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project. MWH worked with a Forest Service interdisciplinary team. The team outlined the types of information
<br />required, then independently evaluated and verified the information submitted in the EA. Inaccuracies in the '
<br />submitted data were noted and corrected.
<br />The Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team prepared a Roads Analysis for this project. I have accepted the EA
<br />produced by MWH, as supplemented by the Forest Service ID team in the project record and accept responsibility
<br />for its accuracy. My decision has been informed by the project Roads Analysis.
<br />II. DECISION
<br />I have decided to approve a combination of the Alternatives described in the EA (EA, Section 2.3), summarized in
<br />Section IV of this document. My decision approves construction and use of 46 drill pads and 58 methane drainage
<br />wells (MDWs), and the roads needed [o access these facilities. The approved drill pads, MDWs and roads are
<br />displayed on the map that follows this section of text.
<br />This decision is conditioned on the continued compliance by MCC of the stipulations attached to the federal coal I
<br />leases (included in this document as Appendix B) except where an exception has been granted. It is also
<br />conditioned upon the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology's incorporation of the Conditions of Approval
<br />included in this document as Appendix A into MCC's Stale mine permit. These Conditions of Approval include
<br />selected mitigations identified in the EA, as modified by the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team after review of I
<br />public comments. This decision is also conditioned on the execution of an amendment to MCC's road use permit
<br />and execution of a special use permit for occupation of NFS lands for temporary roads and drill pads.
<br />This decision will be implemented through issuance of this Decision Notice, and the Forest Service's subsequent
<br />concurrence on adding these activities into MCC's Colorado State approved mine permit. The restrictions to public
<br />use that I have chosen will be implemented through a Forest Supervisor's closure order. MCC is required to secure
<br />any additional State or Federal permits as required by law. With this decision, I authorize the following:
<br />1. Existing Road Use
<br />MCC may use the following existing roads within the Gunnison National Forest:
<br />A. Classified Roads: Minnesota Creek, Horse Gulch, Dry Fork, and Upper Deep Creek
<br />B. Temporary Roads: Wes[ Flatiron, Long Draw
<br />C. Unclassified Roads: Meadow Road
<br />2. Road and Drill Pad construction
<br />MCC may construct and use the facilities listed in this section. Access is approved for approximately seven yeazs
<br />using full sized vehicles, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, or other vehicles approved in MCC Annual
<br />Operating Plan. After methane drainage is complete and the project temporary roads are decommissioned, access by
<br />ATV is approved for the length of time needed for post project monitoring required by MCC's State mine permit
<br />and Forest Service reclamation requirements. The minimum vehicle size for the weather and road conditions will be
<br />used. MCC is not permitted to use any vehicle, including ATVs to travel off road or off trail, without specific
<br />permission from [he Paonia District Ranger. MCC may use ATV's and other vehicles off road and off trail use for
<br />monitoring required by CDMG, if requested and approved by the Paonia District Ranger in MCC's Annual
<br />Operating Plan.
<br />MCC may constmct the following facilities:
<br />A. Classified Roads: None.
<br />B. Temporary Roads: Sylvester Road, Upper Sylvester Road, the northern 0.8 mile segment of Long Draw Saddle
<br />Road, Upper Deep Creek Road, East Bench Road, Shaft Canyon Road, and the spurs leading to the drill pads from
<br />these roads. These spurs include access to all of the MDWs proposed for Panels 16, 17, 175, 23 and 24.
<br />C. Drill Pads: The 46 approved drill pads include:
<br />16-O1, 16-OIA, 16-02, 16-03, 16-04, 16-05. 16-06, 16-07, 16-08
<br />17-01, 17-02, 17-03, 17-04, 17-05, 17-06, 17-07, 17-08, 17-09
<br />17-S06, 175-07, 175-08, 175-09
<br />18-01/18-02
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