REV94751 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

5.0 Describe Exploration Activities Ic is anticipated the drilling program will be conducted during the summer and fall of 1999 while weather conditions for field activities are most favorable. Routt County Roads 29 wlll provide primary access to the projea area with secondary access routes used as indicated on the enclosed three maps (NOI99-1, NOI99-2, NOI99-3). Exploration activities aze estimated to require less than two weeks of drilling per hole for all sites. The exploration program will be modified and tailored as necessary depending upon results of the initial drilling, rig availability, and weather conditions. The proposed plan provides for rrlar;r*lum flexibility in the drilling program by seeking approval for all potentially drilled locations. Road Construction: Existing roads and trails will be used whenever possible ro m;n;m;~r the amount of road construction undertaken within the drilling area. Significant alterations of existing roads aze not anticipated. TCC does not intend to develop access roads beyond general leveling and smoothing of the ground to facilitate access by drilling equipment. Surface disturbance will be kept to a minimum with access to proposed sites limited to dry periods to the extent possible. New roads will be constructed only as necessary in order to protect and preserve the existing topsoil resources and minimize erosion. In the event additional roadwork is required to maintain adequate access to drilling sites, the available topsoil (typically 24" deep) will be windrowed to the side of the road in a stable configuration and stockpiled for use during final reclamation of the road. Mobile equipment, typically a small bulldozer, will be utilized for routine road maintenance and any necessary consuTrction activities. Some minor road consuuction may be necessary if weather conditions dictate. Access to all sites is provided by existing roads, which may inquire routine maintenance or minor rehabilitation activities but which are not anticipated to require significant alteration. Table 3 details potential disturbance areas and topsoil volumes associated with the additional road construction potentially associated with this projea. Drill Site Construction: Topsoil will be removed as necessary and stockpiled to avoid contamination adjacent to each drill site developed. Given the anticipated short duration between topsoil salvage and replacement at each site, no interim seeding is anticipated. Constucted drill pads for all sites will be approximately 100 fr x 100 fr in size with associated total disturbance areas of approximately 0.3 acres. After topsoil has been removed, the pad areas will be leveled with a small dozer to accommodate the drill rig and associated equipment. The proposed exploration sites are typically located on gently sloping areas, with slopes ranging from Flat to approximately 10 % and averaging approximately 7 %; the associated leveling work required at each site wlll be minimal. Mud pits will be excavated within the pad areas following topsoil salvage and leveling work Material excavated from the mud pits will be segregated from the topsoil and retained within the boundary of the drill pad Sediment control will be achieved by retaining runoff within the drill pad azea to the extent possible. In the event persistent runoff occurs from the disturbed area, silt fences or other temporary sediment control measures may be employed to reduce off-site sediment transport. Because none of the proposed sites are located close to Middle or Fish Creeks, the potential for wazer quality impacts associated with this projea aze negligible. ,.TABLES " TOPSOIL VOLUMES ASSDCIATED WITH PAD AND RDAD CONSTRGCTION"- Pro ect Data Volumes (cubic leetl 5 pads Dimensions: 100,000 100 ft x 100 ft Topsoil depth: 2 ft Calculation: Sx 100x 100x2= 100.000 1 road Length: Road Width: 320,000 -8.000 It 20 ft Topsoil depth: 2 h. Calculation: 8.000 x 2 z 20= 320.000 MONTGOMERY WATSON August 7999