2008-06-09_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (5)

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Summary associated roads. The operations are needed for the West Elk Mine to comply with Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requirements for methane gas management to ensure worker safety. The operations would enable safe recovery of leased federal coal reserves in compliance with lease terms and requirements for efficient recovery of federal. coal. The purpose of the agency's action is to protect public health and safety, to prevent loss of leased federal coal resources, and to facilitate safe and efficient production of compliant and super compliant coal reserves. In addition, the agency's action allows the lease-holder to exercise their lease rights. This project would contribute to meeting the need for energy resources developed and produced in an enviroiunentally sound manner. The project responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Amended GMUG Land and Resource Management Plan (GMUG Forest Plan, USDA FS 1991) which calls for encouraging environmentally sound energy and minerals development. By providing for coal leasing and development in this area, the GMUG Forest Plan and Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan (Uncompahgre RMP, USDI BLM 1989) acknowledged that the area could at some future time support surface facilities necessary to support coal production. The GMUG Forest Plan also identified providing livestock forage, managing big game winter range and protecting riparian habitat as the desired future conditions of the area. The proposed action is designed to be consistent with moving the area towards those desired conditions. The Uncompahgre RMP supports coal leasing and development in the area with respect to management of mineral resources. Location of Proposed Action The Deer Creek ventilation shaft and escapeway is located in NE'/4 Section 32, Township 13 South, Range 90 West, 6`~' Principal Meridian, in Gunnison County, Colorado (approximately 1,800 feet southeast of Minnesota Reservoir) on federal coal lease C-1362. The proposed E seam methane drainage well development is located in Sections 26-29 and 32-35, Township 13 South, Range 90 West and in Sections 1-5, and 9-11, Township 14 South, Range 90 West, 6`h Principal Meridian, in Gunnison County, Colorado (approximately 7 to 10 miles east and northeast of Paonia, Colorado) on federal coal leases C-1362, COC-56447 and COC- 67232. Figure S-1 shows the project location. Issues The Forest Service separated the issues into two groups: signif cant and non-signif cant issues. Significant issues were defined as those directly or indirectly caused by implementing the proposed action. Non-significant issues were identified as those: 1) outside the scope of the proposed action; 2) already decided by law, regulation, Forest Plan, or other higher level decision; 3) irrelevant to the decision to be made; or 4) conjectural and not supported by scientific or factual evidence. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations explain this delineation in Sec. 1501.7, "...identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental review (Sec. 1506.3)...." Significant Issues The Forest Service identified the following issues which are analyzed in detail in the EIS. In most cases, a design criteria has been developed to minimize impacts, the remainder were addressed through effects analysis in Chapter 3. • Socioeconomic • Wildlife • Soils and Geologic Hazards • Vegetation • Cultural Resources • Land Uses, Including Recreation • Inventoried Roadless Areas • Roads and Facilities • Visual Resources • Livestock Management • Air Quality • Water Quality • Safety/Emergency Response • Cumulative Impacts Alternatives Considered in Detail In addition to the No Action Alternative (Alternative 1), and the Proposed Action (Alternative 2), and No Activities in Roadless • • S-2 Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells FEIS