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. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reviewed the Resource Recovery and Protection <br />Plan for compliance with the Minera] Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and 43 CFR Part <br />3480. The BLM recommended approval of the mining plan in a memorandum dated June <br />5, 2006. In this same memorandum the Bureau of Land Management concurred with the <br />proposed mining plan with respect to Federally owned surface lands under its <br />management within the proposed mining plan area. <br />In accordance with the September 24, 1996, Biological Opinion and Conference Report <br />from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) to OSM, OSM sought comments <br />from the USF&WS on threatened and endangered species. In a Biological Opinion dated <br />March 3, 2006, the USF&WS concurred with OSM's Biological Assessment and that <br />species-specific protective measures did not need to be developed for this new mining <br />plan. <br />The State Historic Preservation Officer concurred with the proposed mining plan in a <br />letter dated November 1, 2005. <br />I have determined that the new mining plan does not include any lands within an area <br />designated as unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operations under <br />section 522(b) of SMCRA. The permit findings prepared by the regulatory authority <br />demonstrate that reclamation as required by the Act and regulatory program is <br />technologically and economically feasible. <br />The new mining plan area is not on any Federal lands within the boundaries of any <br />national forest. <br />I have determined that approval of this new mining plan will not have a significant impact <br />on the quality of the human environment. The environmental analysis prepared by the <br />Bureau of Land Management entitled, Environmental Assessment, EA Number CO-SJFO- <br />00-102EA, National King Coal, LLC, Coal Lease Application, East Alkali Tract, COC- <br />62920, and noted in the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), describes the impacts <br />that may result from approval of this new mining plan and its alternatives. The FONSI <br />and supporting environmental analyses are included in this decision document. <br />OSM's review of the proposed action did not identify any issues that required resolution <br />via the addition of special conditions to the new mining plan approval. <br />Publication of four consecutive weekly newspaper notices in the Durango Herald notified <br />the public of the availability of the administratively complete PAP for review. The last <br />publication date was November 25, 2005. <br />The CO-DMG determined that a bond for $130,000.00 is adequate for the Colorado <br />Permit C-81-035 associated with this mining plan. The bond is payable to the State and <br />• the United States. <br />