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<br />a..t <br />4. Drill hole FFF - T. 14 S., R. 90 W., 6`h P.M.: Section 1: SW '/a SW ''/a; <br />5. Drill hole 00 - T. 14 S., R. 90 W., 6°i P.M.: Section l: NW '/a SE %a; <br />The proposed 'exploration activities, including reclamation of drillsites and roads, are <br />anticipated to occur over a period of 4 months during the summer of 2005. <br />The proposed locations of the drill holes and access routes (Map A) are based on field <br />review (June 2004) by a Forest Service interdisciplinary team and MCC representatives. <br />Based on that review, MCC modified the original CEL application. The modified CEL <br />application includes drill holes and road access as described above and shown on Map A. <br />For the modification, some proposed drill holes were relocated and portions of proposed <br />access routes repositioned in order to protect other surface resources (e.g. unstable slopes, <br />sensitive wildlife habitat, access concerns, etc.). MCC submitted their modified proposal <br />on June 15, 2004. <br />Decision <br />I have decided to prescribe conditions for the proposed Dry Fork CEL as itemized in <br />Appendix A. This decision is limited to FS conditions to be applied to the proposed Dry <br />Fork CEL should it be approved by BLM. I base my decision to prescribe these <br />conditions on my evaluation of the issues raised during public scoping, the character of <br />the proposal, and NEPA documentation for other coal-related projects in the vicinity of <br />the proposed Dry Fork CEL (see "References"). My decision also is based on analysis of <br />the proposed activities under the exploration license with FS conditions in place. The <br />conditions are designed to ensure protection of water, air, soil, wildlife, and other <br />resources and uses, and ensure reclamation of disturbed lands to Forest Service <br />specifications when and if the proposed Dry Fork CEL activities occur. These <br />conditions are consistent with conditions applied to similar projects approved and on- <br />going on the Paonia RD. <br />I have determined that the FS conditions to be attached to the proposed Dry Fork CEL <br />and any activities conducted in compliance with the FS conditions will not individually <br />or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. I have based my <br />conclusion on information presented in this document and the entirety of the Project <br />Record. <br />The determination of conditions for the proposed Dry Fork CEL is categorically excluded <br />from documentation in an environmental impact statement or an environmental <br />assessment because the conditions are related to a short-term (one year or less) energy <br />mineral investigation that includes some cross-country travel by vehicles and equipment, <br />construction of less than one mile of low standard road, and minor repair and use of an <br />existing road. [Ref. FSH 1909.15 Environmental Policy and Procedures Handbook, <br />Chapter 30 Categorical Exclusion from Documentation, Sec. 31.2 Categories of Actions <br />for Which a Project or Case File and Decision Memo Are Required, No. 8 Short-term <br />(one year or less) mineral, energy, or geophysical investigations...] <br />Cumulative Effects. With respect to cumulative effects, other activities in the area are <br />located more than one mile from the proposed Dry Fork CEL and have been mitigated. <br />The effects of the activities proposed with the Dry Fork CEL with FS conditions, in <br />addition to effects from other similar activities in the vicinity, do not cause cumulative <br />effects because effects are limited to individual drill sites, and those limited effects are <br />