2007-11-14_REVISION - C1980007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Species (MIS). The GMUG has reinstated MIS requirements per the 1982 planning regulations (per guidance provided in 36 CFR 219.19) to monitor both habitat and populations. The GMUG has considered and will continue to consider the "best available science" in forest and project level planning, including data and analysis needs for MIS. The GMUG Forest Plan establishes monitoring and evaluation requirements that employ both habitat capability relationships and, at the appropriate scale, population data. The analysis completed for this project examined how the .project directly or indirectly affects selected MIS habitat and populations and how these local effects could influence Forest-wide habitat and population trends. The proposed action is consistent with the Forest Plan and all other laws governing archaeological resources. The proposed alternative is consistent with Forest Plan direction for recreation and special uses. The proposed action is consistent with Forest Plan and current direction for management of IRAs. The selected alternative is consistent with Forest .Plan goals and desired future conditions for transportation. The selected alternative is consistent with visual quality direction regarding roads and trails under the GMUG Forest Plan, Gunnison National Forest Interim Travel Restrictions, and Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 7700. The proposed action is consistent with range management direction under the GMUG Forest Plan and Forest Service Manual 2200-Range Management. The supporting analysis in the EIS has incorporated the best available science. Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970. This Act declared it would be the continuing policy of the Federal government and in the national interest to foster and encourage private enterprise in the development of economically sound and stable domestic mining industries, and the orderly and economic development of domestic mineral resources (EIS, Chapter 1). This decision is consistent with this Act. Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 as Amended by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1975. These Acts authorize the federal agencies to lease coal reserves (EIS, Chapter 1). The federal coal leases involved with this action C-1362, COC-56447 and COC-67232 were issued, readjusted and/or modified in compliance with this Act. This Act also recognized the surface managing agency's role in coal leasing actions,, and operating and reclamation plan actions. This decision is consistent with these Acts. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and the Colorado Surface Coal Minim Reclamation Act._ This Act established the framework for regulating coal mining activities in the US. The Office of Surface Mining oversees implementation of this Act under approved State programs. The Act and the Colorado rules recognize a specific role for the federal land management agency to participate in the permitting process for coal mines as applicable, and provide the agency a concurrence role for coal mining related activities on federal lands. The Acts also identify the federal land management agency role in prescribing protections for non-coal resources, and identifying the post-mining land use. The decision framework for this action involves the Forest Service serving its role as the federal land management agency in the State DRMS and OSM permitting process by identifying protections for non- coal resources and the post-mining land use. My decision complies with these Acts. National Historic Preservation Act: This decision complies with the provisions of this Act and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Native American interests were consulted during this project (EIS, Table 2-2 and Chapter 3). The project record and field reviews support that no cultural or historic sites would be affected by this decision (EIS, Chapter 3, and project file). When implementing the decision, any previously unidentified sites inadvertently discovered would be avoided or mitigated so there would be no effect upon them per stipulations on federal coal leases C-1362, COC-56447 and COC- 67232 (see Appendix C of this ROD). 12