GENERAL46521

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 4/10/2000
• Doc Name: RECORD OF DECISION NORTH FORK COAL ELK CREEK COAL LEASE TRACT COC 61357
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

March 2000 Record of Decision Page 5
II. DECISIONS AND REASONS FOR DECISIONS
Decision. It is my decision to consent to the BLM offering the Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract for
competitive sale. The decision generally implements described in Alternative D (see section VI
of this ROD) because it best provides for protecting the surface resources, especially perennial
drainages and associated ecosystems. My decision to consent is conditioned on the
application of stipulations and mitigations as described in Section III of this ROD, and upon
ensuring that subsequent mining will meet the performance standards of the applicable mining
regulations. Figure 2, Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract, shows the specific lands covered in this
decision.
Given the Forest Service mission of being stewards of the soil, air, and water resources, it is
incumbent on me to adhere to the direction given by national policy, agency mission, Forest
Plan guidance when making decisions. This decision balances the need to preserve watershed
integrity and associated ecosystems, and protect existing uses while recovering the mineral
resource. This decision makes available about 23 million tons of coal for recovery in the D coal
seam from the lease tract. (The B coal seam has either been previously mined or is non
existent on the Elk Creek coal lease tract.)
Reasons for Decision. The decision is based on several criteria, some of which are
summarized in this section. Each alternative was analyzed and compared to Forest Plan
goals, objectives, standards and guidelines. Several considerations regarding Forest Plan
consistency are reflected in the decision, and are detailed below. The decision is consistent
with the Forest Plan.
Relationship to Issues and Public Comment. The decision balances recovery of the coal
resource with protection of National Forest resources and resource uses consistent with the
applicable laws, regulations, Forest Service Policy and Forest Plan goals and objectives;
standards and guidelines, and multiple-use decisions. Please see Section V, Issues
Considered and Addressed, for a description of how issues and resource concerns analyzed in
the Final EIS were considered during the decision-making process. This decision considers the
public comment received.
Consistencv with Multiple Use Management Direction. The Forest Plan assigns the lease tract
to three Management Areas (MA's) (Forest Plan, pages III-114 to 187) including MA4D aspen
management, MA46 wildlife habitat and MA9A riparian maintenance (Final EIS, Section 1.6.2,
Forest Plan Consistency).
The MA4D aspen management area includes wood fiber production, visual quality and plant
and animal diversity. Other activities may occur as long as management goals and objectives
are maintained. There have been some timber production in the area, and small sales may
occur sometime in the future (Final EIS, Section 3.13.2.5, Timber Operations.). Underground
mining is not expected to have an impact on aspen management (Final EIS, Section 3.13.3.1).
The MA4B wildlife habitat area emphasizes habitat management for one or more indicator
species. Other activities may occur so long as habitat requirements are maintained. The
analysis shows minimal impacts for habitat capability (Final EIS, Section 3.9.3.2) with
appropriate mitigations (see Section III of the ROD).
The MA9A riparian areas emphasizes management of riparian areas and their component
ecosystems. The goals of the management are, in part, to maintain water flows to provide free
and unbound water within the soil needed to create the distinctive vegetation community,
Forest Service -Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract