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Purpose and Need <br />management, and regulation of other resource <br />activities. <br />9A - Emphasizes management of all the <br />components of aquatic/riparian ecosystems to <br />provide healthy, self-perpetuating plant <br />communities, acceptable water quality <br />standards, fish and wildlife habitats and stable <br />stream channels. Mineral activities may occur <br />but must minimize disturbance to riparian areas <br />and initiate timely and effective rehabilitation <br />and restore them to a state of productivity <br />comparable to that before disturbance. <br />BLM Resource Management Plan <br />The proposed coal leasing is in compliance with the <br />existing Uncompahgre Basin RMP, which <br />determined that the area subject to lease application <br />was to be managed for both existing and potential <br />coal development. <br />1.5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER <br />ENVIRONMENTAL <br />DOCUMENTS <br />The following arc previous environmental analyses <br />completed to address resource impacts due to coal <br />leasing in areas common to this FEIS: <br />• EA and Decision Notice/Finding of No <br />Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for Federal <br />Coal Lease COC-67011 (West Flatiron <br />Lease), 2004. <br />• EA and Decision Notice/Finding of No <br />Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for Federal <br />Coal Lease Modifications COC-56447 and C- <br />1362, 2001. <br />Decision Memo for Federal Coal Lease C- <br />1362, 1997. <br />• EA and DN/FONSI for Federal Coal Lease <br />COC-56447 (Box Canyon Lease), 1995. <br />1.6 DECISION FRAMEWORK <br />The GMUG Forest Supervisor is the NEPA <br />responsible official for the Forest Service. This is a <br />site-specific leasing analysis. The leasing decision <br />would not authorize post-lease activities (such as <br />road building, drilling, etc.). <br />Chapter 1 <br />The Forest Supervisor must decide whether or not <br />to consent to the BLM leasing NFS lands according <br />to the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of <br />1976. The Forest Supervisor must also prescribe <br />terms and conditions (through lease stipulations) <br />with respect to the use and protection of non- <br />mincral interests. The decision framework <br />acknowledges that future surface disturbing <br />activities may occur during the life of the lease. <br />Once a Record of Decision (ROD) is signed and <br />released, and if the lease is sold and issued, the <br />BLM would be responsible for lease administration <br />and enforcement of lease terms and conditions. <br />If the decision is made to offer the lease for sale, <br />individual, site-specific post-leasing surface <br />disturbing projects will be considered as necessary, <br />and further NEPA analysis must be completed at <br />the time those activities are proposed. <br />The BLM Colorado State Director is the deciding <br />official for the BLM and will decide whether or not <br />to offer the Dry Fork LBA tract for competitive <br />leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended, <br />and the Federal regulations under 43 CFR 3400. <br />The Uncompahgre Field Office Manager is <br />responsible for providing the State Director with <br />briefings and recommendations. <br />The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and <br />Enforcement will prepare the mining plan approval <br />documents for the USDI Assistant Secretary <br />approval. <br />1.7 PROPOSED ACTION <br />The Proposed Action is to consent to leasing NFS <br />lands in the Dry Fork LBA tract for underground <br />development and production of Federal coal <br />reserves, consistent with applicable laws and <br />regulations, including terms and conditions for <br />protecting non-coal resources. <br />Ark Land submitted the Dry Fork LBA for about <br />1,533 acres of Federal coal reserves. The BLM <br />prepared a Tract Delineation Report and accepted <br />the tract boundaries. The BLM calculated the tract <br />acreage to be about 1,517 acres (BLM 2004). <br />1-6 Dry Fork Lease-By-Application FEIS <br />