2008-06-09_REVISION - C1980007 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 6/9/2008
• Doc Name: Revised Pages Part 2
• Type & Sequence: TR111
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Chapter 3
Cumulative Effects
Alternative 1
An average of 15 million cubic meters per year
(5.5 billion cubic feet per year) or 2,211,900
tomies C02 equivalent/year has been released
from previous activities in the B seam at the
West Elk Mine for the last 5 years. Unknown.
quantities of methane have been vented from
both of the other North Fork coal mines.
Water
For surface water and ground water, the project
impact area is the project area. The cumulative
impact area for surface and ground water
includes the surface watersheds and ground
water basins associated with the Deep Creek,
Deer Creek, Lick Creek, Poison Gulch, Trail
Creek and the upper ephemeral tributaries to
the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creels (Figure 6).
Alternative 2
Short-term impacts from the proposed action
would contributE; cumulative effect in the form
of short-term particulate and gaseous emissions
resulting from construction activities. Ongoing,
existing activities discussed in the Affected
Environment will continue to affect air quality,
and emissions and particulate contributed by
the proposed action would likely not be
noticeable or measurable within the study area
and would not exceed any established air
quality standards.
Alternative 2 would contribute additional
greenhouse gases, along with those produced
from the other North Fork coal mines, and
emission from every other man-made and
natural source of greenhouse gas.
Alternative 3
Cumulative effects would be the same as
Alternative 2 to a slightly lesser extent.
Consistency with Forest Plan and
Other Laws
Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 would be
consistent with air quality and fugitive dust
provisions required by the Colorado and
National Ambient Air Quality Standards and
PSD increments as well as alternative gaseous
emissions regulated by the Mine Safety and
Health Administration. The proposed action is
also consistent with Forest Service Manual
2580-Air Resource Management and the 1991
GMUG Forest Plan.
Affected Environment
Surface Water
The project area encompasses three watersheds,
all of which are tributary to the North Fork of
the Gunnison River:
• Deep Creek and tributaries in portions of
Sections 35 and 36, Township 13 South,
Range 90 West, and in portions of
Sections 1 and 2, Township 12 South,
Range 90 West 6th P.M.
i
• Upstream Portion of the Dry Fork of
Minnesota Creek (a direct tributary to the
North Fork via Minnesota Reservoir) and
all its tributaries, including:
• Upper portion of the Lick Creek watershed
(a tributary to the South Fork of Minnesota
Creek) in portions of Section 9 and 10
Township 14 South, Range 90 West, 6th
P.M.
There are approximately 5.6 miles of perennial
and 9.0 miles of intermittent streams in the
study area (USDA FS 2006d). With the
exception of Deep Creek and the Dry Fork of
Minnesota Creek (downstream of the outflow
of the Deep Creek Ditch), which are perennial
streams, the remaining tributary streams are
surveyed as intermittent streams or have an
unclassified designation (ephemeral drainage)
(USDA FS 2006d).
During late summer, the Dry Fork of
Minnesota Creek receives much of its flow
from the Deep Creek Ditch, an inter-basin
diversion.
~_: .
62 Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells FEIS