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The existing mine ventilation system and the MDWs that would be constmcted would allow full scheduled <br />production through 2005. Production beyond 2005 (Panels 18, 19,and 20) would not be economically viable. <br />Approximately ] 3.0 millions tons of recoverable coal reserves would not be developed. <br />Public ATV Use Option <br />This option considers the environmental effects of allowing public All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) access on 6.2 miles of <br />temporary roads throughout the project duration. These roads include the West Flatiron, West Bench, and East <br />Bench Roads. When these roads are decommissioned, they would be converted to ATV trails that would be open to <br />public access. Under this option, 6.2 miles of public ATV trail would be available in 2008 under each of the action <br />altematives. This option could be implemented with Alternatives 2, 3, 4, or 5. <br />V. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT <br />Project scoping comments for the project proposal were solicited from appropriate agencies, specific interested <br />parties, and the general public. Section 4.2 of the EA, Public Involvement Summary, provides a complete list of <br />persons or groups [ha[ provided input. <br />There has been a high level of public interest in coal projects in the area during recent years. A community-based <br />public interest group has formed, called the North Fork Coal Working Group (NFCWG), to encourage collaboration <br />for solutions to coal-related issues. A public involvement process has been established through the work of the <br />NFCWG among the agencies, local governments, environmental advocacy groups, interested citizens, and the <br />mining companies. The NFCWG assisted with project scoping efforts. <br />The USFS published notices inviting comments for scoping on the proposed project in the Delta County <br />Independent-North Fork Times on November 14, 2001, in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on November 16, 2001 <br />and January 17, 2002; and in [he Denver Post on January 17, 2002. A notification letter was sent to 26 known <br />interested parties on November 16, 2001. USFS and MCC representatives met with representatives of the NFCWG <br />on December 14, 2001 and Febmary 5, 2002. The NFCWG publicized and sponsored a community roundtable <br />discussion and issued a press release describing [he project, published in the Delta County Independent-North Fork <br />Times on January 2, 2002. Approximately 48 individuals attended the original community roundtable discussion, <br />held at the Paonia Town Hall, on January 9, 2002. <br />Scoping comments were received from 10 separate public parties in the form of 7 comment letters (1 letter included <br />comments from 3 separate parties) and notes from a personal visit by one public party. The USFS Resource <br />Specialists submitted 2 comment letters. An additional agency comment letter was received from the Mine Safety <br />and Health Administration (MSHA). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressed interest in the environmental <br />analysis process for this project in a telephone conversation (documented by P. Bode -USFS). Questions and <br />comments presented in the community roundtable discussion were documented and included as additional scoping <br />input. Documentation of project scoping input is included in the project file. <br />Scoping input was reviewed, analyzed, and summarized to represent the issues and concerns of the respondents. <br />Based on the issues and concerns of the respondents, and in response to the issues raised, altematives were <br />developed that address both the project issues and the purpose and need for the project, as described in Section 1.3 <br />in the EA. <br />The completed EA was sent out for 30-day public review and comment on Mazch 5, 2002. The EA was mailed to <br />47 individuals and organizations. A legal notice which announced the availability of the EA for public review and <br />comment appeared in the Denver Poston March 6, 2002. A news release appeared in the Grand Junction Daily <br />Sentinel on March 8, 2002 and the North Fork Times on March 13, 2002. The EA was discussed at a public meeting <br />on March 6, 2002, and a[ two meetings of the NFCWG in March and April. <br />Fourteen parties commented on the EA. A summary of the public comment and the Forest Service Response to <br />Comments is contained in Appendix C of this document. <br />Final Version 5/31/02 P3g0 14 <br />