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II <br />' Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project <br />' Draft Environmental Impact Statement <br />Gunnison County, Colorado <br />' Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service <br />Cooperating Agencies: USDI Bureau of Land Management <br />' Responsible Official: Charles S. Richmond, Forest Supervisor <br />Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison NF <br />2250 HWY 50 <br />' Delta, CO 81416 <br />For Information Contact: Niccole Mortenson, Eng/Min NEPA Specialist <br />Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison NF <br />2250 HWY 50 <br />Delta, CO 81416 <br />' Abstract: Mountain Coal Company (MCC) needs to have reasonable surface use and access on <br />National Forest System (NFS) lands subject to terms of a federal coal lease for operations associated <br />' with constructing, operating and reclaiming methane drainage and ventilation and escapeway <br />facilities in order to efficiently produce federal coal reserves. The purpose of the agency's action is to <br />1 facilitate production of complaint and super compliant coal reserves, and allow MCC to exercise <br />lease rights and perform operations. The draft environmental impact statement analyzes the effects of <br />two alternatives. Alternative 1 - No Action would not permit the ventilation shaft or methane <br />drainage wells. Alternative 2 -Proposed Action would allow the ventilation shaft and all methane <br />drainage wells, including the 22 within the West Elk Inventoried Roadless Area. <br />Reviewers should provide the Forest Service with their comments during the review period of the <br />' draft environmental impact statement. This will enable the Forest Service to analyze and respond to <br />the comments at one time and to use information acquired in the preparation of the final <br />environmental impact statement, thus avoiding undue delay in the decision making process. <br />Reviewers have an obligation to structure their participation in the National Environmental Policy <br />Act process so that it is meaningful and alerts the agency to the reviewers' position and contentions. <br />Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978): Environmental <br />' objections that could have been raised at the draft stage may be waived if not raised until after <br />completion of the final environmental impact statement. City of Angoon v. Hodel (9`h Circuit, 1986) <br />and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980): Comments on <br />' the draft environmental impact statement should be specific and should address the adequacy of the <br />statement and the merits of the alternatives discussed (40 CFR 1503.3). <br />Send Comments to: Niccole Mortenson, Eng/Min NEPA Specialist <br />Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison NF <br />2250 HWY 50 <br />' Delta, CO 81416 <br />Or email: nmortenson@fs.fed.us <br />' Date Comments Must Be Received: April 7`h, 2007 <br />ri <br />~J <br />