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Response to Comments <br /> <br /> <br />• <br />Table 5-1 <br />DEIS Comments and Responses <br />Commenter Comment Comment/Response <br /> <br /> fence-lines and building temporary roads for various mineral activities. All <br /> these activities have shown that oak brush regenerates aggressively by <br /> sprouting from the roots and stump. In general oak brush sites remain oak <br /> brush sites, with age and structure being the main characteristics that are <br /> affected by management. <br /> Therefore according to information held by the FS, we believe that oakbrush <br /> is representative of the native vegetation. Analysis in the FEIS duly discloses <br /> the effects of removal and reclamation needs. <br />Western Slope 12b We would like the Forest Service ... [t]o consider requiring restoration of that <br />Environmental original vegetation." <br />Resource Council RESPONSE: The FS obligation under the federal coal program rules (see <br /> Chapter 1, Authorities) is to prescribe conditions for use of the surface <br /> resources, and identify the post-mining land uses. As such, reclamation efforts <br /> have been designed to support the post-mining land uses of livestock grazing <br /> and big game winter range consistent with the GMUG Forest Plan, and lynx <br /> habitat as put forth in the LCAS (see Chapter 2, Reclamation, and Table 2-1). <br /> The FS incorporates these objectives into reclamation plans for the various <br /> minerals activities. Creating temporary openings and reducing shrub heights <br /> and canopy to provide younger, more productive browse is part of the <br /> revegetation objectives and support the forest plan management prescriptions. <br /> FS experience with mountain shrub commmiities on the Paonia Ranger <br /> District have shown that these shrubs always regenerate on their own, <br /> therefore reclamation design has focused on establishing a ground cover of <br /> desirable grasses to minimize noxious weed infestations and provide <br /> herbaceous forage for wildlife and livestock in support of forest plan <br /> prescriptions. <br /> For this project, the seed mix to be used also supports lynx habitat as it will <br /> provide forage for prey species. <br />Western Slope 13 We informally asked Mountain Coal Company to provide us additional <br />Environmental information about the quality ofnon-tributary water that would be liberated <br />Resource Council by coal mining activities and about how ground and surface water would be <br /> tested for organic compounds. MCC provided us helpful details, which we <br /> would like to see included in the EIS. <br /> RESPONSE: MCC is required to sample and analyze for inorganic, physical, <br /> and organic analytes/parameters of MCC's discharges whether mine water or <br /> surface water runoff, by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br /> Safety (CDRMS) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and <br /> Environment -Water Quality Control Division (CDPOH&E-WQCD). <br /> Further, MCC is required to sample and analyze the mine water discharge for <br /> biomonitoring two species, Daphnia magna (water flea) and Pimephales <br /> pro~nelas (Fathead minnow) each quarter and meet the standards for the <br /> National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) through the <br /> CDRMS and CDOPH&E-WQCD. The sam lin and analysis ro ram is in <br />Deer Creek Ventilation Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells FEIS <br />165 <br />