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Affected Environment and Environments/Consequences Soils The site would not be leased and no mining would occur; therefore, soil conditions in the tract would exist in their current state without effect from subsidence or construction of temporary roads or MDWs. However, soils in the LBA tract will be affected by construction of exploration drill pads and temporary road construction from the Dry Fork Coal Exploration License activities (see Section 3.1.3.1 -Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions). These activities would directly affect about 3.5 acres of soils fora 1 to 2 year period. The areas would be reclaimed at the completion of use. Forest Service specialists have noted that the location of NFSR 711 adjacent to the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek is causing erosion and sedimentation to the drainage. Mining and subsidence would occur in areas adjacent to approved and permitted area, lowering the land surface. Surface-tension cracks may form at isolated locations within these areas. Approvals currently in place for methane drainage drilling and temporary Goad construction would continue to affect the soil resource in those specific locations. Contemporaneous reclamation practices will continue to be used to replace soils and revegetate the area as soon as the sites and/or temporary roads are no longer needed. The current approvals are scheduled to be implemented for the next 3 years. Additional MDWs and temporary roads may be proposed and approved on lands directly west of the LBA tract on lands currently under lease and being added to MCC's existing mine permit. These additional surface disturbing activities would affect the soil resource by displacing soils at specific locations. The topsoil and subsoil is stockpiled and reserved for reclamation. Contemporaneous reclamation techniques would be used, thus replacing the soils on the site as soon as the location is no longer needed. These activities would temporarily affect an estimated 130 acres. Alternative B Topography and Geology Cumulative impacts of this alternative will be the same as for Alternative A, with the addition of subsiding the lands in the Dry Fork LBA. It is Chapter 3 unlikely that any future longwall mining in the Dry Fork area would have any noticeable effect on the general topography with the LBA tract. Surface- tension cracks may form in isolated areas where sandstone outcrops at the surface. Soils Cumulative effects will be the same as described in Alternative A. Few adverse impacts to soils have been observed during subsidence monitoring at nearby mines (Agapito 2005, see Appendix B). Reclamation of surface use sites, including tnethane drainage drill sites, exploration drill sites and associated temporary roads, has been generally successful in three to five years following reclamation. Reclamation typically includes regrading the surface to approximate original contour and revegetating with a specified seed mix. The area of surface disturbance in the region will temporarily increase during construction, returning to conditions similar to pre-disturbance following reclamation. Alternative C Topography and Geology Cumulative impacts will be similar to those identified for the Proposed Action. However, the total acreage of surface subsidence and the potential for impacts to Deep Creek will be reduced. Soils Cumulative impacts will be similar to those identified for the Proposed Action. However, the acreage of surface disturbance and the potential for impacts to Deep Creek will be reduced. 3.2.5 Consistency with Forest Plan and Other Laws All alternatives are consistent with Forest Plan standards for topography, geology, and soils. 3-14 Dry Fork Lease-By-Application FEIS