REV97654

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 9/3/1999
• Doc Name: FAX COVER
• From: MOUNTIAN COAL CO
• To: JIM BURNELL
• Type & Sequence: PR8
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

9-03-1999 12:20PM FROM ENG. WEST ELK MINE 970 9295050 p_2
Decision Notice
and
Finding of No Significant Impact
Mountain Coal Company
Coal Lease Application COC-56447
Introduction
Motmtain Coal Company applied to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a
coal lease on March 11, 1994. The lease tract, ]rnovn as the Sox Canyon tract,
vas assigned serial number COC-56447 by the BI2S. The application was submitted
under the Hineral Leasing Aet of 1920, Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Aet of
1976, sad BIM regulations (43 CFR 3420). The coal reserves are managed by the
Montrose District Office of the BLM. The Forest Service has the responsibility
to manage the surface resources of That part of the lease tract that is
National Forest System lands. The Forest Service manages the surface on
approximately 2,365 acres of ehe 2,769.67 sere Box Canyon tract.
The Box Ca[ryon tract is located in the vicinity of Somerset, Colorado,
approximately twelve miles northeast of Paonia, Colorado. The National Forest
System lands contained oa the tract are located in Sectio_ns_ _1.4_,_22, 23, and 26
of T.13S., R.90V., 6th PM.
The Forest Service decision to be made is whether to consent to the
issuance of the lease, and if so, what stipulations to apply. The Forest
Service vas granted consent authority with regard to ehe issuance of coal
leases with the passage of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Aet of 1976.
Under that Act, a coal lease may not be issued without the consent of the
s~ur£ace managing agency, i.e., the Forest Service in this ease, and sot without
including those conditions (stipulations) upon which consent i5 given. BLM
regulations at 43 CFR 3420.4-2(a) Coasnltation with surface management agencies
state:
The Secretary, for any proposed lease tract containing lands the surface of
which is under the jurisdiction of any agency other than the Department,
shall request that the agency: (1) Consent, if it has not already done so,
to the issuance of the lease (43 CFR 3400.3-1), and (2) if it consents,
prescribe the terms and conditions the Secretary will impose in any lease
which the head of the agency requires for the use and protection of
nonmineral interests in those lands.
The Regional Forester has delegated the authority to sign all decision
documents for mineral leases, i.e., consent co leases (Fozasc Service Manual
Chapter 2820, R2 Supplement No. 2800-94-1, 2822.04e) to the Forest Supervisor.
Forest Service Minerals Management Folicp
The availability of mineral and energy resources within the National
Forests and Grasslands significantly affeees the development, economic
growth, and defense of the Nation. The mission of the Forest Service in
relation to minerals management Ss to encourage, facilitate, and administer
the orderly exploration, development, and production of mineral and energy
resources on National Forest System lands to help meet the present and
future needs of the Nation.
The Forest Service administers its mineral program Co: ~~