2008-03-10_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007

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projects and activities to be consistent with the Forest Plan. Bringing forward the consistency ofpost-mining land use with the Forest Plan, along with protections for non-coal resources (Design Criteria listed in Appendix C) in the concurrence to OSM's recommendation for Department-level approval, is consistent with the intent of the GMUG Forest Plan's long term goals and objectives listed in EIS. The project was designed in conformance with Forest Plan standards and incorporates appropriate Forest PIan guidelines for minerals management, big game winter range, livestock grazing and riparian area management (Forest Plan, pages III-63 to 69). Forest Plan Consistency No Forest Plan amendment, site-specific or otherwise, would be required for implementation of this project. All actions are consistent with the Forest Direction and Management Area standards and guidelines of the Plan. In specific, this project is consistent with the Forest Plan in the following ways: • All alternatives are consistent with the Clean Water Act and Forest Plan standards for water resources. • The selected alternative is consistent with Forest Service Manual 2580-Air Resource Management and the 1991 GMUG Forest PIan. The proposed action is consistent with Forest Plan standards for geology which establishes limits on ground-disturbing activity on unstable slopes and highly erodible sites. • The proposed action is consistent with Forest Plan standards for soils that establish limits on ground-disturbing activity on unstable slopes and highly erodible sites: The proposed action is consistent with the Forest Plan, NFMA, FSM 2670 at 2670.22 -Sensitive Species, Executive Order 11990 -Protection of Wetlands, and Executive Order 131120 -Invasive Species. • The alternatives would not result in a decline or reduction of viability of the populations of sensitive species identified to occur on the GMUG National Forests. • All alternatives are consistent with the Forest Plan regarding Management Indicator Species (MIS), In May 2005 the Forest Supervisor on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) issued an amendment that, in part, revised the list of Management Indictor 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 and project record have incorporated the best available science. 12