GENERAL53904

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 4/6/2000
• Doc Name: RECORD OF DECISION Elk Creek Lease Tract COC 61357
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

March 2000 Record of Decision Pa a 12
In April, July, and December 1999, newsletters were sent to individuals, organizations and
agencies on the EIS mailing list to inform them on progress of the EIS and provide relevant
information.
The Draft EIS was filed with the EPA and distributed to the public in late August 1999. The
Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Resister on September 3,
1999. In addition, the agencies transmitted press releases concerning the EIS project and
process to newspaper, radio stations and television stations. The media outlets covered the
North Fork Valley, Delta, Montrose, Crested Butte, Gunnison and Grand Junction areas.
A public information meeting was held on the evening of October 7, 1999 at the Hotchkiss High
School (Hotchkiss, Colorado) to explain and answer questions on the Draft EIS and the coal
leasing process. A formal public hearing was held on the evening of October 14, 1999 at the
Hotchkiss High School for interested individuals and organizations to make oral comments and
statements on the Draft EIS.
The formal comment period on the Draft EIS ended on November 3, 1999. Over 750 individual
comments were received. Agency response to public comments are given in Appendix O,
Public and Agency Participation and Involvement in the Draft EIS, found in the Final EIS.
Concurrent with the preparation of this EIS, the community has undertaken efforts to deal with
issues related to growth and coal mining in the North Fork Valley. Abroad spectrum of
interests came together to form the North Fork Coal Working Group (NFCWG) and to address
the issues identified. (See Final EIS Section 1.7.3, Community Efforts.)
The NFCWG is made up of local county governments, public interest groups, environmental
groups, the mining companies, water user groups and concerned individuals. Other segments
of the community including town and city governments, the Union Pacific Railroad, emergency
service providers, and other interested groups and individuals have participated in meetings of
the NFCWG and in public meetings sponsored by the NFCWG. The federal agencies have
worked with the NFCWG as invited parties to provide information and resources related to the
NEPA process and coal leasing in general.
The goals and objectives of the NFCWG are to work in a collaborative way and encourage the
development of the community's vision for its future. The NFCWG has provided a forum to
encourage community discussions, provided information and education on important issues,
and developed potential mitigation and resolutions for many community issues. In conjunction
with the NEPA process, the group has submitted information during scoping and provided
comments on the Draft EIS.
We recognize the efforts and hard work of the NFCWG to seek common ground and to identify
solutions to the problems identified by the community. As federal agencies, the BLM and the
Forest Service recognize and encourage the efforts of groups like the NFCWG in addressing
the off-site impacts of concern to the local community. Community based efforts, such as taken
by the NFCWG, can be very helpful and constructive at resolving issues at the local level. As
such, we applaud their efforts. We further believe that the Final EIS was improved as a result
of the comments received from the NFCWG.
BLM -Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract