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Ingress and egress to the area would be on FR 711 and FR 711.2b, which are currently <br />being used to access other GVB sites. <br />The effects of this alternative on sedimentation are expected to be less than Alternative 2. <br />3.C.3. Cumulative Effects: Soil disturbance has occurred on the 4 drill pads and 5 miles <br />of reopened access road to the previously approved GVB (about IO acres ofdisturbance). <br />The drill pads are partially reclaimed after drilling. These locations will be open for <br />about 2 years after which they will undergo final reclamation. Proper drainage is <br />maintained on the access road, and soil stockpiles are redistributed over the surface as <br />soon as possible to minimize soil loss. <br />Estimates for future GVB may disturb an additional 20 acres of soil in proximate areas. <br />Some areas may be reclaimed by the time those aeeas aze used. Because reclamation is <br />required, minimal loss off soil is expected. Future coal exploration may occur 2.5 miles <br />south of the project area, and may disturb 13 acres of soil. Because of the distance from <br />this site, and because reclamation would be required along with management practices to <br />minimize loss, minimal soil losses would be expected. <br />Reclamation activities on previous coal exploration drill holes has shown good <br />reclamation success in 2 to 3 years after reclamation. Once these locations are reclaimed <br />there is no[ expected to be soil losses or problems from sedimentation. <br />3.C.4 Mitigations: <br />1. All GVB development activities will be subject to the potential conditions of approval <br />included as Appendix B which include provisions for keeping soil stockpiles away from <br />drainage courses. <br />2. Use BMPs if the drainage bottom needs to be crossed to minimize impact. <br />3.D. ROAD ACCESS AND PUBLIC SAFETY <br />3.D.1 Affected Environment <br />The general area near this GVB project area is serviced by FR 711 and FR 711.2b which <br />are designated as Level 2 roads on the Forest roads system (suitable for high clearance <br />vehicles). Activities in recent years have seen improvements on FR 711 from the Forest <br />boundary to the junction with FR 71 ].2b, and on FR 711.2b. During wet conditions high <br />clearance or four wheel drive is needed on these roads. Other GVB locations are <br />currently accessed using a reopened abandoned drill access road that leaves FR 711.2b <br />and travels east to West Flatiron Mesa (West Flatiron road). The West Flatiron road is <br />gated and locked to prevent public access in full-sized vehicles. <br />Past coal exploration activity in the general area has resulted in building of exploration <br />roads. Drilling activities from the 1960s and 1970s created some roads that are used as <br />27 <br />