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:- - iitiiiiiiiiiiiii< 999 Decision Record/Rationale Coal Lease Application COC-54558 Environmental Analysis U-93-24 Decision: The recommendation is to offer for competitive lease 1011.64 acres identified in the Jumbo Mountain Coal Tract as a result of the Mountain Coal Company coal lease application (COC-54558) subject to the mitigating measures listed below. Relationship of the Decision to the Environmental Analysis (EA): Two alternatives were discussed in the EA. Alternative 1 considered leasing the coal in the Jumbo Mountain Tract and Alternative 2 was to not lease the coal. The decision is to implement Alternative 1 by offering the application area for competitive lease. Rationale for Decision: The decision to allow the proposed action does not result in any undue or unnecessary environmental degradation and is consistent with the objectives of the Uncompahgre Basin RMP, approved in July, 1989. The mitigating measures will help ensure that environmental impacts addressed in the EA will be kept within acceptable limits. Other Factors Considered in the Decision: A. The Uinta Southwest Utah Coal Region is currently operating in a lease by application mode by decision of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. This coal lease application was processed using the procedures approved by Regional Coal Team for the Uinta Southwest Utah Coal Region. B. In accordance with established policies of the Department of the Interior, the adequacy of the available data was reviewed prior to initiating the EA for the lease application and found to be complete. C. One person testified at the public hearing in Paonia on August 16, 1993. She supported leasing the tract. Two comments were received. One giving additional information on water sources on the application area. The other comment was received from the surface landowner. They felt they were not notified of the public hearing and were concerned about water resources on their surface. They wanted Mountain Coal Company to protect ponds and other springs on the application area should the water sources be damaged by coal mining. The mitigation measures provide that all adjudicated water rights will be protected. The public hearing testimony and the surface owner comment with the response are attached. Mitigatina Measures: The following Mitigation Measures will be included as lease stipulations: Because the presence of Grand Mesa Penstemon has been documented in elevations above 7300 feet, a Threatened and Endangered plant survey will be required prior to any surface disturbance.