PERMFILE111999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

.lul 20 O1 11:52a PROfiIR RRtiGER DISTRICT 970-527-4151 p,3 • RAV-10 in the NW 1 /4, Section 26, T13S, R90W. The drill hole location is shown on the attached map. The drill site would be accessed using existing Forest Roads 711 and 711.26, to the location where an abandoned drill site access road (West Flatiron access road) leads to the drill site. The West Flatiron abandoned drill sitc acccss road to RAV-10 has been reopened as previously approved (Apri14, 2001). The location of drill hole 14-OS is in the West Flatiron road, so will not require any road construction. The approved road access is also shown on the attached map. The GVB would be drilled using truck mounted drill rig. Drilling activities are expected to last approximately 10 days. The GVB would be completed on the land surface with a Lamson blower unit. The unit would remain on site until mining has occurred under the GVB it services, or until mining passes out of the effective range of the blower unit. Access for at least weekly monitoring would be needed for the life of the GVB, estimated at this time to be at most 3 years. Access for required monitoring would be via ATV aztd full-sized vehicle, if necessary, orr FR 711 azrd 7l 1.2b to the drill site access road. After use each GVB would be plugged and abandoned according to Colorado State and USDI-Bureau of Land Management requirements, and each drill pad location and access • road will be reclaimed. III. SLOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 'l his decision is the third drilling decision (first decision on Apri14, 2001, second decision on July 6, 2001) for this MCC methane ventilation project. Public cormnerrts received on the first decision were further considered for this decision. The Paonia District Ranger and District Minerals Specialist attended the April 3, 2001 meeting of the North Forlc Coal Working Group to discuss the proposal and invite comments. Additional telephone contacts were made with Tara Thomas, WSERC Director, and Kirk Madariaga, Colorado Division of Wildlife (CROW) Wildlife Manager, regarding specific concems and issues. The Paonia District Ranger attended a second North Fork Coal Working Grortp meeting to discuss the on-going drilling program on July 10, 2001. Internal staff were consulted Cor any additional issues or concems regarding drilling in a summer/fall season. IV. ISSUES RAISED The Western Slope Endrronmental Resource Council (WSERC) raised concern about the cumulative effects of the entire project proposal of I 1 drill locations. As described below in the District Wildlife Biologist project review, the cumulative effects analysis conducted in previorts lease and exploration license decisions for this proposal area (3 drill locations) has been reviewed and determined to be no effect. The current proposal •