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• N. SLOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT <br />Throughout the Thermal Event Drilling Project, close communication with MCC has <br />been maintained and documented in the project file. Communication has occurred, and <br />will continue, with other involved Federal and State agencies including the BLM- <br />Uncompahgre Field Office, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG), and <br />the Office of Surface Mining (OSM). The District Range Management Specialist will <br />keep the range allotment permittees in the area informed of the project. <br />Copies of this document were sent to interested parties including, Gunnison and Delta <br />County Commissioners, Western Slope Environmental Resource Council, the North Fork <br />Coal Working Group (R-TRAC), Dry Fork Grazing Allotment Pool, CDMG, OSM and <br />BLM. <br />V. REASONS FOR CATEGORICALLY EXCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION <br />The proposed action falls under category 31.2, number 8 of the Forest Service Handbook <br />1909.15-Environmental Policy and Procedures Handbook, Short-term (one year or less) <br />mineral, energy, or geophysical, investigations and their incidental support activities that <br />may require cross-country travel by vehicles, equipment, construction of less than one <br />mile of low standard road, or zrse and minor repair of etisting roads. <br />• Another reason to go fonvazd with reclamation and restoration is to bring the azea closer <br />to forest plan standazds for habitat capability. The West Elk Cow and Horse Allotment <br />Management Plan Environmental Assessment (West Elk EA) covered lands adjacent to <br />the area where the thermal event drilling occurred and contains surface conditions similaz <br />to those present at the drilling location. The West Elk EA identified that azeas covered by <br />deciduous shrublands aze currently not meeting Forest Plan standards for big game <br />habitat capability because of the mature nature of the shrub stands. Analysis in the EA <br />showed that development of openings would move this habitat type closer to the Forest <br />Plan standards. The vegetation clearing [hat occurred as part of this drilling project <br />provides an opporrsniry to create openings in the deciduous shrubland habitat. <br />Based on the findings stated in this document, MCC will proceed with reclamation <br />activities needed to restore NFSL disturbed during the thermal event drilling project. <br />Further, MCC will be issued an SUP for their occupancy of NFSL during the required <br />monitoring period and final reclamation activities. The SUP will further detail Forest <br />Service conditions pertaining to MCCs occupancy of NFSL, and reclamation <br />requirements. <br />VI. FINDING OF NO EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES <br />Extraordinary circumstances include but aze not limited to, ground disturbing action in <br />the presence of steep slopes or highly erosive soils; threatened or endangered species and <br />. their critical habitat; flood plains; wetlands; municipal watersheds; Congressionally- '- <br />designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, Research Natural Areas; or <br />