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', Decision Memo Oxbow Mining LLC, Panels 7-11 Methane Drainage Wells USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forests Background Oxbow Mining, LLC (Oxbow) operates the Elk Creek Mine in the North Fork of the Gunnison Valley within Gunnison and Delta Counties, Colorado. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has continually expressed concerns, for mines that operate in the North Fork, about the potential for elevated levels of methane within mine workings. All three of the coal mines on the Paonia Ranger District utilize methane drainage wells (MDWs; sometimes called methane drainage wells) to vent methane from the mine workings which allows for safe operating conditions. On October 21, 2005, the USFS received a proposal from Oxbow for drilling 11 MDWs from 11 locations and constructing 16,400 feet of temporary roads on National Forest System lands. After subsequent field reviews and discussions, Oxbow revised their proposal, which included drilling 11 MDWs from 8 locations and construction of approximately 6, 200 feet of temporary roads. The disturbance associated with the finalized proposal is 4.9 acres (2.9 acres for road construction and 2 acres for drill pad construction). All of the disturbance is located in Township 12 South, Range 91 West, Section 35, 6th PM, in the Hubbard Creek watershed. Purpose and Need for Action The Forest Service has identified the need to grant a special use permit authorization to Oxbow Mining to place 11 methane drainage wells and 1.2 miles of associated access roads on federal coal lease COC-61357 consistent with terms and conditions of the lease. The methane drainage wells are needed to liberate methane gas from the underground mine workings to ensure worker safety in compliance with MSHA regulations. The purpose of the Forest Service action is to facilitate continued efficient recovery of leased Clean Air Act-compliant federal coal reserves, and to provide for underground worker safety. By consenting to lease these lands for coal development, the GMUG acknowledged that surface use, such as methane drainage needs could be needed during the life of the lease (North Fork Coal EIS and ROD, 2000). This action supports the direction in the GMUF Forest Plan to encourage environmentally sound energy and mineral development. Nature of Proposed Action The proposed action involves two components: 1. Authorizing the construction of 11 MDWs on eight pads, the construction of about 6,200 feet of temporary roads to provide access to these wells and pads, and the installation of methane exhausters and propane tanks as a backup fuel source. The wells, pads, roads and appurtenances (e.g., exhausters) would be authorized to occupy NFS lands in the specific location and for the duration identified in the special- use authorization and accompanying Operations and Maintenance Plan and map. 2. Granting variances to two lease stipulations to allow Oxbow to cross the Hubbard