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Environmental Assessment Bowie Resources, LLC. A ugust 2005 Spruce Stomp Federal Coal Ezplomtion license (150- 200543) Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) provides a framework for describing and defining classes of outdoor recreation environments. ROS classes are delineated and mapped to identify which areas of GMUG are providing certain types of recreation environments, ranging from urban settings to unmodified primitive settings. The ROS is divided into six major classes: Urban, Rural, Roaded Natural, Semi- primitive motorized, Semi- primitive non - motorized, and Primitive. Based on these classifications, the appropriate level of access, remoteness, naturalness, facilities and site management, social encounters, visitor impacts, and visitor management can be determined according to set criteria. The ROS classification for the SSCEL is delineated by GMUG as Semi- Primitive Motorized and Roaded Natural. Most of the area of potential effect is classified as Semi - Primitive Motorized. Over 1.25 million acres of the Semi - Primitive Motorized ROS exists on GMUG. These areas are characterized by a predominantly natural or natural- appearing environment of moderate -to -large size, where motorized use is permitted. The area is managed in such a way that minimum on -site controls and restrictions may be present, but are subtle. Roaded Natural areas are characterized by a predominantly natural environment or natural- appearing landscapes with evidence of moderate resource utilization. GMUG contains over 600,000 acres of the Roaded Natural ROS, where evidence of the sights and sounds of humans is moderate. In these areas, the opportunity exists for both social interaction and moderate isolation from sights and sounds of humans. The size of these areas gives a strong feeling of remoteness. A small area west of Terror Creek Reservoir is classified as Roaded Natural. GMUG estimates the annual amount of recreational use that occurs on NFS lands by activity ' type. Activities are grouped into categories, and estimates on the amount of use are given in Recreation Visitor Days (RVD). One RVD is equal to 12 hours of recreational activity. Although RVD data is often a rough estimate of recreational use, the data does provide a perspective on comparative levels of use and use trends. Specific RVD data are not available for the SSCEL. However, activities observed in this area are similar to the type of recreation activities elsewhere on the GMUG. Most of the activities within the SSCEL are in the form of ' dispersed recreation, but there are no developed recreation sites. Camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, mechanized travel and viewing scenery (including automobile travel, ATV, and snowmobiling), hunting, and fishing, to a lesser extent, are the major activities. Recreational use has remained fairly constant over the past several years. Seasonal hunting of big game is the most popular recreational use and can occur anywhere within the SSCEL, and draws numerous people to the area. Hunting season for deer and elk occurs in the fall while bear hunting season is in both the spring and the fall. Fishing is permitted and occurs in the area, although CDOW considers Terror Creek as fair to poor fisheries. 3 -36