GENERAL46647

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 12/1/2003
• Doc Name: Lease COC-67011 West Flatiron Coal LBA-Environmental Assessment
• Permit Index Doc Type: Other Permits
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

tJcember 1. 2G03 Page 1-5
1.4 Conformance With Land Use Plans
1.4.1 Forest Plan Consistency
The Amended Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), dated September 1991, for the GMUG
National Forests and the BLM Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan (RMP), dated July 1989, made
provisions for coal leasing subject to the application of the coal unsuitability criteria established in 43 CFR
3461. See Appendix A, Unsuitability Analysis Report -West Flatiron Lease (COC-67011). The LRMP
also provided for applicable stipulations to be utilized for protection of specific surface resources as
addressed in Section III, General Direction, pages 63-69.
The Forest Plan guides natural resource management activities and establishes management standards
and guidelines for the GMUG. The following multiple use management area prescriptions are designated
for the lands bounded in the West Flatiron LBA tract:
6B -Emphasis on management for livestock grazing. Range condition is maintained
through use of forage improvement practices, livestock management, and regulation of
other resource activities.
9B -Riparian/Aquatic Ecosystems. Emphasis is on the management of all the
components of aquatiGriparian ecosystems to provide healthy, self-perpetuating plant
communities, acceptable water quality standards, habitats for viable populations of fish
and wildlife, and stable stream channels and still water body shorelines. Mineral activities
may occur but must minimize disturbance to riparian areas and initiate timely and
effective rehabilitation of disturbed areas and restore them to a state of productivity
comparable to that before disturbance.
1.4.2 BLM Resource Management Plan Consistency
The proposed coal leasing is in compliance with the existing BLM Land Use Plan. The Uncompahgre
Basin RMP determined that the area subject to lease application was to be managed for both existing and
potential coal development. The area is acceptable for coal development and coal production, and such
coal activities could occur without conflicting with other land uses as described in the RMP.
1.5 Relationship to Other Environmental Documents
The following are previous environmental assessments completed to address resources in areas
common to this EA:
- EA and Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for Modifications to Federal
Coal Lease COC-56447 and C-1362, 2001.
- EA and DN/FONSI for Federal Coal Lease C-1362, 1997.
- EA and DN/FONSI for Federal Coal Lease COC-56447 (Box Canyon Lease), 1995.
En,vi~onrr~r;t~i Assessment
`ftresl ; i~i~iron I_BA Tract
Gunnison Coi,inty, Goic;ado