Laserfiche WebLink
Environmental Assessment Bowie Resoumes, LL.C. <br />August 2005 Spmce Stomp Fedeml Coal Explomtion License (150- 2005 -03) <br />Terror Creek Ditch and Reservoir Company Water Rights <br />BRL owns water right shares in the Company. An agreement has been made between BRL and <br />the Company for the use of surface water from the Terror Creek watershed for drilling make -up <br />water purposes. Therefore, impacts from surface water pumping are not foreseen. <br />Fueling and Drilling Materials <br />Fuel for drilling equipment would be transported to each exploration site on a daily basis. There <br />is a potential for a spill during the transportation or refueling process. In addition, drilling fluids <br />(foam) used during the drill process may also be accidentally released. Through the use of <br />careful fueling and drilling fluid management techniques, effects from fueling or drilling fluid <br />release would be reduced or eliminated. <br />No Action Alternative <br />The No Action alternative would not import effects to water resources in the Terror Creek or <br />Hubbard Creek watersheds beyond that which are already occurring. <br />3.2.4.3 Mitigation Measures <br />Conditions prescribed by GMUG (Section 2.1.1) detail requirements for protecting water <br />resources. <br />3.3 Non - Critical Elements <br />3.3.1 Land Use, Access and Road System <br />The area of potential affect for the access and road system consists of the local USDA -FS road <br />network within the SSCEL and all adjacent roads within BRL's permit area. Because of the <br />minimal amount of traffic expected to complete the Proposed Action or the No Action <br />Alternative, it is unlikely that regional roadways would be affected. <br />3.3.1.1 Affected Environment <br />Land uses within the area of potential affect served by the existing road and access system are <br />described in the GMUG Forest Plan (GMUG 1991). Primary objectives for this NFS land <br />include the management of wildlife habitat, and aspen and riparian/aquatic ecosystems. As a <br />result, the development of roads and other surface resources in the area has been minimal. While <br />selective development of timber resources has occurred in the past, no federal timber sales are <br />planned for the area within the next ten years. Summer grazing of cattle and sheep also occurs in <br />the SSCEL. <br />The SSCEL would be accessed on existing NFSRs and by constructing temporary spur access <br />roads to the drill sites. The existing classified NFSRs to be used include NFSR 701, 701.1A, <br />703, 703.2B, 834, and non - system road U803 (Figure 2 -1). None of the classified roads or the <br />non - system road are all- season roads. NFSR 701 is a two -lane gravel road suitable for use in <br />3 -28 <br />