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c-1g9UOt;3 <br />-rRµ~ <br />United States Forest Paonia P.O. Box 1030 <br />USDA Department of Service Ranger District N Rio Grande Ave. <br />Agriculture PHONE NO. 970-527-4131 Paonia, CO 81428 <br />FAX 970-52711151 <br />File Code: 2820-4 RE~~~V~® <br />Date: March 19, 2007 MAR 2 ~ P001 <br />Diti1'ning an:.~c,~.a,nation <br />Dear Interested Party, dsafety <br />The Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) is inviting public sceping <br />comments on a proposal from Bowie Resources, L.L.C. (Bowie), to construct and operate a <br />ventilation shaft /emergency escapeway on National Forest System lands. The purpose of this <br />ventilation shaft, located in Delta County, T. 12 S., R. 91 W., Section 34 and 35; is to provide <br />the Bowie #2 Mine with suitable ventilation as they continue development on their Federal Coal <br />Lease (COC-61209), it will also serve as an escapeway in the event of underground <br />emergencies. See attached map. <br />Total disturbance for the project is estimated to be 1.8 acres, of which 0.6 acres have been <br />previously disturbed. This proposal is contingent on Bowie Resources finding suitable geologic <br />conditions from current geotechnicel investigations. The proposal from Bowie consists of a <br />number of tasks: construction of light use road and pad; excavate one 18 foot diameter shaft to <br />an approximate depth of 600' using drill-shoot-muck conventional methods; grouUcement <br />constructed shaft; install escapeway facilities (hoist, generator); perform interim reclamation on <br />pad and light-use road; Close access road and pad to public use; perform final reclamation after <br />it is no longer needed (life-of-mine). <br />The ventilation shaft is proposed as a passive airway, no exhaust fans are proposed. Bowie is <br />tentatively proposing to initiate the drilling/construction in 2007. The GMUG will be conducting <br />an environmental analysis in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act on this <br />proposal. This proposal is being released fora 30-day public scoping period. <br />The scoping period on this proposal ends 30 days following the date of publication of a related <br />Public Notice in the Delta County Independent (expected March 21, 2007). scoping comments <br />may be submitted in hard copy through the mail, fax, delivered by hand, or emailed. Mail <br />comments to: USFS, ATTN: Bowie Shaft Proposal, P.O. Box 1030, Paonia, Colorado 81428. <br />Fax comments to (970) 527-4151. Hand delivered written scoping comments will be accepted <br />at the Paonia Ranger District Office, 430 N. Rio Grande, Paonia, Colorado, between the hours <br />of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm., Monday-Friday, except for federal holidays. Electronic scoping <br />comments will be accepted, and must be submitted as an ASCII compatible format (e.g. '.odt, <br />'.doc, '.txt, '.rtf), or PDF. Electronic comments should include a subject line containing: <br />BOWIE, and be sent to: rztaylor(rDfs.fed.us . If you have any questions regarding this project or <br />need additional information, please contact Ryan Taylor at 970-527-4131. <br />Sincerely, <br />`~V ~. <br />h LEVI K. BR~LES <br />V District Ranger <br />Caring for the Land and Serving People Pnn~etl on ReryGetl Paper <br />