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U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office Decision Record CO-160-2006-014 CE ~,~ . JU "o~~~a ~~~<~~~ ,.,''y,,~rJ~ tJ~j~ a~ DECISION AND RATIONALE: I have reviewed this Categorical Exclusion and have decided to implement the proposed action. It is my decision to issue a land use permit for the construction of one to two wells and maintenance of one well for the purpose of gathering groundwater quality data to 1) determine the feasibility of developing a future mining operation, 2) provide required baseline water quality data in the event a mining operation proposal is developed, and 3) provide water quality monitoring data in the event a mining operation proposal is approved. The wells will be drilled in mid-May, weather permitting. The wells aze needed by the applicant for their feasibility determination and for baseline water quality data for at least one year, but no more than three years. The attached Special Conditions and Plan of Development are hereby incorporated into the Land Use Permit and are part of this Decision Record. The proposed action is for the purposes of determining the feasibility of developing a valid mining claim on pubic land and of providing required data to accompany any future mining development. If the applicant decides to develop a mining operation proposal at the project site, they would submit the appropriate Notices and/or Plans of Operation to the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology and to BLM. The monitoring well would then be incorporated into the appropriate mine permit(s), if approved. If the applicant decides not to develop a mining operation proposal at the project site, and the well is no longer needed for monitoring purposes, the applicant will be required to plug and abandon the well. BLM requires that the well be filled entirely with concrete to be properly sealed and abandoned. A bond will be collected from the applicant in the amount of $3,000.00 to cover the cost of plugging and abandoning the well, if the applicant fails to properly do so. This action is listed in the Department Manual as an action that may be categorically excluded. I have evaluated the action relative to the 10 criteria listed above and have determined that it does not represent an exception and is, therefore, categorically excluded from further environmental analysis. The proposed action meets the criteria to be qualified for issuance of a Minimum Impact Permit. It is in conformance with BLM plans, policies, and programs, local zoning ordinances, and any other requirements, and will not cause appreciable damage or disturbance to the public lands, their resources or improvements. Therefore, publication of a Notice of Realty Action is not required. LEGAL DESCRIPTION: NMPM, T.43N., R. 4W., Sec. 1 Q, lot 38. COMPLIANCE PLAN: The permit area would be inspected periodically to ensure that operation and maintenance is in compliance with the terms, conditions and stipulations of the permit.