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Record of Decision <br />E Seam Methane Drainage Wells <br />Federal Coal Lease C-1362 <br />Federal Coal Lease COC-56447 <br />Federal Coal Lease COC-67232 <br />USDA Forest Service <br />Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison National Forests <br />Paonia Ranger District <br />Gunnison County, Colorado <br />Sections 17-29 and 32-34, Township 13 South, Range 90 West and <br />Sections 1-6 and 8-10, Township 14 South, Range 90 West, 6th Principal Meridian <br />DECISION AND REASONS FOR THE DECISION <br />Background <br />Mountain Coal Company (MCC), operator of the West Elk Mine, brought forward methane drainage <br />needs for E seam reserves in 2006. In October 2007, MCC submitted two technical revisions to the <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) to revise their existing mining permit by <br />adding plans for methane drainage needed to mine reserves in the E Seam. The E Seam Methane <br />Drainage Wells Project (E Seam MDWs project) is needed for MCC to comply with Mine Safety and <br />Health Administration (MSHA) requirements to manage methane in the underground mine to ensure <br />worker safety. The environmental effects of the E Seam Methane Drainage Wells are documented in the <br />Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project Final Environmental Impact Statement <br />(FEIS). This Record of Decision (ROD) addresses the portions of the E Seam MDWs project the within <br />Forest Service's authority. <br />The Forest Service identified the need to fulfill the obligations of its role as the federal surface land <br />management agency in the DRMS's coal mine permitting process, and the associated USDI-Office of <br />Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) mine plan modification process that would approve <br />MCC to construct, operate, and reclaim the E Seam MDWs and associated access on National Forest <br />System lands. The OSM participated in the project analysis as a cooperating agency. <br />The purpose of the agency's action is to protect public health and safety, to prevent loss of leased federal <br />coal resources, and to facilitate safe and efficient production of compliant and super compliant coal <br />reserves, and allow the federal coal lease holder to exercise lease rights. The operations would enable <br />continued recovery of leased federal coal reserves in compliance with Federal coal lease terms and <br />conditions and the Amended GMUG Land and Resource Management Plan (GMUG Forest Plan, USDA <br />FS 1991). <br />This project supports the Forest Service minerals mission to facilitate orderly development and <br />production of energy resources, and contributes to meeting the need for energy resources developed and <br />produced in an environmentally sound manner. The project responds to the goals and objectives outlined