2008-03-10_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 3/10/2008
• Doc Name: GMUG Record of Decision on MCCs E Seam Methane Drainage Wells
• From: USDA Forest Service
• To: DRMS
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

United States Forest Grand Mesa, 2250 Highway 50
US~//~ Department of Service Uncompahgre and Delta, CO 81416
Agriculture Gunnison Voice: 970-874-6600
National Forests TDD: 970-874-66q~~;E~VED
Dear Interested Party:
File code: 2s20_4 MAR 1 ~U -2008
Date: March 7, 2008
Division of Reclamation,
Mining and Safety
Enclosed is the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) Record of
Decision (ROD) on Mountain Coal Company's (MCC) E Seam Methane Drainage Wells project.
This reissued ROD identifies that the GMUG will concur to the federal Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement recommending approval (to the USDI Assistant Secretary for
Lands and Minerals) to modem the mine plan for the West Elk Mine. The mine plan
modification would approve the construction, operation, maintenance and future
decommissioning/reclamation of the methane drainage wells and associated access roads needed
to ensure worker safety while mining E Seam reserves.
The GMUG ROD brings forward the post-mining land uses (desired conditions of the area), and
environmental protections for the surface resources. The environmental effects of the E Seam
Methane Drainage Wells and. associated access were disclosed in the Deer Creek Shaft and E
Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which
you should have received in August 2007. The Notice of Availability of the FEIS appeared in the
Federal Register on Friday, August 17, 2007.
This decision is subject to administrative review pursuant to Federal Regulations at 36 CFR
215.11. Appeals (including attachments) must be in writing and filed (regular mail, fax, e-mail,
hand-delivery, express delivery, or messenger service) with the Appeal Deciding Officer (§
215.8) within 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice. The publication date
of the legal notice in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel is the exclusive means for calculating the
time to file an appeal (§ 215.15 (a)). Those wishing to appeal should not rely upon dates or
timeframe information provided by any other source. Pursuant to 36 CFR 215.13 (b), only those
individuals or organizations who submitted substantive comments during the comment period
may file an appeal.
The address for filing appeals is:
USDA, Forest Service, Region 2
Attn: Appeal Deciding Officer
740 Simms Street
Golden, CO 80401
Fax: [phone] to the attention of Appeals;
Email: appeals-rocky-mountain-regional-officeCa~fs.fed.us;
It is an appellant's responsibility to provide sufficient activity-specific evidence and rationale,
focusing on the decision, to show why the Responsible Official's decision should be reversed.
At a minimum, an appeal must include the following (§2IS.I4(b)): (1) Appellant's name and
address, with a telephone number, if available; (2) Signature or other verification of authorship
upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail maybe filed with the appeal); (3) When
multiple names are listed on an appeal, identification of the lead appellant (§ 215.2) and
verification of the identity of the lead appellant upon request; (4) The name of the project or

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