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In 2001, approval was given for constmction of 6 miles of road and 18 drill pads for methane drainage wells within the project azea in the West Elk IRA. Five miles of these roads were located on alignments where drill exploration roads had previously been constructed then decommissioned. One mile of road was constrncted in a previously undisturbed location. These existing temporary roads are displayed in Figure 4 in the EA. The effect that these existing roads have on roadless character in the IRA is displayed in Figure l0 in the EA as represented by the No Action Alternative. My decision is consistent with Forest Service policy as stated in the Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15, which requires an Environmental Impact Statement for proposals that would "substantially alter the undeveloped character of an inventoried roadless area of 5,000 acres or more". An EIS is not required for this project because this azea is akeady roaded and developed. Between 1967 and 1996, the Forest Service permitted constmction of 28 exploration drill holes and 11 miles of temporary road within the West Elk Inventoried Roadless Area within this 4,730-acre project area. Some segments of these 11 miles of road have been constructed, decommissioned, and then reconstmc[ed several times over the pas[ thirty-yeaz course of sequential coal exploration activities. Road and drill pad construction in this portion of the IRA was approved through a sequence of decision documents consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act. Road development and coal leasing in this portion of the West Elk IRA is consistent with the current GMUG Forest LRMP direction. My decision will result in construction surface disturbance on approximately 55 acres and reclamation disturbance on 86 acres of the 96,281 acres in the West Elk IRA. Reclamation disturbance is greater than constmction disturbance because my decision will result in decommissioning and obliteration of existing temporary roads in addition to newly constructed temporary roads. This amount of disturbance is a small fraction of one percent of the West Elk IRA acres. These 86 acres of surface disturbance affects roadless character over approximately 2,380 acres, as displayed in Figure F10 in [he EA as represented by Alternative 5. At the present time, 1,072 acres are affected in the project area by existing roads, as displayed in Figure 10 by the No Action Alternative. Currently affected acres comprise approximately ] % of the West Elk IRA acres. The additional affect created by the selected action is another 1 'h percent, for a total of 2 '/: percent of the West Elk IRA affected. This amount of disturbance is well below the example in FSH 1909.15, Section 20.6 for classes of actions that require an EIS. Based on this information, the information presented in the EA and the Project Record, and the information presented in the Forest Service Response to Comment, I have concluded that the portion of the West Elk IRA within the project area has little existing undeveloped character. Implementation of the action that I have selected will not substantially alter the undeveloped character of this BtA, because the overall character of this portion of the IRA is developed. I have concluded that although my selected action will impact the West Elk IRA, the impacts are not significant, and an EIS is not required for environmental documentation. Significance of Contribution to Global Climate Change r Based on my review of the EA and supporting project record, I have determined that my decision to continue to I~ allow methane from this coal mine to be vented into the atmosphere will no[ create a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions that influence global climate change, therefore does no[ require environmental documentation in an EIS. Climate change refers to long-term fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, wind, and other elements of the Earth's climate system. Natural processes such as solar radiance variations, variations in the Earth's orbital parameters, and volcanic activity can produce variations in climate. The climate system can also be influenced by changes in the concentrations of various gases in the atmosphere, which affect the Earth's absorption of radiation. Most of [he observed warming [hat has occurred over the past 50 years is likely to have been due to increase in greenhouse gas concentrations. (Source: www.epa.¢ov/globalwauuinQ). Major greenhouse gases include water vapor (clouds), carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, halocazbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluorides. Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas; i[ occurs naturally and makes up about two thirds of the greenhouse effect. Excluding water vapor, the majority of today's greenhouse effect is contributed by carbon dioxide. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth's surface temperature has risen by about I degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past c two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 yeazs is attributable to Final version 5/31/02 Page 19