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<br />Purpose of Action <br />The purpose of the agency's action is to protect public health and safety, to prevent loss <br />of leased federal coal resources (also considered property of MCC through rights granted <br />in their leases), and to facilitate safe and efficient production of compliant and super <br />compliant coal reserves. <br />Summary Description of Proposed Actions in Inventoried Roadless Areas <br />Operations are proposed on two existing federal coal leases and one federal coal lease <br />tract scheduled for sale in January 2007 on the Gunnison National Forest. Portions of the <br />leases are in the West Elk Inventoried Roadless Area (West Elk IRA), generally east of <br />Paonia, CO. Approximately 2.5 miles of road construction is proposed on these leases in <br />the West Elk IRA. The road construction is necessary for access to 21 sites for methane <br />drainage wells. Twelve of these sites would be in the .A. No actions are being proposed <br />on the IRA portion of the lease scheduled for sale. Roads proposed in the IRA would be <br />for project and administrative use only, and would not be available for public use. <br />Lead and Cooperating Agencies <br />The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests is the lead agency for the <br />environmental analysis. The Uncompahgre Field Office of the BLM is a cooperating <br />agency. <br />Responsible Official <br />The Responsible Official is the GMUG's Forest Supervisor. Charles S. Richmond. Given <br />the purpose and need, the Responsible Official will review the proposed action, the other <br />alternatives, and the environmental consequences in order to decide the following: <br />• Where surface use for the shaft/escapeway, access roads and methane drainage <br />wells is acceptable. <br />• Conditions under which NFS lands can be used, and how non-mineral resources <br />must be <br />protected. <br />Whether to grant relief from the lease stipulations for big game winter range for <br />construction of the ventilation shaft and escapeway. <br />The Forest Service Responsible Official will determine if the activity is consistent with <br />the GMUG Forest Plan, and identify the post-mining land use. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Il <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />