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B. Access Roads <br />The existing access road from Colorado Highway 139 to the portal area is approximately <br />10,00 feet long, with 6,600 feet of its length being a 1977 improvement to apre-existing <br />roadway along the canyon floor. The upper segment of the roadway was constructed in <br />1977, along the hillside above the ephemeral channel of Munger Canyon. The roadway is <br />adequate for the occasional access use for which it was designed and has been used. <br />Significant modifications would be necessary for the road to be utilized as a haul road. <br />Road embankments have been fully stabilized by vegetation, with no indications of slope <br />instability associated with the roadway. Minor surficial sloughage from steep roadcut <br />faces along the upper segment of the road has been addressed by the operator through <br />placement of vegetated toe berms. Sedimentation from the cuts and road surface is <br />further minimized by small catch basins installed in the road ditch at all culvert inlet <br />locations. The upper road segment will be fully reclaimed upon final reclamation of the <br />mine site, with the lower, pre-existing road segment to be retained in accordance with <br />landowner request, to provide access for ranching operations. <br />Existing access road specifications aze addressed on pages 2?-2 through 2.2-3, and <br />Appendix O, page 1 and 2. Reclamation of the existing access road is addressed on pages <br />3-22 through 3-27. As a result of certain concerns raised by the Division in the August <br />1995 mid-term review, concerning reclamation of the existing road and portal bench <br />disturbance, a more detailed reclamation plan for the existing road was provided within <br />Technical Revision No. 11 (TR-I 1). The reclamation cost estimate was modified to <br />reflect costs associated with reclamation of the existing access road and portal bench <br />(rather than proposed bench expansion and haulroad construction). Stipulation No. 23, <br />attached to ttte Division's approval of TR-11, requires appropriate permit revision and <br />bond adjustment, prior to any further disturbance other than that associated with <br />reclamation of the existing road and portal bench azea. Stipulation No. 11 is included in <br />Section VIII,. "Backfilling and Grading," of this document. <br />The following specific findings apply to the existing access road constructed in 1977: <br />The zipplicant has provided a relevant showing in lieu of certification, <br />demonstrating that the road meets the performance standards of Rule 4.03.2. <br />(4.03.2(1)(f)(ii)) <br />2. The lower segment of the roadway, on the Munger Canyon Valley floor which <br />was in place prior to mining associated disturbance, will not be reclaimed in <br />accordance with Rule 4.03.2(7)(a)(i) through (ix), but will be modified for use <br />postmining. in accordance with surface landowner (BLM) request. The Division <br />approves the retention of the lower road segment as it will accommodate the <br />postmining land use (rangeland), the modified road will comply with all <br />25 <br />