2013-08-13_PERMIT FILE - X201323004 (2)

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Documentation of answer and explanation: Public involvement of the existing NEPA documents for the Proposed Action is adequate and is as follows: DOI- BLM -CO- 110 - 2011 - 0080 -EA involved internal scoping that was initiated when the project was presented to the White River Field Office (WRFO) interdisciplinary team. External scoping was conducted by posting this project on the WRFO's on -line National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) register on along with a press release issued 9/9/2011 asking for public comments. No comments were received or issues identified within the comment period. DOI- BLM -CO- 110 - 2012 - 0023 -EA involved internal scoping that was initiated when the project was presented to the White River Field Office (WRFO) interdisciplinary team. External scoping was conducted by posting the proposed coal lease by application (LBA) on the WRFO's on -line National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) register web site on along with a press release on the same date asking for public comments on the proposed lease by application. After the preliminary EA was completed the BLM issued a press release announcing the availability of the preliminary EA for a 30 day public comment period which was subsequently extended 30 days. In addition letters requesting consultation were mailed to officials of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Eastern Shoshone including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) representatives and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) of the Tribes with follow -up phone calls and emails. The Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation responded but no other replies were received. Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation on the LBA was initiated with the FWS Western Colorado Ecological Services Office and a request for formal consultation was initiated with submission of WRFO's Biological Assessment. The FWS concurred with BLM's determinations on listed species via the Biological Opinion. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Dinosaur National Monument were also consulted. The Office of Surface Mining and the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety were cooperating agencies. INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEW: The Proposed Action was presented to, and reviewed by, the White River Field Office interdisciplinary team on 6/26/2012. A complete list of resource specialists who participated in this review is available upon request from the White River Field Office. The table below lists resource specialists who provided additional remarks concerning cultural resources and special status species. Name Title Resource Date Kristin Bowen Archaeologist Cultural Resources, Native 3/4/2013 American Religious Concerns Ed Hollowed Wildlife Biologist Special Status Wildlife Species 9/12/2012 Biological Technician — Amber Shanklin Plants Special Status Plant Species 8/23/2012 DOI- BLM -CO -110- 2012 -0110 -DNA 5