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- - ' . <br />United States Forest Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and <br />Department of Service Gunnison National Forests <br />Agriculture Paonia Ranger District <br />DECISION MEMO <br />IISDA FOREST SERVICfi <br />MOUNTAIN COAL COMPANY <br />1996 EXPLORATION PROGRAM <br />SITES II AND ES TWIN <br />~II II~IIIII~~~~~ II~ <br />P . O . .,,,,, 999 <br />N Rio Grande Ave. <br />Paonia, CO 81428 <br />97n_C97_dlZl <br />Paonia Ranger District <br />Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests <br />Delta County, Colorado <br />Decision <br />I have reviewed the Environmental Analysis and have decided to consent to <br />the drilling of Sites II and EE Twin along with the use of 500 feet of <br />existing travelway to Site II and overland use of 660 feet of travelway to <br />Site EE Twin. I recognize the extenuating circumstances brought forth in <br />Mountain Coal Company's May 15, 1996 proposal letter and believe it is <br />preferable to get all holes in this area completed in one entry. <br />Conditions of Approval signed on May 30, 1996 by Paonia District Ranger <br />Ray Kingston are attached to and become a part of this authorization. <br />Specifically, conditions under "H. Site Specific Conditions of Approval: <br />4. Drill hole EE:" apply to site EE Twin and as applicable to site II. <br />water for Site II may either be hauled or pumped from off site. This <br />authorization is valid for the 1996 Field Season. <br />Category of the Proposed Action <br />The proposed action falls under Category Number eg, in section 31.2 of the <br />Forest Service Handbook 1909.15 - Environmental Policy and Procedures <br />Handbook: "Approving a plan for exploration which authorizes repair of an <br />existing road and construction of one-third mile of temporary road: <br />clearing vegetation from an acre of land for trenches, drill pads, or <br />support facilities." Based on an Environmental Analysis and past <br />experience, the effects of implementing this action will be of limited <br />context and intensity and will result in little or no enviromental effects <br />to either the physical or biological components of the environment. <br />Finding of No Extraordinary Circumstances <br />This action does not involve any extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, <br />this action can be categorically excluded from documentation in an <br />Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. <br />