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<br />reclaimed at the end of use. Under the existing coal lease stipulations, new roads would <br />be closed yearlong to the public. <br />Coal exploration and underground mining activity has occurred in the project area over <br />the past 40 years. In 1995-1996 a detailed analysis was done to sum the motorized roads <br />and trails within the Dry Fork Minnesota Creek watershed. This analysis identified 70 <br />miles ofroads and trails in an area ofapproximately 29 square miles (2.4 miles per <br />square mile). Past drilling activities, access for range allotment improvements (building <br />stock ponds in particular), recreational pursuits and hunting activities coupled with the <br />use of ATV's have all combined to increase the densities of roads and trails in this <br />watershed over time. As part of this project, road densities within the watershed were <br />reviewed, the review concluded that there has been no increase or decrease in motorized <br />roads/ trails from the 1995-1996 figure of 70 miles. <br />As part of a coal exploration project in 1996, 4.9 miles of temporary road were approved <br />and constructed in the summer of 1996. Of that, 4.4 were closed by tank traps, slash, <br />rock, rebaz, administratively closed by order and signed with cazsonite posts. <br />Approximately 0.5 miles of road to site EE (96-22-1A & B) was reconstructed, this land <br />has since been exchanged for other public lands and is now in private ownership. An <br />additional 3.6 miles of road associated with past drilling sites were closed for a total of 8 <br />miles of closed roads in 1996 (see Forest Service Closure Order #96-19, signed by Forest <br />Supervisor Bob Storch). From 1997 to present these closures have been visited by Forest <br />Service personnel to monitor [heir effectiveness. Of the 8 miles of road closure, 3.5 <br />miles have been determined to be ineffective due to the placement of these roads in <br />terrain that is flat and open which is extremely hard to obliterate and keep motorized <br />vehicles from going around the closures. Also obliteration on these roads was for the <br />first 1,000 feet of road and not the entire length. Where roads were constructed in <br />forested or wooded azeas such as the one [o access drill sites CC and BB obliteration and <br />success of keeping motorized vehicles form accessing the area has been effective. <br />Drill sites in Box Canyon were monitored during the summer of 1997 and found to be <br />revegetating however, noxious weeds were noticed on site GG and along the road in that <br />vicinity. The recontoured section of road on Mountain Coal Company's property was <br />also revegetating and no signs of vehicular traffic were noted. <br />In 1998, 3.4 miles of temporary road and 18 drill sites were proposed by MCC and <br />approved by the FS. None of these sites or roads were constructed or drilled. <br />In the winter of 2000, the Apache Rocks Thermal event occurred and MCC was <br />authorized by FS to access to sites west of Apache Rocks. FR 711 was improved, <br />widened and graveled to allow drill rigs into the area. A portion of FR 711.2B was <br />rerouted to get [he road alignment out of a drainage, the old portion of the road was then <br />reclaimed. FR 711.2b toward Jumbo was upgraded from a high clearance access. ]t is <br />presently being reclaimed and will be returned to a 10-foot road width and made high <br />clearance accessible only. <br />31 <br />