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Table 3.1 <br />Past, Present and Reasouabl Foreseeable Future Actions <br />Action Dates Effects <br />West Elk Coal Mine 1981 to present Mine has been operating for 20 years. Mine life is currently <br /> projected for IS additional years. <br /> Currently about 10,000 acres under lease encompassing lands <br /> with private, BLM and Forest Service surface ownership. Two <br /> lease modifications containing 300 acres were evaluated to be <br />_ added to exislin leases in roximi to this GV B project area. <br />Coal exploration Late 1960s 1970s About 13 abandoned drill holes in 1 mile radius of project area. <br />drilling Early 1980s All sites have been reclaimed, some access road prisms still visible. <br /> Alid-late 1990s Some locations have been reopened for use in GVB drilling <br /> program (see below). Reclamation is good. Road closures are <br /> inhibiting traffic on about half of the closures. <br /> 2001 Two exploration drill holes were approved in 2001, 1 and 2 miles <br /> north of project area, reopened about 2 miles of abandoned drill <br /> roads. <br /> next 5 to 10 years Future coal exploration may occur in area about 2.5 miles south <br /> of project area. Estimated I l coal exploration holes and 6 miles of <br /> new [em ora road. <br />Gob '/entilation 2001 Since spring of 2001, 6 GVBs have been installed from 4 drill pad <br />boredole drilling locations (2 acres disturbance). Sites used were previous rnal <br /> exploration drill pads, access used about 5 miles of reopened drill <br /> roads. MCC currently has approval to drill an 6 other sites over <br /> longwall panels 14 and IS (see attached map). Drilling activity is <br /> on-going. Monitoring has started at completed locations. 26 <br /> GVBs are anticipated to be needed over the 3 remaining longwall <br /> panels in this mining district. Estimated potential disturbance <br /> from drill pads: 13 acres, estimated potential road use on <br /> abandoned roads: 2.3 miles (3.3 acres), estimated potential new <br /> tem ora road construction: 4.5 miles 6.5 acres). <br />Geophysical 1999 2.1 mile long shallow seismic line was run down lleep Creek. <br />exploration surveys Very minor surface effects, no visible effects present. No other <br /> surveys expected at present time. <br /> 1998 Thum er seismit surve on FR 71 i, no residual effects. <br />Range use/ Past 100 years Area has been grazed for many years, currently managed on <br />improvements intensive time-controlled system. No planned changes in grazing <br /> s stem. No tans for new nods or access. <br />Timber Past 20 years No sales in past 10 to 15 years and none planned. Area presently <br /> o en for ersonal fuelwood atherin ,but use is Inw. <br />Wildlife Past 20 years A 600 acre prescribed burn occurred about 1 mile east of lease <br /> modification areas in 1992, area is revegetating. No other habitat <br /> ro'ects tanned. <br />Recn;a[ion Past 20 years Primary use has been access for hooting. In past 10 years use of <br /> ATVs has dramatically increased with most use occurring during <br /> hunting seasons. A proposal to limit ATV use to existing roads <br /> and trails went into effect August 1, 2001. No recreation <br /> derelo meots are tanned. <br />Roadless Inventory 1979 Project area was inventoried in 1979 as part of RARE II, but was <br /> not carried forward for wilderness designation or as a "further <br /> planning area". Area was not designated for management as <br /> roadless io GMUG Forest Plan, Roadless character determined to <br /> have been compromised in 1993 Oil and Cas EIS. Roads have <br /> been built in area post 1979. Lands currently under mineral lease <br /> are exempt from the Interim Roads Policy and Roadless <br /> Conservation Rule. <br />3a <br />