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Appendix 3 - Response co Comments <br />Two public comments were received, one was at the hearing and the other vas <br />written. The person who testified at the public hearing in Paonia on <br />December 5, 1994 supported leasing the tracC, however, he wanted to be sure <br />• baseline data for the North Fork of the Gunnison River was collected. <br />Presently, Mountain Coal Company is collecting baseline water quality data <br />on the River. In addition, the National Pollution Discharge Elimination <br />System Permit (NPDES), administered by the Colorado Department of Health, <br />regulates any point discharge from the mine site. The permit is designed <br />to keep the river within the stream classification and water quality <br />standards established for the North Fork River. <br />The commentor was also concerned about permanent facilities in the Box <br />Canyon riparian area and on other parts of the tract. His concern for <br />riparian included fragmentation of areas used by wildlife. Riparian areas <br />are fairly rare on the Box Canyon tract and therefore are important to the <br />wildlife species that use the area. Other lesser concerns include noise, <br />visual resource impacts, and air pollution from the venting of methane. <br />These issues will be addressed during the permitting process and associated <br />environmental analysis. Stipulations will be attached to the lease that <br />are designed to protect and/or minimi2e impacts to riparian areas through <br />avoidance and mitigation. <br />The written comment was concerned about the Box Canyon riparian area, the <br />mitigation measures ¢.nd the economic recovery of the coal. The written <br />comments and the response to the comments are attached. <br />• <br />• <br />