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Decision Memo Bowie Resources, LLC Geotechnical Borehole USDA -Forest Service Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Paonia Ranger District, Colorado RE~E~ifE~ MAR 0 4 2007 Division or P,aclamation, Mining and Safety Forests Background Bowie Resources LLC (Bowie) operates the Bowie #2 Mine, an underground coal mine near the town of Paonia, Delta County, CO. Bowie mines coal from several federal coal leases, some of which underlie National Forest System (NFS) lands. On January 19, 2007, Bowie submitted a proposal for constructing a road and drill pad for drilling a geotechnical borehole on NFS lands. The purpose of the geotechnical borehole is to provide the Bowie #2 Mine with engineering data to incorporate into future mine design. If the data collected shows that constructing a ventilation shaft is appropriate in this area, then additional environmental analysis will be completed addressing the construction and use of a ventilation shaft. Proposed Action The proposed action is to grant Bowie authorization to construct and use an access road and drill pad, and drill one continuous-core geotechnical borehole on NFS lands. The proposed drill pad and access road are located in T. 12 S., R. 91 W., Section 34 and 35, 6'h PM (see attached map}, and is within federal coal lease COC-61209. The proposal from Bowie consists of a number of tasks: • Construction of light use road (approx. 100' in length) and drill pad (150' x 150'); • Construction of mud pit on the pad; • Drill one continuous-core geotechnical borehole to an approximate depth of 600'; • Perform interim reclamation on pad and light-use road; • Close access road to public motorized use. Bowie has proposed operations to take place in February/March of 2007. Construction of the road/drill pad and drilling should take approximately 40 days. Total disturbance for the project is expected to be less than 0.7 acres. Scooing and Public Involvement The proposed project underwent public scoping, initiated through a public notice requesting scoping comments in the Delta County Independent on January 24, 2007. A scoping letter requesting scoping comments was also sent to a list of interested parties (see project file). The 30-day scoping period ended with the GMUG receiving scoping letter from five entities. Decision I have decided to allow Bowie to construct a light use road and pad, and subsequently drill one continuous-core borehole to an approximate depth of 600'. The location of the light use road and pad will be consistent with the attached map. This decision is conditioned on the use and implementation of the attached Conditions of Surface Use in Appendix A, as well as the stipulations on Federal Coal Lease COC-61209, Appendix B of this document. I base my decision on my evaluation of the issues raised during public scoping and interdisciplinary review, as well as the overall character of the proposal. The attached Conditions of Surface Use are designed to ensure protection of water, air,