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The risk to public safety using FR 711 is somewhat increased due to increased traffic on the road. Use of the road is low, except for a marked increase during hunting season. The risk would be higher during the general hunting seasons. Hunters use the road most in the couple of hours before sunrise and sunset. These times would not conflict with drill rig shift changes. Because these GVBs are needed for Panel 15 which is scheduled to begin extraction in January 2002, drilling and access activities may be required into the winter months. This would require snow removal activities on FR 711 and the other access routes. Traffic on the Minnesota Creek (FR 711) corridor as a result of this project may increase some if an additional drill rig is brought in. Mobilizing equipment to the azea would take 2 to 3 days. Additional pick up traffic tnay also occur during shift changes if two crews are working. Traffic along Minnesota Creek will increase as it does annually during hunting season. There may also be a few days of increased traffic when drilling equipment demobilizes from the site, although it is not possible to predict when this would occur. It is anticipated that access to the GVB would be needed for about 2 yeazs for monitoring and reclamation of the sites when the GVBs are no longer needed. Access for monitoring is expected to be needed weekly, and would be done on ATV, snowmobile or full sized vehicle. This low level of traffic is expected to have minor impacts on road use. ATVs have used this project and adjacent areas for numerous years. The abandoned drill road to SOM-53 and 54 has been managed and used as an ATV trail. Field reconnaissance has also found pioneered ATV trails down the bottom of Long Draw which connects into a trail that follows Deep Creek, and around West Flatiron Mesa. Using this access alignment would not open new aeeas to ATVs. Travel management in the area has allowed cross country [ravel in this area (Forest Visitors Map). Stipulations on the federal coal lease requires that any new roads will be closed yearlong to the public. Therefore the one mile of new temporary road would be closed to public access. Under this alternative the placement of a temporary road in Long Draw will be more difficult to obliterate because of the open nature of the vegetation and concave vs. sloped topography. MCC has been involved in drilling activities in the general area for 2 years. These activities have required transporting fuel to and from drill sites. No spills have been reported, and MCC is responsible for ensuring that any spills are remediated. The CDMG approved permit has provisions for ensuring that spills are cleaned up. Although there is a risk for spills, it is considered low, as there haven't been any reported over the months of drilling that has occurred to date. 29