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United States Forest Paonia P.O. Bos 1030 <br />USDA Department of Service Ranger District N Rio Grande Ave. <br />Agriculture PHONE NO. 970-527-4131 Paonia, CO 81428 ' <br />FAX 970-527~t151 <br />File Code: 2820-4 <br />Date: May 3, 2006 <br />Mike Peacock RECEIVED <br />Mountain Coal Company <br />Po Box s9i MAY 0 5 2006 <br />Somerset, CO 81434 <br />Dear Mlke, Division of Minerals and Geology <br />The Paonia Ranger District has reviewed your 2006 Annual Operating Plan (ADP) for Mountain <br />__ _ _ _Coal Company's methane drainage project. Within the AOP MCC proposes to construct__0.63 _ <br />miles of road (not including the pending decision on the Sylvester Gulch Road) and drill 8 wells <br />on the Forest this year. All of the proposed construction and drilling operations are consistent <br />with the 2002 Panels 16-24 Coal Methane Drainage Project, Decision Notice and Finding of No <br />Significant Impact, and the 2005 Box Canyon Methane Drainage Wells, Decision Memo. <br />I therefore approve MCC's 2006 Annual Operating Plan provided the construction and drilling <br />operations are consistent with the conditions of approval for the individual locations. <br />Specifically I want to remind MCC of the following: <br />• Before constmction can occur in Box Canyon, the final road alignment and pad location <br />must be field verified by the Paonia District Ranger in cooperation with MCC and the <br />Western Slope Environmental Resource Council. <br />• A vegetation survey must be completed within Box Canyon to provide a baseline <br />reference for restoration efforts in the area. <br />With respect to other concems as discussed in our May 2, 2006 meeting, we hope to schedule, in <br />the near future, a field visit with MCC and its earthwork contractor, to complete a-review of road <br />drainage/alignment issues. This will hopefully reduce the amount of sedimentation events, <br />caused by spring mnoff, occurring along the project roadways. <br />If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ryan Taylor of my staff at 970-527-4131 <br />or via email at rztaylor(~fs.fed.us . <br />Sincerely, <br />~~~~~ <br />LEVI K. BROYLES <br />District Ranger <br />Y Caring for the Land and Serving People PnnfeE on Recyde0 Paper "r <br />