<br />PROPOSED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
<br />
<br />not be authorized, The areas listed in a-g encompass
<br />approximately 2 to 3 percent of the total acreage within
<br />the resource area.
<br />
<br />a. The area along Canyon Creek, including the adjacent
<br />steep side slopes, to approximately 1/2 mile either side
<br />of the creek, The actual boundary would be drawn
<br />based on topography.
<br />
<br />b, The area along Shell Creek, including the adjacent
<br />steep side slopes, to approximately 1/2 mile either side
<br />of the creek, The actual boundary would be drawn
<br />based on topography.
<br />
<br />c, The area along Vermillion Creek, including the
<br />adjacent steep side slopes, to approximately 1/2 mile
<br />to either side of the creek (the actual boundary being
<br />based on topography), downstream to the confluence
<br />with Douglas Draw,
<br />
<br />d, The area along Sand Wash, including the adjacent
<br />side slopes, to approximately 1/2 mile either side of
<br />the wash (the actual boundary to be drawn based on
<br />topography), from section la, T. 9 N" R. 99 W" to
<br />its confluence with Dugout Draw,
<br />
<br />e, The area along Yellow Cat Wash, including the
<br />adjacent side slopes. to approximately 1/2 mile either
<br />side of the wash (the actual boundary being based on
<br />topography), from section 12, T. 9 N" R 98 W" to
<br />its confluence with Sand Wash,
<br />
<br />f. The area along Dry Creek, including the adjacent
<br />side slopes, to approximately 1/2 mile either side of
<br />the creek (the actual boundary to be based on
<br />topography), from section 22, T. II N., R. 99 W"
<br />to its confluence with Vermillion Creek.
<br />
<br />g, The northwest facing slopes of the Vermillion Bluffs,
<br />from the Vermillion Bluffs ridgetop road downslope
<br />to the Dry Creek drainage.
<br />
<br />To achieve the performance objectives, BLM has
<br />identified performance standards that may apply to
<br />surface disturbing activities, These standards are
<br />presented to identify tbe types of mitigative measures
<br />that may be necessary, based on the type of activity
<br />to be permitted, the timing of development activities,
<br />the geographical location, specific soil types and
<br />conditions, etc, Depending on these variables, an
<br />applicant will demonstrate that the performace
<br />objectives have been met either through his/her plan
<br />of development, using alternative measures, or through
<br />use of appropriate suggested mitigative measures
<br />identified below,
<br />
<br />I. All sediments generated from the surface-disturbing
<br />activity would have to be retained on site,
<br />
<br />II, No construction or other surface-ilisturbing activities
<br />would be allowed when the soils become saturated
<br />to a depth of 3 inches or more,
<br />
<br />III, Off-road vehicle use would be limited to existing
<br />roads and trails,
<br />
<br />IV, All new permanent roads would be built to meet
<br />primary road standards (BLM standards) and their
<br />location approved by the authorized officer. For oil
<br />and gas purposes, permanent roads are those used for
<br />production,
<br />
<br />V, All geophysical and geochemical exploration would
<br />be conducted by helicopter, horseback, on foo~ or from
<br />existing roads,
<br />
<br />VI. Any sediment control structures, reserve pits, or
<br />disposal pits would be designed to contain a I DO-year,
<br />6-hour storm event. Storage volumes within these
<br />structures would have a design life of 25 year.;,
<br />
<br />VII. Before reserve pits and production pits would be
<br />reclaimed, all residue would be removed and trucked
<br />off-site lo an approved disposal site,
<br />
<br />VIII, Reclamation of disturbed surfaces would be
<br />initiated before November I each year,
<br />
<br />IX. All reclamation plans would be approved by the
<br />authorized officer in advance and might require a bond,
<br />if one has nor been previously posted.
<br />
<br />These requirements would not supersede valid existing
<br />rights on approved application for permits to drill or
<br />developing leases or entry under the general mining
<br />laws, They would apply to all new oil and gas leases
<br />and to all surface disturbing activities permitted under
<br />this plan, BLM will work with operators/permittees
<br />to achieve performance objectives on undeveloped
<br />leases or permits consistent with previously granted
<br />lease rights,
<br />
<br />3, Rights-<lf-way construction would be allowed along
<br />Moffat County roads 4, 67, and 126 on a case-by-
<br />case basis, Stipulations would be applied to the right-
<br />of-way activity at the approval stage,
<br />
<br />4, Surface-disturbing activities on isolated sites that meet
<br />fragile soil criteria (a-b below) would be subject to
<br />the perfonnance objectives/stipulations listed in I-IX
<br />above, If the perfonnance objectives/stipulations could
<br />not be met, no surface disturbance would be allowed,
<br />
<br />a, Areas rated as highly or severely erodible by wind
<br />or water, as described by the Soil Conservation Service
<br />in the Area Soil Survey Report or as described by
<br />on-site inspection.
<br />
<br />b, Areas with slopes greater than or equal to 35 percen~
<br />if they also have one of the following soil character-
<br />isties: (\) a surface texture that is sand, loamy sand,
<br />
<br />1-8
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