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Coal Methane Drainage Projert- Panek 76-24 Wert Elk Mine • Page 1-S Traffic levels during this initial use period would be as described for the Sylvester Gulch access in Section 7.3.2. 1.3.2 Establish Sylvester Gulch Access Route A new project access route is proposed in Sylvester Gulch. The proposed new access route is shown on Map Ml, Project Area Activities With Surface Stipulations, and reflected in Table T1A, Collector Roads Summary. The new access route would begin at the MCC mine facilities area, run south on MCC's private land approximately 2.1 miles along the existing Lower Sylvester Gulch Mine Road, and then continue south and east onto National Forest lands approximately 1.1 miles along Sylvester Gulch to the Two Ponds intersection. Construction of the new Sylvester Gulch access route would involve construction of road where a previously constructed road and trail exist, and new road consttction. Road construction would include grading and widening existing road and trail segments to a width of approximately 14 feet, construction of new road segments, and installation of drainage structures (ditches, culverts, and water bars), where appropriate. The general road configuration is illustrated by Figure F2, Typical Access Road Configuration. Because of the narrow canyon and steep sideslopes, this road would cross geologic hazazd, steep slope, and Water Influence Zone (WIZ) areas, as shown on Map Ml, Project Area Activities With Surface Stipulations. Exceptions to the geologic hazard; steep slope; and wetland, floodplain, and riparian stipulations would be required for construction of the new Sylvester Gulch access, and specific mitigation measures, as outlined in Section 2.4, would be implemented to prevent or minimi>e the environmental effects of road construction. Anticipated project-related traffic (all are round-trip) would include: • Initial mobilization of two drill rigs at the beginning of each annual drilling season • Up to 154 truckloads of drilling equipment, fuel, and supplies for each annual drilling program (7 truckloads/drillhole x (up to 18 MDWs + 4 exploration dtillholes annually)) spread over the 90 day annual operating period (approximately ] to 6 supply trucks per day) • Four drill-crew trips per day (two crew trucks per 12-hour shift x 2 shifts per day) over the 90 day annual operating period • Four drilling supervisor, MCC representative, and other miscellaneous trips per day over the 90 day annual operating period • Two trips per day, year-round, for monitoring of active MDWs consistent with MSHA and general operating tequuements This results in approximately 876 vehicle round-trips during each 90-day annual drilling season and 730 vehicle round-trips for monitoring throughout the yeaz. The Sylvester Gulch access route would remain in-place for approximately the next 30 years (reclaim in 2030) to support future coal training activities as outlined in Section 2.5. The road would be constructed to USFS standazds fox "classified" Forest System roads for long-term vehiculaz access. In addition to mining-related traffic, this route would be open to other administrative use, including but not limited to access for fire control and range management actinides. For the project duration, the Sylvester Gulch access route would be dosed to public motorized use, with access control at the mine entrance off Highway 733 and at the intersection of the Long Draw Saddle Road with the Dry Fork Road. 1.3.3 Reconstruct or Improve Existing Roads and Construct New Roads There aze approximately 11.4 miles of existing roads within the project azea that would be used for project access that aze suitable for project-related traffic in their current condition. Approximately 8.6 EnvironmentalAtrerfinent ~'PP/N.vra~GdG/F /!/..f~)/1/OSEI USFf f/S/0}N