1991-03-25_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017

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needed for hauling coal but still required by Mid-Continent for access by maintenance vehicles should be reconstructed to the standards stipulated in the 2720 memo, dated September 16, 1986. According to this memo, an agreement was reached with Mid-Continent for a road allowance of 22 feet, including a sixteen foot wide driving surface,with an additional six foot wide drainage ditch. Recommendations This issue is part of the larger road standards issue which is addressed in the following Road Standards section. 3. ROAD STANDARDS Problems associated with the present road system need to be corrected immediately to mitigate existing water quality problems within Coal Basin and in tributary streams downstream of the Basin. Present road design standards need careful re-evaluation. Recommendations The first step should be to reach an agreement with Mid-Continent and the Mine Land Reclama- tion Division relative to what road standards meet individual agency/company needs including miner safety, water quality requirements for Federal lands, and economic viability over the long-term. A meeting should be scheduled by the Forest Service with representatives from Mid-Continent and the Mine Land Reclamation Division to determine acceptable road stand- ards. Next, an action plan should be developed which describes a road system acceptable to i1 all parties. More information about the purpose and content of this action plan is provided in the Action Plan section of the report. 4. DRAINAGE/EROSION CONTROL PLAN (PHOTOS 11-15) Road drainage studies have been conducted on Mid-Continent's haul road system. Based on these studies, additional culverts were installed. However, road drainage is still inadequate to protect water quality.A Drainage/Erosion Control Plan that covers the road network of National Forest System lands within Coal Basin should be developed jointly by Mid-Continent and the Forest Service. Le This Drainage/Erosion Control Plan should include the following elements: 1. Location on maps of all existing road drainage structures showing their relationship to and distance from the adjacent water courses. 2. Identification and location of existing culverts determined to be functional without caus- ing downslope degradation and that can be easily maintained. 3. Identification and location of existing culverts that cannot be maintained. 4. Specifications for reconstruction of the existing roads including, removing berms, out- sloping, and waterbarring. 5. Description of down-drainage structures that are needed to control the road drainage discharged onto the fill slopes.