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Public Involvement The Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest (GMUG) invited public comments on the proposal from MCC regarding exploration drilling neaz Paonia, Colorado through a Public Notice in the Delta County Independent dated July 28, 2004 (see project file). scoping letters were also sent to a list of kriown interested parties (project file). The scoping period ended on August 26, 2004. This notice stated that the required level of documentation of the environmental analysis for the proposed action would be reviewed following public scoping. The project proposal was also discussed with the North Fork Coal Working Group, acollaboration-based community interest group working on coal issues in the North Fork Valley, at their regularly scheduled meetings in Summer and Fa112004. No specific issues were raised by the stakeholders at these meetings. This project was also included in the GMUG schedule ofproposed actions (SOPA) beginning in June 2004.' As a result of scoping this project, GMUG received 6 letters or emails from the following individuals/groups: • Colorado Wild • Gunnison County • Mountain Coal Company, LLC • Oxbow Mining, LLC • US EPA Region 8 • Western Slope Environmental Resource Council Findings required by and/or related to other Laws and Regulations Land and Resource Management Plan. The FS conditions to be attached to the Dry Fork CEL are consistent with the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, as required by the National Forest Management Act. The conditions ensure that the proposed Dry Fork CEL meets the general direction of the GMUG Forest Plan to "encourage environmentally sound energy and minerals development", and supports the Forest Plan emphasis to refine and improve procedures to protect surface resources while permitting exploration of mineral resources (GMUG Forest Plan, page II-61). The conditions also ensure that the proposed exploration activities are consistent with the management goals and objectives for the area: SA, emphasis on big game winter range, and 6B, emphasis on livestock grazing. With respect to roadless character, the GMUG Forest Plan allows for road building in this area. Clean Water Act. The FS conditions ensure that proposed exploration activities, conducted in compliance with FS conditions, would meet requirements of the Clean Water Act. The potential exists for short term, episodic sediment plumes to be created from use of the NFSR 711stream crossing on Deep Creek. Because of the hardened nature of the low-water crossing and Conditions #4 and #5, accelerated sediment as a result of the proposed action would not be sufficient to violate Colorado's narrative sediment standard (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Basic Standazds and Methodologies for Surface Water).