2018-05-30_PERMIT FILE - X201823602

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DECISION RECORD GCC Energy Proposed Exploration Plan Minor Modification Informed By DO I-BLM-CO-SO 10 -2018 -0014 -DNA Based On Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-CO-SOIO-2014-0025 Decision It is my decision to select the Proposed Action, an 1 I hole minor exploration plan amendment, as described in the Documentation of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) DOI-BLM-CO-SO10-2018-0014-DNA. This DNA was based upon environmental assessment (EA), DOI-BLM- CO-SO10-2014-0025, along with its Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) and Decision Record (DR). This decision will allow the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to approve a minor modification to coal exploration license COC - 76563 in response to the application that was submitted by GCC Energy, LLC (GCC). The approved coal exploration license, as modified will authorize GCC to explore for and characterize potentially recoverable federal coal resources eleven (11) additional test holes to collect core samples and geophysical survey data as described under the Proposed Action in the DNA. A twelfth proposed hole was deferred since it was snowed in during cultural resource inventory work, but may be reconsidered at a later date depending on results of cultural resource inventories. All proposed drill holes are located within the defined legal boundaries of Federal Coal Exploration license COC -76563. Once drilling operations are complete, the exploration holes will be plugged and surface disturbances associated with the drilling activities will be reclaimed. Surface activities for the proposed action will be located on predominantly split estate fee lands with surface estate owned by individuals, corporations and the Mountain Ute Tribe (fee restricted) and federally owned coal. All of the exploration test holes would be drilled into federal mineral estate. A map showing the drilling locations of this amendment and the originally approved exploration plan, and the associated access routes for the Proposed Acton is provided in Attachment I The project area for the Proposed Action consists of approximately 4,846 acres of land located in Township 35 North, Ranges 11 West and 12 West, in La Plata County, Colorado (see map, Attachment 1). Pursuant to the design features for the selected alternative include, locating drill sites to avoid cultural resource sites, Ponderosa pine and firtrees, and potential habitat for Mexican spotted owl and there will be no new roads built. In total, it is anticipated that the implementation of the selected alternative will result in surface disturbances on approximately 5.29 acres of land within the project area and reclamation for those disturbances will occur shortly after the drilling activities have concluded. The design features for the selected alternative are described in more detail in the EA and in Attachment 2. These design features, along with the Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Conditions of Approval (COAs) identified in Attachment 2, will be requirements for the exploration license. The coal exploration activities occurring under the exploration license will occur prior to September 16, 2018 when the license expires. Any holes not completed by this time would need to be completed under a separate authorization. Rationale I have approved the activities described in DOI-BLM-CO-SO10-2018-0014-DNA because they are lie within the approved boundaries of the existing COC -76563 Exploration License and will cause the same type of disturbances, with the same level of short-term impacts as were analyzed in the EA, DOI-BLM- CO-SO10-2014-0025, its FONSI and Decision Record.