Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement March 15, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announces its decision to adopt the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS) for Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC-1362 and COC-67232 (including on-lease exploration plan) at the West Elk Mine located in Gunnison County, CO. In accordance with Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (``NEPA''), the Council on Environmental Quality's (``CEQ'') regulations implementing NEPA, and other applicable authorities, OSMRE has conducted an independent review and evaluation of the USFS's SFEIS for Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC-1362 and COC-67232 (including on-lease exploration plan) at the West Elk Mine dated August 2017. As a cooperating agency with responsibility for the Federal Lands Program and the preparation of mining plan decision documents for review by the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), OSMRE provided subject matter expertise to the USFS during the environmental review process. Based on its independent review and evaluation, OSMRE has determined the SFEIS, including all supporting documentation, as incorporated by reference, adequately assesses and discloses the environmental impacts for the mining plan modification, and that adoption of the 2017 SFEIS by OSMRE is authorized under 40 CFR 1506.3, Adoption. Accordingly, OSMRE adopts the 2017 SFEIS, and takes full responsibility for the scope and content that addresses the proposed mining plan modification at West Elk Mine. Documents are available on OSMRE's website: https://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/ westElkMine.shtm.