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MAR-17-2003 MON 08;21 AM FAX N0, P, 04 <br />G3-14-01 09,15P1~ FPOJi FORE5T SERUICE TO PAONIA R- <br />1V. REASONS FOR CA7'EGORICAi.I.Y F.3CCLUDING THE PROPOSED <br />AC71'ION <br />1 determined that public disclosure ender a.Categotical Exclusion (CB) is adcquato <br />because effects to surface resources are minimal. <br />• 7•he proposed action falls raider category B, section 31.2 of the Forerr $ervieelYacdbnak, <br />1909.15 - l;nvironmental Policy and Procedures Handbook, which states "short-tetrrt, <br />(ono year nz less) mineral, energy, orgzophycical invcatigations and their incidental <br />support activities that may require cross-country travel by vehicles and equipment; <br />• construction of lots than ono mite of low standard mad; [o)r tree artdtttineriepair of <br />existing roads' maybe excluded from documentation in an P1S nr an EA,. <br />'Phis analysis refercncea the N£PA completed for federal coal leases C-] 362 and COC, <br />5ti447, The area proposed for these surveys lies withut lands cutrmuy trader ]ease.for <br />coal mining to MCC. These leases ware evaluated under.N6PA and approved in the <br />.DN/FONS] for Coal lease Application COC-Sti447 (March 1995) and the DiVI forfl+z <br />Coal l.easo Readjustment for lease C-1362 (January 1997). ~ This'analysis also references- <br />t3to IIA end DN/FONSI completed for 1NCCs Coal Mzihmte Dniaage Prajerrt, pmreis 14 ' <br />to 24. <br />V. FINDING OF~NO EXTRAORDINARY CiRCUM6TANeES~ <br />Extraordinary circumstances include, but aze not limited to, ground.disturbing action.in <br />the presence of stzep slopes orhighly iKt)slve soils; threate~ted ar t•^a ^ red species an& <br />theireritical habitat; flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds; Congressionally <br />designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study area, or~Nadonal Recreation Areas; <br />or lnventotied Roadless Areas; orResearch Natural areas; or Native'AmeriCen relig®us <br />or cultural sites, archaeological sites, orhistoric properties or seas. <br />The project titer occurs in the Vest Elk invontotied roadlese•erea (8i;°.). 6ince no road <br />construction is proposed, this proposed action does not have restrictions from the Roads <br />Policy given in the Forest Service Jnterim Directive to ilia Forest Service Mastnal; t 900, <br />Chnpler 1920 (December 14, 400t}, <br />This action doca not involve any extraordinary. circumstances. Therefore, this:action can <br />beeategorically excluded from doctunentation'in an'emrimam~asscsyurtnror 1 <br />environmental itttpact statement, <br />V[. FINDINGS RRQUIRED BY OTIIER LAWS <br />Flood plains, wetlands, prime farmlaads,.threatened end endangered species, and.heritag~ <br />resource concerns were co»sidered lathissesion:.Tlsere~resouraea will tsar be adversely <br />affected. <br />P04 <br />