2008-06-09_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (5)

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Purpose of and Need for Action • • mental impact if not properly controlled. These activities are refereed to as signifi- cant enviroiunental aspects; 3) Operational controls designed to avoid or minimize effects associated with signifi- cant envirorunental aspects; 4) Notification and response requirements in the case of an emergency; and 5) Consequences of not conforming to operational controls and associated au- thorizing documents. The GIvIUG's EMS identifies that surface uses related to developing leasable minerals are a significant environmental. aspect, and are therefore subject to specific monitoring requirements. These requirements will be reviewed with companies or individuals working on the GMUG's behalf at a pre-work meeting by a Forest Service Representative. Documentation that requirements of EMS have been conveyed will be retained by the Forest Service Representative in the project file. Decision Framework Given the purpose and need, and to support providing concurrence to DRMS permitting action(s) to the existing mine permit, the Forest Service Responsible Official (GMUG Forest Supervisor) will review the proposed action, any other alternatives, and the environmental consequences in order to decide the following: • Where surface use for the ventilation shaft/escapeway, access roads, and methane drainage wells is acceptable on NFS lands, consistent with lease terms and conditions, and the legal framework; The conditions under which NFS lands can be used, and how non-mineral resources must be protected; Whether relief from lease stipulation for the 2007-2008 season for Big Game Win- ter Range during shaft construction should be approved. Whether relief from lease stipulation for surface occupancy in wetlands, flood- plains, or riparian areas should be ap- proved. . Whether, at the end of the project, Poison Gulch Road (711.X) the majority of the route except the very northern end would change from a full size System Road to a System ATV trail (which is the current primary use of the route). The Forest Service Responsible Official will determine if the activity is consistent with the GMUG Forest Plan and identify the post- mining land use. Public Involvement The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) was published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2006. The NOI asked for public comment on the proposal from September 18 through November 2, 2006. In addition, as part of the public involvement process, the agency published legal notices in the Delta County Independent and Grand Junction Daily Sentinel as papers of record and sent approximately 35 scoping letters to required agencies, Tribes, and the interested parties list. The NOI was posted on the GMUG's public planning webpage, and the project was included on the GMUG's Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions. GMUG personnel briefed the North Fork Coal Working Group at its quarterly meetings on October 10, 2006, and January 16, and April 10, and July 10, 2007. An additional article was published in the Delta County Independent on November 1, 2006 from an unknown source. Five comments were received during initial scoping. Using the comments from internal scoping, the public, other agencies, and associations and the interdisciplinary team, a list of issues was developed. The DEIS Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on March 23, 2007. Notices of Opportunity to Comment were published in the Delta County Independent on April 4, 2007 and Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on April. 5, 2007 as papers of record. Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seain Methane Drainage Wells FEIS 9