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acquisition by the U.S. Forest Service of 331.539 acres now, with the intent of acquiring the <br />remaining 613.611 acres in the near future. <br />Reasons ##1- ##9 listed in the previous section all demonstrate evidence that this land exchange is in <br />the public interest. Per 36 CFR 254.3(b)(2)(ii), the intended uses of the NITS land to be conveyed <br />will not conflict with established management objectives on adjacent NFS lands, nor will the future <br />use of those lands change from current use. 36 CFR 254.3(h) allows me to reserve rights or retain <br />interests in the FP Iand if needed to protect the public interest. Neither scoping nor the <br />environmental analysis identified any critical resources that should be protected through <br />reservations or retained interests. Therefore, I have determined that neither is necessary. <br />This exchange has strong support in Gunnison County among both the public and elected local <br />officials. The funds generated by the sale of 331.539 acres to Homestake Mining Company of <br />California will be conveyed to the Gunnison County Housing Foundation and dedicated to the <br />development of low income housing within the County. While this is an indirect result of the <br />exchange and outside of Forest Service involvement, it does contribute to the public interest <br />determination. This exchange also has support in Saguache County, which will gain additional <br />tax base, with the transfer of land from the federal government to private ownership. There <br />will be no adverse effects to adjacent landowners as a result of this exchange, given the fact <br />that the only private lands adjacent to either parcel are owned by Homestake Mining Company <br />of California. <br />SCOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT <br />The proposal was listed in the Schedule of Proposed Actions for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre <br />and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests on February 21, 2013. A letter outlining the proposal and <br />including a map of the lands proposed for exchange was sent to interested members of the public; <br />Native American Tribes; other agencies; and elected officials on February 22, 2013. Public notice <br />was published in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, which is the paper of record for the GMUG <br />National Forests, on February 28, 2013. A public notice was also published in the Gunnison <br />Country Times for four consecutive weeks; February 28, March 7, March 14, and March 21, 2013. <br />The public comment period was open for 45 days and closed on April 15, 2013. No public <br />meetings were held nor requested. The Board of County Commissioners for both Gunnison County <br />and Saguache County were, briefed by a local Forest Service official. <br />No comments were received advising of any liens, encumbrances, or other claims to the lands being <br />proposed for exchange. Only one comment letter was received, which was from an organization <br />named Western Lan ds Project. In that letter a concern was expressed that transfer of the lands from <br />national forest to private ownership may jeopardize mined land reclamation and compliance with <br />federal environmental laws. This concern was addressed as an issue in the EA. A copy of this <br />letter is on file in the Forest Service Regional Office in Lakewood, Colorado and the Forest <br />Supervisor's Office in Delta, Colorado. <br />Fossil Ridge I Land Exchange. Decision Notice and FONSI 8 <br />