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Environmental Assessment Bowie Resources, L.L.C. <br />A ugust 2 005 Spruce Stomp Fed Coa Expl L ( - 20 -43) <br />Area 4D - Aspen management. Area is managed to maintain or improve aspen and to provide <br />wood fiber, wildlife habitat, visual quality and plant and animal diversity. Semi - primitive non- <br />motorized, semi - primitive motorized and roaded natural recreation opportunities will be <br />provided. Livestock grazing is compatible with aspen management. <br />Area 9A emphasizes management of all the components of aquatic /riparian ecosystems to <br />provide healthy, self - perpetuating plant communities, acceptable water quality standards, fish <br />and wildlife habitats, and stable stream channels. Mineral activities may occur but must <br />minimize disturbance to riparian areas, and timely and effective rehabilitation and restoration of <br />the riparian areas to a state of productivity comparable to that before disturbance must be <br />initiated. <br />The BLM State Director must decide whether or not to issue the SSCEL to BRL. The BLM <br />State Director's decision authority regarding issuance of the SSCEL, is predicated on the <br />Proposed Action meeting all of the conditions identified by the USDA -FS's Conditions for Use <br />and Protection of Non - Mineral Resources (Section 2.1.1). The Uncompahgre Field Office <br />Manager will recommend a course of action regarding the SSCEL to the State Director. The <br />State Director is the authorized officer with responsibility for issuing coal exploration licenses. <br />Unrelated to this EA and the BLM/USDA -FS NEPA process, BRL is subject to other regulatory <br />program requirements, including submittal of a NOI to Explore to the Colorado Division of <br />Minerals and Geology (CDMG), the agency with authority to oversee all coal operations in the <br />state. The CDMG administers a coal mining regulatory program approved and overseen by the <br />USDOI- Office of Surface Mining. <br />1.5 Public Involvement Process <br />Pursuant to NEPA, input on the Proposed Action was solicited from appropriate agencies, <br />specific interested parties, and the public. The comments received were analyzed and <br />summarized to represent the issues and concerns of the respondents. Alternatives were <br />developed in response to issues raised that meet the stated purpose and need while considering <br />public comment. The public involvement process, the issues raised, and the alternatives <br />developed are discussed in this chapter. <br />Public scoping on the BRL Proposed Action was initiated in early June 2004. The GMUG <br />mailed individual scoping letters to 45 interested parties on July 27, 2004. An article detailing <br />the Proposed Action appeared in the Delta County Independent newspaper on July 28, 2004. <br />The BLM also conducted an additional scoping effort from June 13, 2005 to June 30, 2005 by <br />sending scoping letters to interested parties. No comments were received. <br />The Proposed Action is included on the GMUG Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA). The <br />SOPA is available on the GMUG website, and hard copies are mailed to listed interested parties <br />on a quarterly basis. <br />The Proposed Action was also discussed with the North Fork Coal Working Group, a <br />collaboration -based community interest group working on coal issues in the North Fork Valley, <br />at their scheduled meetings in April, June, July, August, and October 2004; and January and <br />1 -7 <br />