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BLM Uncompahgre Field Office Sunset Trail Area Coal Exploration Plan EA <br />The Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities and establishes management <br />standards and guidelines for the GMUG National Forest. The management area prescriptions in the <br />Forest Plan for the lands where exploration drilling would occur are: <br />• 6B — Livestock grazing. Emphasis is on optimizing forage capability for livestock grazing. <br />Other resource activities may occur, but should harmonize and blend with the natural <br />setting. <br />• 5A — Big Game winter range in non - forested areas. Winter range is managed to produce <br />wildlife habitat capability greater than or equal to 90 % of potential for a mid -seral or better <br />condition. Compatible resource activities may occur. <br />9A— Riparian / Aquatic Ecosystems. Emphasis is on the management of all the components <br />of aquatic /riparian ecosystems to provide healthy, self - perpetuating plant communities, <br />acceptable water quality standards, and habitats for viable populations of fish and wildlife, <br />and stable stream channels and still water body shorelines. Mineral activities may occur but <br />must minimize disturbance to riparian areas and initiate timely and effective rehabilitation of <br />disturbed areas and restore them to a state of productivity comparable to that before <br />disturbance. <br />The proposed action conforms to the overall guidance given in the Forest Plan, which encourages <br />environmentally sound energy and mineral development. None of the lands were found to be <br />unsuitable based on the criteria. No additional restrictions or need for stipulations were identified as <br />a result of applying the criteria (USFS, 1983). <br />This activity is consistent with the GMUG Forest Plan, the Gunnison National Forest Travel <br />Management Plan (USFS, 2010), and Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 2800. <br />2.6.2 BLM Resource Management Plan <br />The Proposed Action is subject to, and has been reviewed for, conformance with the BLM <br />Uncompahgre Basin RMP (43 CFR 1610.5 -3, 1617.3) as amended (BLM, 1989). The Standards for <br />Public Land Health were adopted by BLM Colorado State Office in 1997 and amended the <br />Uncompahgre Field Office RMP (and all others). <br />Decision Number /Page: ROD, page 9. <br />Decision Language: Standard Management Direction is that "Federal Coal Estate will be identified <br />as acceptable for further leasing consideration ". <br />Decision Number /Pace: Management Unit 7, pg. 21. <br />Decision Language: Management Unit 7: "The management unit will be managed for both existing <br />and potential coal development. Development of existing coal leases will continue and non - leased <br />federal coal will be identified as acceptable for further coal leasing consideration with a minimum <br />of multiple -use restrictions. Activities and land uses that are consistent with maintaining existing <br />coal operations and the potential for coal development will be permitted." <br />The Proposed Action is consistent with current land management planning. <br />2.6.3 Other Related NEPA Documents <br />This EA tiers to the FEIS for Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC -1362 & COC -67232 (USFS, <br />2012a) and ROD (USFS, 2012b) and the BLM's ROD (BLM, 2012). The analysis of direct, <br />June 2013 11 <br />