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United States Forest Grand Mesa, <br />2250 Highway 50 <br />USDA Department of Service Uncompahgre and <br />Delta, CO 81416 <br />Agriculture Gunnison <br />Voice: 970 - 874 -6600 <br />National Forests <br />TDD: 970 - 874 -6660 <br />File Code: 2820/1950 <br />Date: September 30, 2013 <br />Dear Interested Party: <br />Spruce Stomp Coal Lease by Application (COC- 75916) (LBA) was made by Bowie Resources, <br />LLC to the USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM)- Colorado State Office for approximately <br />1789 acres. The LBA includes approximately 1333 acres of National Forest System (NFS) <br />surface lands managed by the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests <br />(GMUG), approximately 88 acres of public land managed by the Uncompahgre Field Office of <br />the BLM and 368 private acres with federal minerals also managed by the Uncompahgre Field <br />Office of the BLM. The LBA would prevent bypass of federal compliant and super - compliant <br />coal reserves which BLM is required, by law, to consider leasing for economic recovery. The <br />LBA is located in sections 5 and 6 , T13S, R91W; section 1, T13S, R92W; sections 31 and 32 <br />of T12S, R91W; and section 36, T12S, R92W, 6th PM, in Delta County, 6th PM, Delta County, <br />Colorado (approximately 8 miles northwest of Somerset, CO) and are adjacent to existing federal <br />coal leases on NFS, BLM and private coal lands. <br />An Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared which analyzes the effects of the GMUG <br />consenting to the BLM leasing these parcels of NFS lands and BLM later making an independent <br />decision on whether or not to issue the LBA then offering the lease tract for competitive bid. At <br />the leasing stage, the federal agencies evaluate the effects of subsidence (lowering of the land <br />surface incident to coal removal) and identify where surface resources may require specific <br />protection from subsidence or foreseeable surface uses. Due to the limited quantity of mineable <br />coal in the LBA, it is assumed that this LBA if it is issued by BLM it would be to an existing <br />mine not a new mine. Therefore, no increase in coal production is anticipated nor will any <br />additional jobs be created in the North Fork Valley as a result of BLM issuing the LBA. <br />BLM manages the federal mineral estate for coal leases. Where the land surface is managed by <br />the Forest Service, BLM must have consent from the Forest Service before leasing can occur. As <br />the Responsible Official for the GMUG, I have decided to select the Proposed Action Alternative <br />(Consent to Lease with Stipulations) as described in the EA for NFS lands only. Selection of this <br />alternative provides the BLM - Colorado State Office my consent to lease the NFS lands included <br />in Spruce Stomp LBA as described above. My consent decision includes the application of terms <br />and conditions, identified as stipulations, to protect surface (non - mineral) resources on NFS <br />lands. My decision does not authorize actual mining or any surface disturbing activities; <br />however, it is based upon the analysis in the EA which evaluated potential future use of the land <br />surface similar to existing coal activities in the area with coal lease stipulations applied. <br />My decision will be implemented through issuance of the Decision Notice (DN), followed by <br />BLM's actions of making a subsequent and independent decision on whether to lease or lease <br />with additional stipulations, then BLM's leasing the tract, and finally, mining activities may be <br />permitted by Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety and /or Office of Surface <br />Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Lessee would be responsible for securing/maintaining <br />any Local, State or Federal permits and approvals, as applicable, and required by law for future <br />Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper W <br />