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V. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Public input on the project proposal was requested through a scoping letter, and a news release. Individual scoping letters were mailed to interested parties on August 31, 2001. A news release was published in the Delta County Independent-North Fork Times on August 29, 2001. In addition, the Paonia District Ranger attended the September 4, 2000 meeting of the North Fork Coal Working Group (a community-based collaborative group working on coal-related issues) to present the proposal to the group and invite comments. The project is also included in the GMUG Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA), an electronic accounting of active projects that is available to the general public through the Internet, and is mailed to over 300 interested parties. The GMUG heard from a total of 8 parties during scoping. Four were in support of the project and one commenter voiced opposition. Three parties provided issues for the project analysis. Records of all the scoping comments aze contained in the project file. The completed EA was sent out for 30-day public review and comment on September 18, 2001. The EA was mailed to 13 parties, the mailing list is in the project file. The Paonia District Ranger attended the October 9, 2001 meeting of the NFCWG. In addition, a public notice which announced the availability of the EA for public review and comment appeazed in the Delta Cout:ty Independent-North Fork Times on September 19, 2001, and was followed by a news release that appeazed on October 3, 2001. One party commented in support of the project (project file). VI. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Based on my review of the EA and supporting project record, I have determined that this decision does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 1 SO8, section 27 (40 CFR 1508.27) in either context or intensity. Context Locali Implications of this decision would temporarily affect about 4.2 acres of land on the Paonia Ranger District. Required reclamation of drill pads and new temporary road construction alleviate long-term impacts to the land. The effects on public land and users over the long term would remain consistent with that which is presently occurring (EA, Chapter 3). Affected Interests. Affected interests for this project aze primarily recreationists, other perrni[tees in the project area, and parties with on-going concerns regazding coal mining in the North Fork Valley.