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Alternative One -- No Action <br /> The "No Action" alternative in this supplemental EA is the "Proposed <br /> Action" chosen in the decision record/rationale of May 8, 1979, for <br /> TE/EAR CO-030-9-34. Reference is made to that document for the dis- <br /> cussion of environmental impacts for the existing production level of <br /> 700,000 tons per year from the Orchard Valley Mine. <br /> A short summary of impacts, as analyzed, follows: <br /> Air Quality <br /> Particulates would increase slightly during the construction of the <br /> vent shaft. The time period during which the mine is a pollutant would <br /> be extended for eight years. <br /> Geologic and Geographic Setting <br /> Topography. Subsidence would occur due to an extraction of a 12- <br /> foot thickness of coal seam on the retreat of the A submain. A maximum <br /> of 10 feet of subsidence may occur. The maximum area affected would not <br /> be more-than 200 acres (23 percent) of the 864 acre parcel . - <br /> Regulations in 30 CFR 211.31 and 30 CFR 817.21 require planning to <br /> control or prevent subsidence. CWI is presently working with the Office <br /> of Surface Mining to minimize subsidence. <br /> Mineral Resource. An estimated 28.5 million tons of coal lie in- <br /> place in the D seam on this tract. Underground mining practices for the <br /> roof condition of the area would allow the recovery of 12 feet of the <br /> total thickness of the seam. Therefore, 18 million of the 28.5 million <br /> tons are minable. The plan submitted by CWI would recover 5.6 million <br /> tons during the eight years of mining. This represents an estimated 31 <br /> percent of the total minable reserves, or 20 percent of the total in- <br /> place reserves. <br /> Approximately 80 percent of the in-place reserves and 70 percent of <br /> the minable reserves on the tract would be lost due to the limitations <br /> of current mining technology, and would be unavoidably lost if current <br /> technology is not improved. <br /> Water Resources <br /> No impacts to ground water would occur. <br /> Surface subsidence may increase the rate of infiltration of water <br /> into the mine recesses. This may reduce surface runoff. The company is <br /> bound by 30 CFR, 717.17(i) to reimburse all users of surface water that <br /> may be affected by such loss of runoff. The reduction would be minimal . <br /> 3 <br />