PERMFILE122433 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The holes would be drilled on National Forest Sys[em lands at reclaimed drill pad • locations that had been previously used for coal exploration drilling. The reclaimed drill sites proposed to be used, 96-27-1 and RAV-10, and are located in the NE1/4, NW 1/4 Section 27 and S W 1/4, NW I/4 Section 26, 't 13 S, R 90 W, respectively. The drill hole locations are shown on the attached map. The drill sites would be accessed using existing Forest Roads 711 and 711.2b, to the location where an abandoned drill site access road (West Flatiron access road) leads to the drill sites. The abandoned drill site access road is proposed to be reopened for the project. The road has been closed to full-sized vehicles, but has been left open to ATV traffic. Reopening this road would require snow removal and some maintenance to clear rocks and debris from the prism, restore drainage structures and remove a soil slump, some spot gravelling tnay also be needed. The proposed road access is also shown on the attached map. The GVBs would be drilled using truck mounted drill rigs. Drilling activities are expected to last 60 to 70 days. The GVBs would be completed on the land surface with a Lamson blower unit. The unit would remain on site until mining has occurred under the GVBs 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 [he life.of the GVBs, estimated at this time to be about 2 years. Access for required ma~itoring would be via ATV along a trail in Sylvester Gulch, and via full-sized vehicle on FR 711 and 711.2b to the reopened 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 location will be reclaimed. III. SLOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Public continents on the proposed action were invited by telephoning and using electronic mail to contact local interest groups and permittees in the area. The informal scoping period ended April 2, 2001. At the time the comment period was scheduled, Forest Service personnel were not aware that the North Fork Coal Working Group (NFCWG) had a regularly scheduled meeting on April 3. The Paonia District Ranger and District Minerals Specialist attended the April 3, 2001 meeting of the NFCWG to discuss the proposal and invite continents. A list of telephone and email contacts are contained in the project £le. Paonia Ranger District specialists were also provided input on the proposal. The District Wildlife Biologist (DWB) indicated there would be no effects to threatened, endangered or sensitive species (project file). The DWB also contacted the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) regarding winter range issues, and the CDOW responded that no negative impacts would occur. The DWB raised concerns over reopening a road that had been closed to full sized vehicles, and the need to ensure it was kept closed to preserve wildlife habitat. •