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Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests; CO; Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project EIS
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: September 18, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 180)]
[Notices]
[Page 54608-54609]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18se06-15]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests; CO; Deer
Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: Mountain Coal Company, LLC proposes the construction of one
(1) ventilation shaft and one (1) emergency escape shaft (combined
location) and the installation of up to 160 methane drainage wells
located on up to 120 pads with up to 19 miles of associated access
roads to vent explosive methane gas from their underground coal mine.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
45 days after publication in the Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is expected December, 2006 and the final
environmental impact statement is expected February, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send or hand deliver written comments to: Grand Mesa,
Uncompahgre and Gunnision National Forests, Attn: Deer Creek Shaft and
E Seam MDW Project, 2250 HWY 50, Delta, Colorado 81416. E-mail comments
to: nmortenson@fs.fed.us, (Subject: Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam MDW).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Niccole Mortenson, Engineering and
Minerals NEPA Project Specialist, 970-874-6616 or write/e-mail the
address above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The Forest Service has identified the need to authorize MCC
reasonable surface use and access on forest lands for compliance with
methane gas Mine Safety and Health Administration requirements in the
West Elk underground coal mine; thereby allowing safe and efficient
recovery of previously leased (Lease C-1362) Federal coal reserves.
Proposed Action
Existing Federal coal leases are currently being mined by Mountain
Coal Company, LLC (MCC) from their West Elk Mine. MCC presently
operates a longwall system of underground mining at the West Elk Mine,
which is permitted with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining
and Safety for a production rate of 8.2 million tons of coal per year.
The West Elk Mine was opened in 1981 and presently produces coal from
several existing Federal coal leases. The coal mined at the West Elk
Mine, as well as from other mines in the North Fork Valley, is a high
BTU, low sulfur coal. It is considered a ``clean coal'' (compliance
coal). Its use in industry helps meet standards of the Clean Air Act.
As such, there is a demand for coal from the West Elk Mine and other
mines in the North Fork Valley by electric power generation industries.
Mining operations have encountered explosive methane gas. In order
to continue operations, the methane must be vented to reduce the
explosion hazard. A similar project for this same issue was analyzed in
2002 in the Coal Methane Drainage Project Panels 16-24 Mountain Coal
Company-West Elk Mine Environmental Assessment. Implementation of that
project has resulted in field data which will assist in future analysis.
The proposed Deer Creek Shaft is located in the NE\1/4\ Section 32,
Township 13 South, Range 90 West, 6th Principal Meridian, in Gunnison
County, Colorado (approximately 1800 feet southeast of Minnesota
Reservoir) and would serve ventilation and emergency escape functions
for mine safety. The access and pad location for this shaft have been
approved under a previous NEPA decision (2006) for geotechnical work
and have already been constructed.
The proposed methane drainage well development is located Sections
27-29 and 32-34, Township 13 South, Range 90 West and Sections 1-5 and
8-10, Township 14 South, Range 90 West, 6th Principal Meridian, in
Gunnison County, Colorado (approximately 7-10 miles east and northeast
of Paonia, Colorado). These lands partially overlay Federal Coal Lease
C-1362. Portions of this proposed activity overlay unleased Federal
lands that are on the leasing schedule for early 2007. While there is
no guarantee that MCC will receive leases on these lands, the company
wishes to include these lands as precautionary measure for reasonably
forseeable developments.
The proposed action consists of the construction of one (1)
ventilation shaft and one (1) emergency escape shaft (combined
location) and the installation of up to 160 methane drainage wells
located on up to 120 pads with up to 19 miles of associated access roads.
For the purposes of analysis, the maximum development will be considered.
Deer Creek Shaft Project Proposal Includes:
? Using raisebore, blindbore, or conventional sink
construction methods to construct the ventilation shaft to create a 20-
28 foot diameter air shaft by 400 feet deep.
? Using raisebore or blindbore methods to construct a 4 foot
diameter 400 foot deep emergency escapeway. Constructing enclosure (20
foot x 30 foot steel-sided shed) for emergency escapeway and electrical
generation equipment for emergency escape hoist.
? Shaft and escapeway will use previously approved and
constructed pad and access road southeast of Minnesota Creek.
? Performing Operations and Maintenance.
? Performing interim reclamation on pad and light-use road
once shaft and emergency structures are constructed.
? Sealing airshaft and escapeway and performing final
reclamations when no longer needed at end of life of mine (mine life
estimated at 13-15 years).
E Seam Methane Drainage Wells (MDW) Project Proposal Includes:
? Drilling and casing of up to 160 MDWs located on up to 120
pads. Estimated total pad disturbance is 75 acres over 12 years.
? Constructing/reconstructing roads between existing roads
and new drill pads, estimated length up to 19 miles. Estimated access
disturbance is 46 acres over 12 years.
? Installing passive and/or active degassing equipment.
? Operating and Maintaining wells for ventilation of mine.
[[Page 54609]]
? Interim reclaiming of mud pits, seeding and mulching
outslopes and cut-slopes.
? Plugging drill holes and performing final reclamation on
roads and pads when drill holes are no longer performing their intended
purpose (estimated life of each MDW is 3 years; construction and
reclamation would span 12 years).
Possible Alternatives
No Action.
Proposed Action-Conventional Shaft Construction.
Alternative 1--Raisebore/Blindbore Shaft Construction.
Cooperating Agencies
Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Uncompahgre
Field Office.
Responsible Official
Charles S. Richmond, Forest Supervisor, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and
Gunnison National Forests, 2250 HWY 50, Delta, Colorado 81416.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor must decide:
? Whether or not to permit the surface occupancy for the
shaft, access roads and methane drainage wells in part or in entirety.
? Select the proposed action or an alternative method for
the shaft and escapeway construction.
? Prescribe terms and/or conditions with respect to the use
and protection of non-mineral interests.
Scoping Process
? Publish in Delta County Independent, Grand Junction Daily
Sentinel and Federal Register.
? Send scoping letters to required agencies, Tribes and
interested party list.
? Conduct public field trips (if warranted by scoping responses).
? Respond to comments in DEIS.
Preliminary Issues
? Socioeconomic benefits of mining.
? Wildlife.
? Topographic surface, land stability, soils and geologic hazards.
? Vegetation.
? Cultural resources.
? Existing land uses, including recreation, roadless character.
? Existing roads/facilities.
? Visual resources.
? Livestock management.
? Air quality.
? Cumulative impacts.
Permits or Licenses Required
A special use permit will be issued by the Forest Service to the
proponent if an action alternative is approved for surface use.
All mine works are approved by Colorado Division of Reclamation,
Mining and Safety.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the EIS. Comments are being sought with regard to
the design or implementation of this project. Comments which pertain to
the use of or leasing of vented methane are outside the scope and
authority of this document and will be treated as such.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft EIS will be prepared for comment. The
comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft EIS documents must structure their participation in the
environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and
alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and contentions. Vermont
Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,
environmental objections that could be raised at the draft EIS stage
but that are not raised until after completion of the final EIS may be
waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft EIS should
be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to
specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also
address the adequacy of the draft environmental impact statement or the
merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement.
Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: September 11, 2006.
Charles S. Richmond,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E6-15473 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P