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a ~• United States <br />Department of <br />Agriculture <br />DN/ <br />FONSI <br />MCC <br />Mail List on file <br />Paonia, CO 81428 <br />Forest Paonia - P.O.Box 1030 <br />Service Ranger District N Rio Grande Ave. <br />PHONE NO. 970-527-4131 Paonia, CO 81428 <br /> FAX 970-527-4151 <br /> <br /> File Code: 2$20/1950 <br /> Date: June 4, 2002 <br />CANN~® RECEIVED <br />JUN 0 6 Y00Y <br />Division of Minerals and Gealagy <br />Dear Interested Citizen: <br />A decision has been made on the proposal from Mountain Coal Company (MCC) to construct <br />methane drainage wells on the Gunnison National Forest for longwall Panels 16 through 24 at <br />the West Elk Mine, near Somerset, in Gunnison County, Colorado. <br />In November 2001, MCC proposed to construct 59 drill pads, 70 methane drainage wells, 10 <br />exploration holes, and associated roads to allow continued coal production. A February 2002 <br />Environmental Assessment displayed the potential environmental consequences of this proposal <br />and four alternative courses of action. On May 31, 2002, Rocky Mountain Regional Forester <br />Rick Cables signed a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) that <br />authorizes Mountain Coal Company to construct 46 drill pads, drill up to 58 methane drainage <br />wells and 10 coal exploration holes, and construct and use roads to access these facilities. <br />A portion of the facilities MCC requested are permitted in this decision. More information is <br />needed before the Forest Service can decide whether or not to approve the roads and drill pads <br />proposed in riparian areas in Box Canyon and East Fork Sylvester Gulch. We expect this <br />information to be collected and studied this summer, so that a decision on the remainder of <br />MCC's request can be made by early 2003. <br />A copy of the Decision Notice and FONSI is enclosed. This decision is subject to appeal <br />pursuant to Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 215.7. Any written appeal should be directed <br />to Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth at USDA Forest Service, PO Box 96090, Washington, <br />DC 20090-6090. An appeal must be postmarked or received at the Washington office by Friday, <br />July 29, 2002. Appeals must meet the content requirements of 36 CFR 215.4, which is available <br />at the Paonia Ranger District office or on-line at www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr. <br />If you have questions about this decision or the process of public review, please call me at the <br />Paonia Ranger District Office at 970-527-4131. If you prefer to correspond by email, please <br />write to me at sspear(cr~fs.fed.us or contact Pam Bode, the Project Leader at pbode(cJ,fs.fed.us. <br />Caring for the Land and Serving People Prinletl on Recycletl Paper ~ <br />