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one must be placed every 800 feet. The surface locations must be specifically placed to coincide <br />with the mine plan to ensure that the wells bottom at specific locations underground. Thus, <br />little opportunity remains to move locations on the surface. <br />Roads are needed to afford access for the drill rig and support vehicles, and will be used for the <br />life of each well (2 to 5 years) on a daily to weekly basis for mechanical inspections and <br />monitoring. Since the methane drainage wells are in place for the purposes of human safety in <br />the underground mine, access via road is also needed to ensure that quick access is available for <br />emergency situations including fire, mechanical failures, First Aid, spill cleanup or other <br />unforeseen circumstances. <br />Methods for drilling the methane drainage wells without road construction would require <br />airlifting equipment to drill sites. Based on the type of drilling equipment that must be used to <br />drill to the depths needed (2,300 to 2,700 feet deep), and the hole diameter (9- 5/8 "), and case <br />(86,400 pounds of steel casing) the type of borehole necessary, a substantial rig is needed. The <br />type of rig used for these applications typically weighs 90,000 pounds. Water needed to support <br />drilling operations is typically stored on site in tanks that weigh 160,000 pounds fully loaded. <br />The heaviest lifting helicopter in the world is a military Sikorski CH53E Super Stallion, which has <br />an external payload of 36,000 pounds. Thus, given the weight of equipment needed for drilling <br />the methane drainage wells, helicopter access is not feasible. <br />The proposed new temporary road access uses the most direct routes to access the proposed <br />MDWs. Further, the proposed locations are consistent with existing lease terms and conditions <br />(stipulations), and best fit the existing terrain to minimize surface disturbance, and uses to the <br />maximum extent possible existing administrative roads on NFS lands, and extensions of roads <br />originating on private lands. This results in minimizing the overall road mileage to be <br />constructed while maintaining consistency with lease terms and protecting other resources, <br />thereby minimizing effects to roadless values. <br />To further minimize effects of entry into the IRA, the following conditions are to be applied: <br />o All final locations of drill pads and new temporary road alignments must be accepted in <br />the field by the Paonia District Ranger or his /her representative before any ground <br />disturbance or construction begins. <br />o The surface width of temporary roads will not exceed 14 feet, except in locations which <br />require curve widening. These locations must be identified on the ground and accepted <br />by the Paonia District Ranger. <br />o Temporary road construction will use the end -haul or layered - placement construction <br />techniques. No uncontrolled side - casting of material will be permitted. <br />o All new temporary roads will be closed to the public, gated and locked. <br />o All new access roads constructed for the sole use of this project will be decommissioned <br />by full obliteration when no longer needed for the project and reclaimed. <br />e. Existing Road Use and Road Construction and Maintenance <br />11 <br />