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

• Permit No: X201322801
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 7/1/2013
• Doc Name: BLM Environmental Assessment ‎(DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2013-0027 EA)‎
• Email Name: JDM
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

BLM Uncompahgre Field Office Sunset Trail Area Coal Exploration Plan EA
3.4.2 Environmental Consequences
3.4.2.1 Proposed Action
Direct and Indirect Effects
Approximately 30 acres would be disturbed from construction of drilling pads and access roads.
Soils affected and their potential for water erosion are shown in Table 5. Sections 2.2.4 and 2.2.5
describe the erosion control measures that will be used to avoid erosion or sedimentation. Once the
project is complete, reclamation will restore the area and prevent long term soil erosion problems.
Based on the lease stipulations, the planned erosion control, and requirements for reclamation, there
are no anticipated indirect long term soil impacts from surface disturbances (FEIS, page 102)
(USFS, 2012a).
Cumulative Effects
Additional surface facilities and temporary roads may be proposed and approved on lands in and
surrounding the exploration area. These additional surface disturbing activities would affect the soil
resource by displacing soils at specific locations. The topsoil and subsoil is stockpiled and reserved
for reclamation. Contemporaneous reclamation techniques will be used, thus replacing /re -using the
soils on the site as soon as the location is no longer needed.
Few adverse impacts on soils have been observed during subsidence and reclamation monitoring at
nearby mines. Reclamation of surface use sites, including methane drainage drill sites, exploration
drill sites and associated temporary roads, has been generally successful in three to five years
following reclamation. Reclamation typically includes re- grading the surface to approximate
original contour, redistributing topsoil, and revegetating with a specified seed mix. The area of
surface disturbance in the region will temporarily increase during construction, returning to
conditions similar to pre- disturbance following reclamation. Through proper topsoil management,
native seeding, and an aggressive noxious weed abatement program, mines in the North Fork Valley
have been very successful in maintaining soil viability.
3.4.2.2 No Action
No additional soil disturbance would occur due to selection of the No Action alternative.
3.5 Vegetation
3.5.1 Affected Environment
As identified in the FEIS, the principal vegetation type has been identified as aspen (Table 6). No
threatened, endangered, or candidate plants have been identified in the exploration area (FEIS, page
120) (USFS, 2012a). Wetland and riparian vegetation is discussed in Section 3.11.
3.5.2 Environmental Consequences
3.5.2.1 Proposed Action
Direct and Indirect Effects
The majority of the area to be disturbed by road and drill pad
construction currently has aspen for the vegetation cover (Table 6).
Mountain shrub and mixed Engelmann spruce /alpine fir make up
Table 6. Vegetation Types
in Disturbed Area
Cover Type
Disturbed
Acres
Mountain Shrub
2.2
Aspen
25.6
Spruce -Fir
1.9
Total
29.6
June 2013 18