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9-03-1999 12:21PM FROM ENG. WEST ELK MINE 970 9295050 P.3 <br />1. Encourage and facilitate the orderly exploration, development, and <br />production of mineral and energy resources within the National Forest <br />System in order to maintain a viable, healthy minerals indusery and to <br />promote self-sufficiency in those mineral and energy resources <br />necessary for economic growth and the national defense. <br />2. Ensure that exploration, development, and production of mineral <br />resources are conducted in an environmentally sound manner and that <br />these activities are ,considered fully in the planning and management <br />of other National Forest resources. <br />3. Ensure that lands disturbed by mineral and energy activities are <br />reclaimed for other productive uses. <br />The Porest Service considers mineral exploration and development to be <br />important parss of Sts management program. It cooperates with the <br />Department of Interior (USDI) in administering lawful exploration and <br />development of Leasable minerals. Vhile the Forest Service is mainly <br />itrnolved with surface resource management and protection, it recognizes <br />that mineral exploration and development are ordinarily in the public <br />interest and can be compatible in the long eerm, if not immediately, with <br />the purposes for which the National Forest System lands are managed. <br />Public Involvement <br />A public notice was published in the Federal Register and. in local <br />newspapers. A public hearing vas held in Paonia, Colorado on December S, <br />1994. Interest in the project is low, as evidenced by participation by the <br />general public. One written comment vas received (from 1Sountain Coal) and only <br />one person spoke on the record at the public hearing. The commentoi indicated <br />his general support for coal mining in the North Fork Valley, but had concerns <br />dealing with water quality monitoring adjacent to the existing mine and <br />potential riparian area effects from the construction of permanent facilities <br />- in Box Canyon. -~ <br />Decision <br />I consent to the leasing of the Mountain Coal Company's lease application <br />COC-56447, aka the Box Canyon tract, with the fol2oving stipulations, as <br />described in detail.in Appendix 2 of the EA, attached to the lease: <br />No Surface Occupancy - in Wetlands, Floodplains, Riparian Areas <br />No Surface Occupancy - on Slopes >608 <br />No Surface Occupancy - High Geologic Hazard areas <br />Controlled Surface Use - General Forest (subsidence) <br />Controlled Surface Vse - Moderate Geologic Hazard areas <br />Controlled Surface Use - on Slopes 40-608 <br />Controlled Surface Use - is Big Came Winter Range <br />Timing Limitation - in Big Gama Liinter Range. <br />this decision is consistent with the selection of Alternative One, the proposed <br />action in the Rnvironmental Assessment completed on ehe lease application. <br />Only one other alternative vas considered in detail in the EA, that of No <br />Action or in other words, rejection of the application. <br />The Forest Plan has been reviewed. I have determined that the development <br />of coal reserves is consistent with the Forest Land and Resource Management <br />Plan and amendments. Further, it is consistent with Forest Service minerals <br />management policy. <br />