2013-07-01_PERMIT FILE - X201322801 (3)

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BLM Uncompahgre Field Office Sunset Trail Area Coal Exploration Plan EA Naturally appearing landscapes with high scenic quality Temporary roads and drilling pads could diminish natural appearing landscapes during the two —year project life, depending on location and position of disturbance and view point. The scenic integrity in the area is moderate to moderate /high. Cumulative Effects Effects of past activities on the roadless character are reflected in the existing condition of the Sunset Colorado Roadless Area. Ongoing and reasonably foreseeable actions will continue to have similar effects. Although an additional 30 acres of disturbance may occur within the 5,800 -acre roadless area, the overall character of the Sunset Colorado Roadless Area will not change due to reasonably foreseeable actions. 3.3.2.2 No Action The No Action alternative would not have beneficial or adverse impacts on the Sunset Colorado Roadless Area or the roadless characteristics that occur there. 3.4 Soils 3.4.1 Affected Environment Soils information and technical data were taken from the following soil survey completed for the project area (Cryer & Hughes, 1997). The survey characterized and described the soils overlying that portion of the project area. This survey contains soil maps depicting the aerial extent of the soils delineated and map unit descriptions, typical pedon descriptions, and interpretation tables which were used to develop the text below. No site - specific soil baseline studies were conducted. Soils in the exploration area are described as six map units (Table 5). The map unit name, percent coverage, dominant soil series and attendant percent map unit composition, relative depth, hazard classifications (water erosion, shrink swell, and mass movement), and considerations as described in the soil survey are shown in Table 3.6 in the FEIS, beginning on page 98 (USFS, 2012a). Table 5. Acres of National Forest Disturbance by Soil Type and Characteristic Soil Water Erosion Hazard Disturbed Acres 124 - Coberly — Falcon, dry complex, 0 -15 percent slopes Low 0.1 158 - Herm - Fughes - Kolob family complex, 25 to 40 percent slopes Low To High 0.7 170 - Needleton - Scout families complex, 5 to 40 percent slopes Low To Moderate 2.2 183 - Scout - Needleton families complex, 40 to 65 percent slopes Mod. To High 5.4 188 - Taterheap - Papaspila complex, 5 to 40 percent slopes Low To High 2.1 200 - Wetopa - Wesdy complex, 5 to 65 percent slopes Low To High 19.1 Total 29.6 Acres may not add up due to rounding. June 2013 17