Laserfiche WebLink
March 2000 Record of Decision Page 5 <br />II. DECISIONS AND REASONS FOR DECISIONS <br />It is my decision to offer the Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract for lease. The lands are described and <br />analyzed in the EIS under Alternative D -Subsidence Protection. The tract would be leased <br />with the one mineable seam, the D seam. This decision makes available about 23 million tons <br />of coal for recovery in the D coal seam from the lease tract. (The B coal seam has either been <br />previously mined or is non existent on the Elk Creek coal lease tract.) <br />The decision balances recovery of the coal resource with protection of other resources and <br />resource uses consistent with the applicable laws, regulations, BLM policy and Resource <br />Management Plan goals and objectives, standards and guidelines, and multiple-use decisions. <br />Please see Section V, Issues Considered and Addressed, for a description of how Final EIS <br />issues were considered during the decision-making process. <br />The Elk Creek Tract was modified from the original application by the agencies to include <br />Hubbard Creek and a small section on the southeastern corner of the tract. The revision in the <br />southeast corner adds approximately 55 acres and is a result of comments received on the <br />Draft EIS. The tract was adjusted along Hubbard Creek to coincide with the eastern boundary <br />of the Iron Point Tract. This will allow access to be possible from one lease to another. It <br />would be stipulated that no subsidence would occur under any entries under Hubbard Creek. <br />The federal coal reserves in this lease are comprised of high BTU, low sulfur coal. The industry <br />demand for this clean coal is relatively high because its use meets the objectives of the Clean <br />Air Act. This action would make additional federal coal reserves available for competitive <br />leasing, provide an opportunity to extend the life of the mine and be consistent with Forest <br />Service and BLM management goals and prescriptions for the area. Any lease issued would <br />include the stipulations identified in the Forest Plan, the Coal Unsuitability Criteria, the special <br />stipulations pertinent to this lease in addition to the standard lease terms (BLM Lease Form <br />3400-12). The special stipulations are listed in Section III, Required Mitigation/Stipulations and <br />Monitoring. All stipulations are consistent with the Forest Plan and with the BLM Land Use <br />Plan. <br />The tract to be offered for leasing and subsequent mining is described in Section I, Overview of <br />the Project Area, found in this ROD. The surface of the tract is managed by a combination of <br />Forest Service, BLM and private owners. The coal is federally owned. <br />The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, provides for mineral activity on Federal lands. <br />Coal leasing and mining in the North Fork Valley was analyzed in the North Fork Coal Final EIS <br />(2000). <br />Relationship to Issues and Public Comment. The decision balances recovery of the coal <br />resource with protection of resources and resource uses consistent with the applicable laws, <br />regulations, BLM policy and Resource Management Plan goals and objectives; standards and <br />guidelines, and multiple-use decisions. Please see Section V, Issues Considered and <br />Addressed, for a description of how issues and resource concerns analyzed in the Final EIS <br />were considered during the decision-making process. This decision considers the public <br />comment received. <br />Relationshio to Purpose and Need. The decision responds to the need to consider leasing <br />additional Federal coal lands and the need to allow coal resource development under applicable <br />federal laws (Final EIS, Section 1.3). The decision also determines the conditions under which <br />coal resources may be recovered in order to protect non-coal resources. The decision also <br />BLM -Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract <br />