2013-04-03_PERMIT FILE - X201322801 (2)

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_.`. i r�_ .se ., 6 _ L1.c‘jciFn The p.zrpose of the USFS and BLM's actions is to respond to applications to access Federal coal reserves through modifying existing leases. The proposed action complies with the overall guidance given in the GMUG Land and Resource Management Plan as amended (USFS, 1991), which encourages environmentally sound energy and mineral development, and the BLM Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan (BLM, 1989), which states that Federal coal estate will be identified as acceptable for further leasing consideration. The GMUG has identified the need to consider consenting to two coal lease modifications for Federal coal lands immediately adjacent to existing Federal coal leases COC -1362 and COC- 67232. The BLM is charged with deciding whether to accept the coal lease modification proposals, reject the applications, or modify the proposed lease modifications in accordance with NEPA, the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. The purpose of the Federal agencies' actions is to facilitate recovery of Federal coal resources in an environmentally sound manner. Further, the purpose includes ensuring that compliant and super - compliant (high quality or characterized by a high BTU, low - ash, and low moisture content) coal reserves are recovered and not bypassed. The proposed action responds to the Federal government's overall policy to foster and encourage private enterprise in the development of economically sound and stable industries, to help assure satisfaction of industrial, security and environmental needs (Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970). 2.0 Decision 1t is my decision to adopt the USFS GMUG Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC -1362 & COC -67232 FEIS (2012) as per 43 CFR 1506.3. It is my determination, based on USFS recommendation, that there are no significant recreation, timber, economic, or other values that may be incompatible with leasing the lands in question and whether or not to modify the existing leases. See 30 U.S.C. § 1272(e)(2) and 43 CFR 3461.5(a)(2)(i). Consistent with the decision of the USFS, I am selecting Alternative 3, as described in the FEIS. Stipulations described in Appendix A of this ROD will apply. Additionally, pursuant to lease addenda attached to the coal leases COC -1362 and COC -67232 executed on January 14, 2009, it is my decision to apply methane gas mitigation measures. (Described in Section 7.0 of this ROD). The FEIS meets the standards for an adequate EIS ander the CEQ regulations. As a Cooperating Agency, the BLM's concerns, comments and suggestions were satisfactorily considered by USFS during the NEPA process. The FEIS forms a sound basis for NEPA compliance related to BLM's responsibilities for coal leasing on NFS lands. The BLM concurs with ':he USFS' findings of consistency with laws, regulations and pciicy 3