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

• Permit No: X201322801
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 4/3/2013
• Doc Name: Letter & Application
• From: Ark Land Company
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: JDM
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

alternative is in Section 2 : of the FEIS.
s.4 Alternative 4 — COC-1362 only (Environmentally Preferable Alternative)
Many commenters expressed concerns regarding Roadless area effects due to post -lease
development. Similarly, some commenters suggested an alternative requesting agencies'
consent /leasing for proposed modification to COC -1362 only, while not consenting to
proposed modification to lease COC -67232 In response to those comments, the USFS
brought Alternative 4 forward for further analysis from Alternatives Considered but
Eliminated from Detailed Study in the DEIS. As part of the analysis of this alternative,
the USFS requested an additional review from BLM to make determinations of mineable
resources.
Alternative 4 analyzed the effects of post -lease surface activities
a) under the Colorado Roadless Rule including temporary road construction, as
described in Alternative 3 above, or
0 with no road construction as described in Alternative 2 above
A RFMP was developed (Section 3.2 of the FEIS; to address indirect and cumulative
effects specific to the COC -1362 modification.
3.5 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Analysis
The USFS and BLM identified five alternatives that were considered but not carried
forward for detailed analysis: 1) mitigate the potential greenhouse gas emissions of the
project by requiring MCC to use MDW ventilation air methane; 2) mitigate the potential
greenhouse gas emissions of the project by requiring MCC to purchase carbon credits or
conduct offset mitigations; 3) prevent all future disturbance from road construction,
methane drainage well pads and the like in Roadless Areas; 4) shrink the boundaries of
the lease to conform to the area where the coal will be mined underground; 5) protect
values of the area by using this set of stipulations for the Proposed Action.
Section 2.2 of the FEIS describes these five alternatives and the reasons for not carrying
each forward for detailed analysis.
4.0 Management Considerations and Rationale for the Decision
The BLM concurs with the rationale ("Reasons for the Decision ") presented in the USFS
ROD that the selection of Alternative 3 best meets the Purpose and Need, and is consistent
with the applicable laws. regulation and policy described in the FEIS, while responding to
public concerns and providing protection to important forest resources. The FEIS also
includes information and analysis relative to the subsurface resources that BLM is
responsible for managing.
The FEIS addresses and analyzes a wide range of surface resources managed by the USFS
and applies necessary mitigation measures, expressed as stipulations, to protect those