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BLM Uncompahgre Field Office Sunset Trail Area Coal Exploration Plan EA <br />3.13.2.2 No Action <br />Under no action, MCC would not be able to evaluate the coal resource on their leases and would <br />gain no confirmation of current estimates. <br />3.14 Access and Transportation <br />3.14.1 Affected Environment <br />Primary access routes that will be affected are the Sylvester Gulch Road and NFSR 711. The Forest <br />Service manages NFSR 711 as a low standard road, suitable for high clearance vehicles. MCC <br />completed upgrades (spot graveling, blading, curve widening, and turnout construction). Traffic use <br />on NFSR 711 is low. A small amount of traffic uses the road for recreational purposes, including <br />ATVs, dirt bikes and occasional mountain bikes. Grazing permittees also use the road for access to <br />range allotments, and hunters use the road to access hunting areas. Snowmobiles use the NFSR 711 <br />as a travel route. <br />3.14.2 Environmental Consequences <br />3.14.2.1 Proposed Action <br />Direct and Indirect Effects <br />Minimal additional traffic will occur on NFSR 711 and the Sylvester Gulch Road during <br />exploration activities as drill rigs, support vehicles, and crews enter and leave the area for the one to <br />two years of activities. Approximately 5.9 miles of temporary road would be constructed if all <br />exploration holes are drilled. Temporary roads constructed will not affect the overall public <br />transportation system as access on them will be restricted (not open to the public) during <br />exploration activities and they will be closed and reclaimed following use. Use of public roads by <br />heavy equipment, drilling traffic, and mine operations may impact road condition, however because <br />of the mine's road use permit and required maintenance the mine usually leaves the road in better <br />condition than required. <br />No additional demand for transportation of employees to MCC's mine surface operations facilities, <br />or coal handling and transport facilities would be required. Mining operations and processing would <br />be extended throughout the period required to mine available coal. <br />Cumulative Effects <br />Cumulative effects of road use for other projects or recreation will be similar to the stated direct and <br />indirect effects. <br />3.14.2.2 No Action <br />Under the no action alternative, there would be no additional temporary roads constructed or use of <br />existing roads for drilling; therefore, there would be no impacts on access and transportation. <br />3.15 Range Management <br />3.15.1 Affected Environment <br />The project is located in the Dry Fork cattle allotment. Five permittees are authorized to use the <br />area. <br />June 2013 30 <br />