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CNAPTERTWO Proposed Action and Alternatives <br />' 2.2.7.6 Best Management Practices <br />Soil stabilization would be an ongoing process throughout the life of the Yankee Gulch Project. <br />Erosion control methods would be used as needed for stabilization of steep slopes and highly <br />erodible soils. Areas of potential concern include stream and channel crossings at Piceance <br />Creek, Stewart Gulch, and Pazachute Creek and steep slopes in the pipeline corridor along <br />Barnes Ridge and at Davis Point. Methods of erosion control that may be used throughout the <br />project as applicable include waterbazs, sediment bamers, and mulch applications, among others. <br />Waterbars would be constructed on ascent/descent slopes to direct runoff from disturbed areas in <br />' order to minimize formation of erosion channels and transportation of sediments prior to the re- <br />establishment of vegetation. The spacing of waterbazs along the pipeline corridor would be <br />determined in consultation with the BLM. Waterbazs would also be installed at the entrance and <br />exit of all stream and wetland crossings. <br />Sediment barriers would also be installed at the entrance and exit of all streams, channels, and <br />' wetlands to minimize sediment transport into these sensitive areas. Certified weed-free straw <br />bales would be used for these installations. <br />Site-specific applications of mulch would be made on erodible soils to control erosion. Only <br />certified weed-free straw would be used. Mulch would be applied when warranted by soil <br />chazacteristics and grade. Along stream banks and on steep slopes (greater than 40 percent), <br />erosion control fabric, fiber, or mats would be used to control erosion. These materials would be <br />anchored immediately after placement. <br />' A list of best management practices for soil stabilization and erosion control is provided in <br />Appendix A. <br />' 2.2.8 Reasonably Foreseeable Actions <br />After mining of the nahcolite resources under the Proposed Action is completed in about 30 <br />' years, it is possible that American Soda would intend to pursue further nahcolite mining on <br />additional portions of its sodium minerals leases at the Piceance Site. The proposed mining <br />panels within the Piceance Site occupy about 1,030 acres out of a total surface area of 4,084 <br />acres. Thus, approximately 3,000 acres of undeveloped lease area would remain within the <br />Piceance Site at the end of the Proposed Action. <br />It is important to note that certain parts of the Piceance Site would not be mined due to steep <br />terrain, the occurrence of halite or other impurities, lower nahcolite grades, and various <br />environmental restrictions. However, as mining and processing methods and technologies <br />' evolve in future years, extraction of more nahcolite at the Piceance Site may become <br />economically and/or technologically viable and could be the subject of future mining proposals. <br />Based on a preliminary review of potential nahcolite resources that could be mined at some <br />future date, the following areas within the Piceance Site are considered to have reasonably <br />foreseeable development potential. These areas aze depicted on Figure 2-12. <br />' Nahcolite resources in the northwest comer of the Piceance Site could be developed in the <br />future. Based on the information from corehole 24-1, drilled by others, this area is not <br />' 2-29 <br />