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an IRA. When the GMUG NF Forest Plan is revised, the West Elk IRA's status and future management direction will be reconsidered in an environmental impact statement. All of the roads that will be constmcted in the West Ells IRA as a result of my decision will be temporary roads that will be decommissioned by obliteration by 2007. The impact of my decision on the area's roadless character is temporary. Since this area's roadless character has already been compromised by past construction of roads, my decision will not reduce this azea's potential for future consideration as an IRA or as a wilderness. My decision does no[ set a precedent or represent a decision in principle about a future consideration therefore documentation in an EIS is not required. 7. Consideration Of The Action in Relation'1'o Uther Achons wrm lnarvrauauy rnsrenu~cam nur i.un.mauvciv Significant Impacts. Coal activity, including mining and exploration drilling has occurred in the area for the past 100 years. Use of contemporaneous reclamation techniques for drill sites and access has successfully returned the land to a state where other land uses of the area can continue unimpeded. This immediate reclamation of drill sites to approximate original contour and revege[ating reduces cumulative impacts. Previously approved drilling activities in the azea have shown that reclamation is successful and sustains the land in a productive and useable condition. Although [he majority of the project area is classified as an Inventoried Roadless Area, it is not currently roadless. There are over 5 miles of existing road in the IRA in this project area that currently support truck and drill rig access. Figure F4 in the EA displays the network of existing and historic roads in this project area. My decision to continue to peanit roads to be cons[mcted in this portion of the West Elk IRA does not reduce the cumulative amount of acres on the GMUG NFs with roadless chazacter, therefore does not contribute to the cumulative loss of roadless acres on this National Forest. As described in the EA and in the Roadless Chazacter revised text in Appendix Cl of this Decision Notice, the roads I have approved for construction are in areas where roads have been constructed and then decommissioned and rehabilitated in the past. Roadless character in this portion of the IRA has been compromised by past activities therefore no cumulatively significant impacts will result from my decision. The amount of methane vented from coal mines in the United States has decreased by almost 30% over the past 10 years (source: Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2000). This decrease is due to increased beneficial use of the gas. In 1990, 14 billion cubic feet (Bcf) was recovered and used; however, the amount used had increased to 36 Bcf in 2000. As stated in [he EA (Section 2.3.8.1) and in the Response to Comment in Appendix C (Response to Comment 3-3 and 11-5), MCC plans to continue to explore options for commercial methane production and use as implementation of this project continues. The national trend toward reduced methane emissions from coal mines coupled with the small percent of methane that the West Elk Mine would contribute towards U.S. greenhouse gas emissions leads me to conclude that my decision to allow MCC to vent methane from the West Elk Mine will not result in cumulatively significant contribution to global climate change. 8. Consideration Of The llegree'1'o W hmn me Acnon may naversety nrrect rtreas yr ~oieas r.rsrcu ru ~~ Eligible For Listing In The National Register Of Historic Places Or Mav Cause Loss Or Destmc[ion Of Significant Scientific, Cultural, Or Historical Resources. The project record and field reviews support that no cultural or historic sites would be affected by this decision (EA, section 3.8, and project file). When implementing the decision, any previously unidentified sites inadvertently discovered would be avoided or mitigated so there would be no effect upon them (see Appendices A and B of this document). 9. Consideration Of The Degree To Which The Action Mav Adversely Affect An Endaneered Or Threatened Species Or Its Habitat Has Been Determined Not To Be Critical Under The Endangered Species Act. The US Fish and Wildlife Service have been consulted in the environmental analysis process. A Biological Assessment has been conducted for this decision (EA, Section 3.2, Project File -Biological Assessment and Evaluation). All known endangered or threatened species were considered. My decision will have no affect on any endangered or threatened species or its habitat. Protection for these species has been incorporated in my decision though Conditions of Approval #7 and #8, shown in Appendix A of this Decision Notice. If additional findings regazding threatened or endangered, proposed or sensitive species are discovered, a new biological assessment or evaluation will be written, and any mitigation incorporated into the Conditions of Approval. 10. Consideration Of Whether The Action Threatens A Violation Of Law Or Requirement Imposed For The Protection Of The Environment. To [he best of my knowledge, this decision does not threaten violation of any laws Final Version 5/3l/02 Page 17