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Coal MelAone Drarrra,Qe Projed - PaneG 16-24 Wert Elk Mine • PaRe )-9 <br />the road would be converted to an ATV trail; or the road would be blocked with gates or bazricades, <br />revegetated, and the road prism would be Left in-place. Where roads are obliterated or converted to <br />trails, road surfaces would be graded to promote effective drainage and blend with the surrounding <br />terrain; drainage and erosion control features (water bars) would be established as necessary; the <br />regraded areas would be revegetated, and full-size vehicle access would be blocked by placement of <br />gates, barricades, and/or signs, as appropriate. Road obliteration is illustrated by Figure F2, Typica] <br />Access Road Configuration. In addition to decommissioning of the new road dismrbance associated <br />with the Proposed Action, the existing Upper Deep Creek, Long Draw, West Flatiron, Upper <br />Sylvester Gulch, and West Bench roads would be decotntnissioned under the Proposed Action. <br />Approved USFS revegetation seed mixtures would be applied to reestablish a vegetation community <br />similar to the pre-disturbance community for each disturbance area. Where appropriate and <br />prescribed by the USFS project manager, based on slope and exposure, mulch or other erosion <br />control materials would be applied to stabilize the reclaimed surface and prevent erosion and soil loss <br />until vegetation is reestablished. <br />1.4 PROJECT SCHEDULE <br />MCC wishes to initiate mining in Panel 16 on July 1, 2002, based on the current mine production <br />schedule. The initial MDWs for Panel 1G would need to be in-place and operational when longwall <br />mining stazts. Initial road construction would need to commence in June 2002, to accommodate this <br />schedule. <br />Road construction/reconstruction would proceed on an as-needed basis over the duration of the <br />methane drainage program to access each of the three ttilning districts (Panels 1417S, Panels 18-20, <br />and Panels 21-24). Approximately 10 to 1S MDWs would be completed annually during the period <br />2002 through 2007. Tables T1A and T1B identify the projected year of initial construction'or <br />reconstruction for each of the proposed roads. Drilling activities would typically be scheduled during <br />the period from June through August of each yeaz, although drilling could occur at any time between <br />May 1 and November 30 (outside the restriction period for big-game winter range). Drilling <br />operations at each pad location would extend over a period of one to three weeks. Two drilling units <br />would be used, if available, to limit the drilling season to the summer months and avoid drilling <br />activities during late fall when weather conditions can become difficult and drilling would affect big <br />game. <br />Reclamation would be ongoing throughout the duration of the project. On completion of drilling <br />and MDW installation, individual drill pads would be reduced in size, with the unused portion of the <br />pads being reclaimed. MDW operating pads and associated roads would be completely reclaimed <br />when no longer needed. Redamation activities would typically occur near the end of each annual <br />drilling season. <br />Extent and duration of the overall project would be a function of the success of the initial drilling and <br />methane drainage efforts, the amount of methane encountered in each panel, and mine development <br />and production rates. Overall project duration is curtenty projected at approximately 5 to 7 yeazs (4 <br />to 5 yeazs of progressive drilling and MDW installation activities, 1 to 2 yeazs of active methane <br />drainage for the MDWs on the final (Panel 24) longwall panel, and 1 year of final reclamation for <br />remaining operating pads and roads). The project duration would be reduced if less methane is <br />encountered than anticipated (fewer MDW's would be required) or if development and production <br />rates increase due to favorable mining or market conditions. Conversely, project duration would be <br />extended if more methane is encountered than anticipated (number of drill pads would remain the <br />same but active operation of some itIDW's would be extended) or if currently projected mine <br />development and production rates decrease. <br />EnvimnmentalA.rrerrmem <br />P.IPP/Vanlal CWG/Fit/Onq T/a/0?IJ OTFS ' <br />T/T/0?ab <br />