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Appeal Deciding Officer <br />30 <br />The EA (3.2, Air Quality, page 43) and the EA Response to Public Comments provides clearly <br />that modeling for visibility was completed and that the results of that detailed impact assessment <br />predicted no significant impacts to air quality as a result of authorizing the Oxbow Mine. <br />The EA finds the impacts from this lease modification will: <br />"Leasing actions would have no direct impact on air quality as the lease does not authorize any <br />mining activities. However, if underground mining is subsequently approved, indirect /cumulative <br />effects on air quality would be similar to those described for No Action Alternative except under <br />the reasonably foreseeable development scenario these effects would be extended for <br />approximately 2 days to 3 weeks due to extending the life of the mine with the coal reserves in the <br />lease modification ". <br />Compliance with CAA and NAAQS was addressed in the air quality section (3.2 pages 41 -60). <br />The mere act of analyzing visibility and its impacts would appear to satisfy the intent of this <br />section under NEPA. <br />Recommendation: <br />I recommend that the Forest Supervisor's decision be affirmed on this point. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />I recommend that the Forest Supervisor's August 3, 2011 Record of Decision be affirmed and <br />that the Appellant's request for relief be denied. <br />WILLIAM T. BASS <br />Appeal Reviewing Officer <br />Forest Supervisor, Bighorn National Forest <br />