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The EA analyzes the impacts of issuing coal exploration license COC -74911 in response <br />to an application received by the BLM Colorado State Office. The Proposed Action will <br />license approximately 13,873 acres of federal coal for coal exploration, subject to the <br />design features listed in the DOI- BLM- CO -S050- 2011 -0036 EA (Appendix 13). Oxbow <br />Mining, LLC (Oxbow) applied for the coal exploration license so that they can explore <br />for coal deposits in order to obtain geological, environmental, and other pertinent data <br />concerning the coal deposits. The Proposed Action will allow Oxbow to drill 43 <br />exploration drill holes on private and federal lands into federal mineral estate. <br />Environmental impacts are anticipated to be low and short -term. <br />RATIONALE: <br />This decision to issue the coal exploration license is needed to determine seam reserve <br />availability within Delta County. The exploration drilling will confirm the quality, <br />quantity, and extent of the coal within this area. The Oak Mesa project extends from the <br />edge of the Bowie Resources coal mine holdings on the east, across the mesa to the <br />northwest to the East Leroux Creek area, north of Hotchkiss. The Oak Mesa project is <br />adjacent to existing coal leases in an area of known coal reserves. The coal exploration <br />license application was submitted and reviewed under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, <br />as amended, and regulations at 43 CFR 3410. <br />The decision to allow the Proposed Action does not result in any undue or unnecessary <br />environmental degradation and is in conformance with the 1989 Uncompahgre Basin <br />Resource Management Plan. It has been made in consideration of the impacts to the <br />affected resources. The design features applied to the Proposed Action will meet or <br />exceed the standard for Public Land Health. <br />MITIGATION MEASURES: <br />Design Features for Coal Exploration License COC74911 listed in Appendix B of the EA <br />will be a condition of the license. <br />MONITORING: <br />Normal routine compliance inspections will take place periodically throughout the life of <br />the exploration license. The inspections will be planned to monitor exploration success <br />and environmental effects of the project and to insure that the operator complies with the <br />conditions on the exploration license. <br />COMPLIANCE WITH MAJOR LAWS: <br />The decision is in compliance with the Uncompahgre Basin RMP as well as applicable <br />laws, regulations and policy, including the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird <br />Treaty Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Mining <br />and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 and Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 as amended, and the <br />2 <br />