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Since 2002, MCC has collected additional geotechnical and geophysical data, and has re-applied for a temporary road in the drainage bottom (within the water influence zone or WIZ) of Sylvester Gulch. The proposed road would be used for the duration of the coal methane drainage project, estimated to be until 2008. Constmction of a temporary road in Sylvester Gulch would afford a more direct access for MCC contractors and persomrel from the West Elk Mine site to the MDWs project area. In this DN/FONSI, the Forest Service will issue a decision on construction of a temporary road in the drainage bottom (WIZ) of Sylvester Gulch. The Panels 16 to 24 DN/FONSI also specifically deferred portions of the proposed project, including drilling MDWs in Box Canyon and the East Fork of Sylvester Gulch pending additional field review and study. MCC has since withdrawn the East Fork of Sylvester Gulch MDWs from consideration. In this DN/FONSI, the Forest Service will issue a decision on proposed drill pad construction for ten MDWs from six locations in Box Canyon, and construction of about 0.9 miles of temporary road. In 2003, MCC proposed a shallow seismic reflection survey in Box Canyon. The proposed survey entails drilling shallow holes, setting and detonating subsurface charges. The duration of the project would be two weeks in the . . summer 2005 field season. This DN/FONSI also presents the decision with respect to the proposed seismic survey. The proposed projects are located on lands included within Federal Coal Leases C-1362 and COC-56447. MCC is the current holder of these leases issued by the BLM, Colorado State Office. These leases include surface use stipulations for the protection of non-coal resources on National Forest System (NFS) lands (see EA Supplement, Appendix A). MCC also holds a State mine permit issued by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG). The Forest Service is responsible for consenting to $LM lease issuance, prescribing terms for protection ofnon-coal resources (in the form of lease stipulations), and authorizing subsequent waivers, exceptions, or modifications of the lease stipulations on NFS lands. Some of the proposed roads and drill pads are located in areas where construction would require exceptions to lease stipulations. The Forest Service is also responsible for providing terms of use and standards for post-mining land uses for inclusion in the State mine pemti[. The State will consider and approve or deny revisions to MCC's mine permit regarding construction of th'e proposed roads and drill pads. The Forest Service issues and administers road use permits for the proposed use of classified National Forest roads for mining operations. MCC holds a current road use permit. The Forest Service is responsible for issuing and administering special use permits For the occupancy of NFS ]ands, and issues permits for geophysical operations on NFS lands. These permits are required if constmction and use of temporary roads and drill pads and the seismic survey are approved. MCC contracted with another company, Sally Edwards, Inc. (SEI), who conducted the environmental analyses for these projects. SEI prepared an environmental assessment (hereafter referred to as the EA Supplement) that discloses the effects of the proposed projects. SEI worked with a Forest Service interdisciplinary team. The team outlined the types of information required, then evaluated and verified [he information submitted in the EA Supplement, The Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team also prepared a Supplemental Roads Analysis for this project. As the Responsible Forest Service Official, I have accepted the EA Supplement produced by SEI, as reviewed by the Forest Service ID team in the project record and accept responsibility for its accuracy. I reviewed [he Supplemental Roads Analysis as part of tnaking my decision. II. DECISIONS AND REASONS FOR THE DECISIONS The EA Supplement discussed the effects of ttuee separate projects; the Sylvester Gulch Road Temporary Road Constmction, Box Canyon Methane Drainage Wells and Temporary Road Construction, and Box Canyon Shallow Seismic Survey. The EA Supplement presented the effects of each of the projects in separate sections (EA Supplement Chapters A, B and C). For clarity and consistency, this Decision is formatted in the same fashion. Page 4