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6.2 Structure <br />The exploration areas are located on the western limb of the Red Wash Syncline, an <br />asymmetrical flexure on the northeast flank of the Rangely Anticline. The axis of the syncline <br />trends northwest/southeast and plunges to the southeast towards the much larger synclinal <br />structure of the Piceance Basin. Strike within the exploration area is mostly to the northwest, <br />but rotates northward then eastward in the northern portions of the exploration area, as the axis <br />of the syncline is crossed. Dip within most of the exploration area averages 4 1 /2 degrees <br />towards N45 °E, but turns eastward and flattens as the synclinal axis is approached. North of <br />the synclinal axis, dip reverses sharply towards the south and steepens greatly to form the <br />east/west trending hogbacks of Coal Ridge. No significant faulting is known to occur in the <br />immediate area. <br />7.0 PROPOSED DRILLING SITES AND ACCESS <br />The exploration program for the proposed exploration license area includes the rotary drilling <br />and geophysical logging of up to 15 exploration holes. Some of the holes may also be core <br />drilled. The holes will likely be drilled in a general sequence extending outward and away from <br />the current mine plan area until the B -Seam mining limits are determined. Holes occurring <br />beyond the B -Seam mineable limit will probably not be drilled. Exhibit A (in the pocket) shows <br />the location of the access trails for the 15 proposed holes, the boundary of Deserado Mine <br />leases and the proposed exploration license boundary. <br />The 15 holes will result in surface disturbances of about 0.23 acre per location or a maximum <br />total disturbance of about 3.5 acres, if all sites were drilled. Existing roads will largely be used <br />to access the drilling sites. Portions of these roads may need to be upgraded in spots to <br />facilitate their use. New road construction will also be needed to access certain drill sites. Up to <br />2.4 miles (12,750 feet) of new roads would need to be constructed if all sites were drilled. At 12 <br />feet in width, the total potential surface disturbance for new access roads would add another 3.5 <br />disturbed acres, bringing the total potential new surface disturbances associated with the drilling <br />project to 7.0 acres (Table 7 -1). <br />Much of the new access roads will consist of overland travel without extensive disturbance. <br />Therefore, impacts to the lands will be held to the minimum. Access routes were selected <br />8 <br />