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<br />four wheel drive roads at present. Others of these roads are barely distinguishable on the <br />land :surface. Coal e~:ploration in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in about 10 miles of <br />exploration drill road. Some of these roads were closed to motorized traffic, and others <br />of thorn were left open for ATV use. <br />The abandoned drill road to SOM-53 and SOM-54 leaves FR 711. Tlris road was <br />origin<dly designed for the function of allowing drill rig access, and upon reclamation <br />was kept open for A"f V use. It is currently managed for ATV access, and is blocked to <br />full sized vehicles with a series of steep water bazs. <br />3.D.2 Environmental Conse uences <br />Altemative 1: No Action: Under No Action, these GVB would not be developed, <br />proposed road access: needs would not occur. Road use to previously approved GVBs <br />would continue, along with long term access to those locations for monitoring and then <br />reclamation. These rises are expected to occur over the next two years. <br />The existing Forest road system (FR 711 and 711.2b) will be kept on the system for <br />public: use and management activities. <br />Ahernative 2: Under this alternative, these GVB would be accessed in part from FR 711. <br />FR 71 l has been improved to the intersection of FR 711.26, only spot maintenance may <br />be needed to keep drainage structures functioning to this point. Beyond this intersection, <br />FR 711 (Dry Fork) would require spot stabilization in about 10 locations. Spot <br />stabilization would likely involve placing 3-inch minus aggregate and possibly geotextile <br />fabric in those areas. Some work will also be needed on existing drainage structures, and <br />gravel may be needed on roads areas where the grade exceeds 8%. <br />Reopening the abandoned drill road to SOM-53 and 54 would require removing the vt~ater <br />bars and reestablishing the width to up to 14 feet, and establishing drainage structures. It <br />is possible that this road would be needed to access potential GVB locations over panels <br />16 and 17. The proposed mile of new temporary road would entail blading a 14 foot road <br />width clown the drainage on the existing alignment of a pioneered ATV route. This <br />proposed aligmrent generally follows the gradient of the drainage, and is too steep for the <br />drill vehicles. This alignment would effect the riparian vegetation and habitat in Long <br />Draw. The exact coact alignments would be placed in the field to ensure proper location <br />for minimal surface impacts. <br />Mobilizing the drilling equipment to the proposed GVB sites via this route would entail <br />moving the drill rig, pipe trnck, derrick tncck, dog house van, and ancillary support <br />vehicles to the site. There would be a one time mob and then a one time demob, as once <br />the rigs are i;r the area, they would complete the 5 holes. Another round of mob/demob <br />may occur if a second drill rig moves to the site. Daily shift change traffic occurs twice <br />per day, generally at noon and midnight. This along with trips for support personnel <br />comprise 12-15 trips per day in pick up tnccks. Daily fuel deliveries are also expected. <br />zs <br />