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For every $1.00 earned by mine workers, and estimated $0.52 in income is supported in the local azea. Mine payroll was $25 million m 2001. My decision will support West Elk Mine's continued financial contribution toward local community health and continued receipt of tax revenue in Gunnison County (Appendix C4 -Social and Economic Values). Production of 26.8 million tons of coal (6 to 7 million tons/year in 2002 through 2005) will contribute to supply energy and help meet demand for high quality, clean burning coal. Factors Other Than Environmental Effects Considered In Making The Decision The purpose and need of this project is to consider allowing activities on the National Forest that are associated with coal mining and continued development of leased federal coal reserves. The proposed activities are needed to respond to unsafe methane gas levels in the underground mine. Methane gas liberation is needed to ensure worker safety and allow continued development of leased federal coal reserves at a cost effective rate (EA, Section 1.2). My decision also supports continued production of high BTU, low sulfur coal reserves. This coal yields higher air quality than other coal when burned. My decision supports the Purpose and Need for [his project. I decided to require MCC [o close most of the existing motorized trails in the project azea by summer 2003 and decommission all existing and approved future temporary roads in the project area when this project ends (expected in 2007) to improve habitat effectiveness for ells and other wildlife. The two segments of motorized trail that will not be obliterated include the trail that connects the Dry Fork road to the intersection of the Long Draw Saddle Road and the Upper Sylvester Road, and a 2,000-foot segment of trail in fhe NW quarter of Section 26 that connects the Long Draw Road to the West Flatiron road, avoiding a steep section of road and a switchback. Using Forest Plan guidelines for road density calculations (Forest Plan, page III-77) the existing adjusted road and motorized trail density in the project area is 4.4 miles per square mile (EA, Section 3.2.1.4). If these trails were left open during the approved project, road and motorized trail density would increase to about 5 miles per square mile. This density does not meet Forest Plan requirements of 40% road density/use habitat effectiveness. The existing motorized trails were user-created and follow the path of least resistance, which is in the bottom of the drainages, in or adjacent to the riparian area. Therefore, my decision to close most of the existing motorized trails will mitigate project impacts to elk habitat effectiveness and meet Forest Plan standards. Although I have decided to close most of the existing motorized nails, I have decided to allow ATV access on three project toads during the big game rifle season in the fall. Public ATV use will not be allowed on roads in the project area during the times that MCC is constmcting roads and drilling methane drainage wells, which is expected to be May through September, annually. The existing and approved new roads are narrow, and the combination of heavy construction traffic and public recreation use traffic would not be pendent or safe. After the project concludes in 2007, these three roads will be converted to ATV nails and public use will be allowed throughout the summer and fall. These three roads include: West Flatiron, Long Draw Saddle, and West Bench Roads. The ATV routes are shown on the Decision Map at the end of Section II in this Decision Notice. I decided to convert these roads to ATV nails because I believe [hat public motorized recreation use is appropriate in this area and will not unreasonably conflict with other resource needs and values. Although this azea is an Inventoried Roadless Area, current Forest Plan direction allows motorized recreation and constmction of roads. This area has not been managed to protect its roadless character in the past, and consequently its roadless character has been compromised. No roadless values will be further compromised by my decision to allow public ATV use on nails during or after this project ends in 2007. Motorized nail use is not a factor that is considered to impact consideration of roadless values in roadless area inventory guidelines. My decision supports continued operation of the West Elk Mine, which contributes to econotmc stability in Delta and Gunnison Counties. Alternative 1 - No Action (EA, Section 2.3.1) was not selected because it would no[ meet the Forest Plan direction to "encourage environmentally sound energy and minerals development" (Forest Plan, page I1-61). Additionally, Alternative 1 would not meet the purpose and need for the project because it would not support the continued development of leased federal coal reserves a[ a cost effective rate. When the federal coal leases were granted, MCC was granted the right to mine and develop the coal resource. They were also given [he right to constmct roads and drill pads needed [o mine and develop the coal, in locations that were not restricted by lease stipulations. Selection of Alternative 1 would vioia[e the terms of the coal lease, because some of the proposed roads and drill Final version 5/31/02 Page 9