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Oxbow anticipates inspecting and monitoring active MDWs daily following initial installation with frequency decreasing to weekly once proper operation is assured. In winter, over the snow vehicles (e.g. snowmobiles and snow-cats) may be used on snow without plowing. Decision I have decided to authorize the following methane drainage wells, as shown on Exhibit A: • MDW-LW7-01/8-01 • MDW-LW7-02 • MDW-LW8-02 • MDW-LW9-01 • MDW-LW9-02/9-03 MDW-LW10-01/10-02 • MDW-LW10-03 • MDW-LW11-01 In addition to the above drill pad locations, I approve the construction and use of approximately 6200 feet of temporary access road, of which approximately 3970 feet is reconstruction of previously disturbed areas (see Exhibit A). I am also granting a project and location specific variance on the No Surface Occupancy stipulation for riparian areas, and the No Surface Occupancy stipulation for greater than 60% slopes. The acreage associated with these variances is approximately 0.9 acres. The location of these variances is shown on Exhibit A: No other stipulation variances are approved in this decision. These approvals are contingent upon Oxbow following the project'Conditions of Approval' as listed in Appendix A. The determination that this project is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment is based on the fact the proposal is related to an "approval, modification, or continuation of minor special uses of National Forest System lands that require less than five contiguous acres of land." [Ref. FSH 1909.15 Environmental Policy and Procedures Handbook, Chapter 30 Categorical Exclusions from Documentation, Sec. 31.2 Categories of Actions for Which a Project or Case File and Decision Memo are Required, No. 3... j. In this case, each individual well pad and spur road qualifies for a separate categorical exclusion under FSH 1905.15, however because the environmental affects and scope of proposed work is essentially the same for each location, this Decision Memo covers all the individual sites. In addition, for administrative purposes, one Special Use Authorization wilt be issued for all the methane drainage wells, drill pads, and access roads. This authorization will expire on December 31, 2012. Extraordinary Circumstances I have determined that there are no extraordinary circumstances related to this proposal. Following the direction at Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Ch. 30, Sec. 30.3, I considered the following resource conditions in making my determination that there are no extraordinary