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and regulations imposed for the protection of the environment (refer to Section VII of this document) Significance of Inventoried Roadless Area Impacts Based on my review of the EA and supporting project record, I have determined that my decision does not fall into the classes of actions that require Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), as described m Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 20.6. Class 3 in this section states that an EIS is required for proposals that would substantially alter the undeveloped character of an inventoried roadless area (IRA) of 5,000 acres or more. Examples include approving a plan of operations for a mine which would cause considerable surface disturbance over 700 acres in a 10,000 acre roadless area. My decision causes considerable surface disturbance on about 55 acres in a 96,281acre IRA. The West Elk Wilderness was established in 1964. In 1972, the West Elk Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) was identified. The IRA included approximately 230,000 acres adjacent to and surrounding fire north, west, and south sides of the Wilderness. The 1979 Roadless Area and Review Evaluation (RARE II) recommendation for the West Elk IRA included wildemess recommendation for over half of the IRA and multiple use management recommendation for [he remaining acres. As a result, 133,D00 acres of the West Elk IRA was added to the West Elk Wildemess in the Colorado Wildemess Act of 1980 (PL 96-560). The remaining portion of the West Elk IRA included 98,281 acres. The remaining portion was not recommended or selected for Wilderness in the Colorado Wildemess Act of 1993. The 1983 Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and the 1991 Amended LRMP recognized that the remaining portion of the West Elk IRA had little suitability for wildemess designation. Part of the IRA near Lamborn Peak, (southwest of the project area) was allocated to management prescription 3A for nonmotorized recreation emphasis. The IRA lands within the project azea were allocated to management prescriptions SB and 6A, wildlife winter range and livestock management. Constmction of loads and use of motorized recreation vehicles is permitted in these prescriptions and within the project area. The West Elk IRA was not identified as a "Further Planning Area" for wilderness consideration in the Forest Plan Record of Decision. In 1993, a significant amendment to the Forest Plan was approved for Oil and Gas Leasing. The EIS for that decision included an updated roadless character and wildemess values analysis for the portion of the West Elk IRA that was not designated as wildemess in 1980. The associated Record of Decision (ROD) for the Oil and Gas EIS states that the portion of the West Elk IRA west of Coal Creek has existing coal leases, and that coal exploration activities and existing roads have compromised roadless character values. The ROD made this area available for oil and gas leasing with controlled use stipulations for most of the area. No surface occupancy stipulations were established for steep slopes, high geological hazards and riparian areas. Appendix Cl of this document contains an updated roadless character and wildemess values analysis. This analysis shows that the portion of the West Elk IRA within the project area continues to have little potential for future designation as wildemess, as its roadless chazacter continued to be compromised by past and presently existing roads and coal exploration activity. Federal Coal Lease C-1362, covering the western half of the project area, was issued in 1967. Approval for road construction for coal exploration on lands that would eventually be included in the West Ells IRA and are currently included within the proposed project area was first given in 1972. Temporary road constmction and subsequent road closure and revegetation continued over the past three decades. The roads were decorurnissioned after each approved exploration activity was completed. In most locations, the roadbed was not obliterated and remained appazent. Federal Coal Lease COC-56447, covering the eastern half of the project area was issued in 1995. Approval for road construction for coal exploration within the existing IRA lands in [his lease area was first given in 1992. The temporary roads were decommissioned after exploration activity was completed. As described for C-1362, most locations, the roadbed was not obliterated and remains apparent to date. Figure 4 in the EA displays the locations where roads within both C-1362 and COC-56447 were constmcted then reclaimed in the past. Final Version 5/31/02 Page 18