Long-term effects are defined as those that would occur after use of the MDWs is complete. Direct and Indirect Effects Direct effects are caused by the action and occur at the same time and place as the action. Indirect effects are caused by the action and occur later in time or farther removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable. Direct and indirect effects analysis for each alternative and each resource are based on description of the alternatives provided in Chapter 2, including design criteria included in Table 2-1, and assumes all would be implemented as described. Cumulative Effects Cumulative impacts are impacts on the environment that result from incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future action. For each resource, an analysis area was defined to adequately measure cumulative effects of each. alternative. Reasonably foreseeable surface use described below is considered in the direct and indirect effects analysis and in the cumulative effects section. Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions West Elk Coal Mine 1981 to Present, Future The mine has been operating for 25 years and holds over 10,000 acres of Federal coal leases. Subsidence on the GMUG and BLM lands has occurred in and immediately adjacent to the project area. Minor surface tension cracks are visible in places on the surface. Topography has lowered between two and ten feet across the existing subsided areas. Mine life is currently projected for 12 additional years based on existing lease reserves. MCC may submit a proposal to replace one mobile exhauster on an existing "jet hole" with approximately 1,700 feet of temporary surface pipeline (600 feet on NFS) to be able to vent from an exhauster building on MCC land. The temporary surface line is not anticipated to add any additional surface disturbance or impact air quality as methane is still being vented only from a short distance away. This lack of additional impacts is therefore not addressed in any cumulative effects analysis area for any resource. Coal Exploration Drilling 1990s Several drill holes dating from the 1970s and 1994s are within project area. Some access roads are still visible. Reclamation success has returned lands to prescribed uses. Road closures and/or obliteration are inhibiting traffic. Current disturbance associated with MCC operations in the project area includes two Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seain Methane Drainage Wells FEIS 55