GENERAL50821 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1 of leasable minerals (which includes coal resources). While the Forest Service is mainly involved with surface resource management, the agency recognizes that mineral development is ordinarily in the public interest and can be compatible with the purposes for which the NFS lands are managed. Federal Coal Leases With specific regard to coal resources, management of federal coal resources are governed by the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976. These laws give the Forest Service's consent authority to the BLM for leasing NFS lands for coal resource development. The leases involved in this project were issued, and are managed by the BLM and Forest Service, according to the authorities granted in these laws, and implementing regulations at 43 CFR 3400. The Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells project involves three federal coal leases. Details of each lease are given below: Lease C-1362 1967 issue date; Modified with a 160-acre extension in October 2001; • 4,996 acres total (including modification), with 1,260 acres in the West Elk IRA (including modification); • Lease issued with protections for non- mineral resources (i.e. stipulations) for big game winter range, moderate and steep slopes, geologic hazards, riparian areas, subsidence monitoring, water resources and the Standard Notice for Lands Under the Jurisdiction of the USDA; and • The modification was issued with a lease notice regarding the RACR of 2001. Lease COC-56447 1995 issue date; • Modified with 160-acre extension in October 2001; • 2,919 acres total (including modification), all within the West Elk IRA; Lease issued with protections for non- mineral resources (i.e. stipulations) for big game winter range, moderate and steep slopes, geologic hazards, riparian areas, subsidence monitoring, water resources, and the Standard Notice for Lands Under the Jurisdiction of the USDA; and • The modification was issued with a lease notice regarding the RACR of 2001. Lease COC-67232 • 2007 issue date3; 1,517 acres, 620 within the West Elk IRA; and Lease to be issued with protections for non-mineral resources (i.e. stipulations) for wildlife or their habitats (lynx, big game, threatened and endangered species, raptors, breeding birds) riparian areas, geologic hazards and erosion potential, steep slopes, water sources and existing facilities, Standard Notice for Lands Under the Jurisdiction of the USDA, and a lease notice pertaining to IRAs. Surface uses on federal coal leases are also governed by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), which establishes requirements for planning, permitting, and monitoring compliance with specific operations, and reclamation requirements for surface disturbance associated with surface and underground coal mining operations. In Colorado, the Colorado DRMS ' Lease COC-67232 was offered for sale in January 2007. At the time of DEIS prepazation, BLM had accepted the bid and was in process of Snalizing the lease paperwork. The Forest Service had issued consent to this lease in March 2006, and had prescribed the protections for non-coal resources. CJ 1 t 6 Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells DEIS '