2008-04-03_REVISION - C1996083 (3)

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n Responsible Officials and Decision Framework The GMUG Forest Supervisor is the NEPA Responsible Official for the Forest Service. Given the purpose and need, the Responsible Official will review the proposed action, the other. alternatives, and the environmental consequences in order to decide the following: • Whether or not to consent to the BLM modifying existing federal coal Lease COC-61209 by 560 acres; • Prescribe conditions (stipulations) needed for the protection of non-coal resources. The Forest Service Responsible Official will determine if the activity is consistent with the GMUG Forest Plan. The BLM Colorado State Director is the deciding official for the BLM, and will decide whether or not to modify the existing coal lease. The Uncompahgre Field Office Manager is responsible for providing the State Director with briefings and.recommendatioris. Issues and Alternatives As this is a leasing analysis, the agencies anticipate analyzing the effects of underground mine subsidence on surface resources including water resources, land stability, existing roads and trails. There are no known wetlands, fens, active streams, or Inventoried Roadless Areas in the lease modification area. This analysis. will address the No Action and the Proposed Action Alternative, and any other reasonable alternative resulting from resource issues raised by the public or the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT). Submitting Comments on the Forest Service Action , The following information is specific to submitting comments on the Forest Service portion of the project. The comment period. is the official opportunity to participate in this project. The Opportunity to Comment on this proposal ends 30 days following the date of the legal notice in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. The publication date of the notice is the exclusive means for calculating the time to submit comments. Parties expressing interest during this comment period will be eligible to appeal the decision pursuant to 36 CFR part 215 regulations. Only those who submit timely comments will be accepted as appellants of the final decision. Comments are defined in 36 CFR 215.6(a)(3). Comments must be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action,. and include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Also, for appeal eligibility, each individual or representative from each organization submitting comments must either sign the comments or verify their identity upon request. The Forest Service Responsible Official is Charles S. Richmond, Forest Supervisor for the GMUG, (970)874-6600. Written comments may be submitted in hard copy through the mail, email, fax or delivered by hand.