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I authorize the drilling and installation of five GVBs (15-01, 15-02, 15-03, 15-3.5 and 15- ~ OS) and the construction of about one mile of new temporary access road. Access to these GVB drilling locations will be from the existing West Flatiron drill road, which is currently used as access to other GVB drill sites in the area. The new temporary access road will generally follow an existing ATV route. This decision also includes authorization for MCC to access the GVB sites for required monitoring, installation of gas blower units and final abandonment and reclamation of the drill sites and access road. Specific conditions pertaining to access are contained in the Conditions of Approval (Appendix A of this document). The ground disturbing activities aze authorized to occur in the development corridor on the north hillslope of Long Draw as shown on the attached map. On-the-ground locations of drill pads and the new temporary road alignment must fall in this corridor, and will be placed in the field so that minimal resource impact occurs (see EA, section 1.G). Forest Service approval of the final drill pad and road locations will be required (see Appendix A of this document). Preliminary Seld placement of the new temporary road alignment and drill pad locations have shown that they can be placed outside of riparian areas, therefore, an exemption for the riparian stipulation is not needed. No road or pad construction can occur within 100 feet of the riparian area in Long Draw. I am also granting a project level exception to the Big Game Winter Range timing limitation stipulation for the activities authorized in this decision, so that activities may occur into the late fall months. By definition, excentions to stipulations are made on a case-by-case basis (GMUG Oil and Gas EIS, 1993). A specific exception is given for this project for the 200]-2002 winter season. To offset effects of excepting this stipulation, a mitigation to limit traffic in the project area has been included as a Condition of Approval (see Appendix A of this document, item 26). These decisions are conditioned on application of the Conditions of Approval given in Appendix A of this document. These Conditions of Approval include selected mitigations identified in the EA. This decision will be implemented through issuance of this Decision Notice, and the GMUG's subsequent concurrence on adding these activities into MCC's Colorado State approved mine permit. Forest Service regulations require the proponent to secure any additional State or Federal permits as required by law. III. RATIONALE FOR THE DECISION This decision was made after cazefully considering the contents of the EA, public involvement, and the supporting project record. Some of my key considerations are as follows: