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

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5.1.3 Tribal Consultation Tribal consultation is required by Executive Order 13175, which states that "Each agency shall have an accountable process to ensure meaningful and timely input by Tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have Tribal implications." The following affected tribes were contacted during the scoping period that occurred prior to the initiation of the preparation of the DEIS: Ute Mountain Utes, Southern Utes, and (Northern) Utes. 6.0 Public Involvement and NEPA Process 6.1 Forest Service The Notice of Opportunity to Cornment on the USFS Environmental Assessment (EA) initially prepared for this project was published in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (newspaper of record) and in the Delta County Independent on April 21, 2010. The Notice of Opportunity to Comment asked for public comment on the proposed lease modifications from April 21 -May 21, 2010. In addition, as part of the public involvement process, the GMUG sent out approximately 120 letters to state, Federal, local agencies, tribes, environmental groups, and interested individuals; posted scoping materials to the GMUG's website; and posted to the USFS's Schedule of Proposed Actions. During that initial comment period, approximately 684 versions of email form letters were received from Wild Earth Guardians supporters; 1900 versions of email form letters were received from Defenders of Wildlife supporters; 23,771 versions of email form letters were received from supporters of Natural Resources Defense Council; 5647 versions of email form letters were received from supporters of Earth Justice; 576 hardcopy /faxed various form letters were received from local community members in four counties in support of mining in this area; 74 original comments were received: and 4 original comments with attachments were received in response to this scoping effort. Using the comments from the public, environmental groups, other agencies, and those developed internally, the interdisciplinary team developed a list of issues to address. Other continents were responded to in the USFS EA. The USFS issued a decision on the EA in November 2011. Several environmental groups appealed that decision in December 2011 and, the USFS appeal team reversed it in February 2012 The USFS NOI to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2012. Approximately 830 copies of letters /emails informing interested parties (including state, Federal, local agencies, tribes, environmental groups, and individuals expressing desire to remain on mailing lists) of this intent were also sent out on April 25, 2012, inviting additional comments throughout the process. Additional notification was not sent out to those who 7