[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81494-81495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32872]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 294

RIN 0596-AD26


Extension of Comment Period on the Proposed Rule on Roadless Area 
Conservation; National Forests System Lands in Colorado

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service published a notice in the Federal Register 
on November 20, 2015, initiating a 45-day comment period on the 
proposed rule on Roadless Area Conservation; National Forests System 
Lands in Colorado. The closing date for the 45-day comment period was 
January 4, 2016. The Agency is extending the comment period to January 
15, 2016.

DATES: The closing date for the proposed rule published on November 20, 
2015 (80 FR 72665) has been extended. Comments must be received by 
January 15, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically via the Internet to 
go.usa.gov/3JQwJ or to www.regulations.gov. Send written comments to: 
Colorado Roadless Rule, 740 Simms Street, Golden, CO 80401.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, will be 
placed in the project record and available for public inspections and 
copying. The public may inspect comments received on this proposed rule 
at USDA, Forest Service, Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on 
business days. Those wishing to inspect comments should call (202) 205-
0895 ahead to facilitate an appointment and entrance to the building. 
Comments may also be inspected at USDA, Forest Service Rocky Mountain 
Regional Office, Strategic Planning Staff, 740 Simms, Golden, Colorado, 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on business days. Those wishing to inspect 
comments at the Regional Office should call (303) 275-5156 ahead to 
facilitate an appointment and entrance to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Tu, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, 
Rocky Mountain Regional Office at (303) 275-5156.
    Individuals using telecommunication devices for the deaf may call 
the Federal Information Relay Services at 1-800-

[[Page 81495]]

877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The State of Colorado maintains that coal mining in the North Fork 
Coal Mining Area provides an important economic contribution and 
stability for the communities of the North Fork Valley. USDA and the 
Forest Service are committed to contributing to energy security, and 
carrying out the government's overall policy to foster and encourage 
orderly and economic development of domestic mineral resources.
    All existing Federal coal leases within CRAs occur in the North 
Fork Valley near Paonia, Colorado on the GMUG National Forests. Coal 
from this area meets the Clean Air Act definition for compliant and 
super-compliant coal, which means it has high energy value and low 
sulphur, ash, and mercury content. There are two mines currently 
holding leases within CRAs. One is operating, producing approximately 
5.2 million tons of coal annually. The second is currently idle due to 
a fire and flood within their mine operation. The final rule 
accommodates continued coal mining opportunities within the North Fork 
Coal Mining Area. At approximately 19,500 acres, this area is less than 
0.5% of the total 4.2 million acres of CRAs. The North Fork Coal Mining 
Area exception allows for the construction of temporary roads for 
exploration and surface activities related to coal mining for existing 
and future coal leases. The reinstatement of this exception does not 
approve any future coal leases, nor does it make a decision about the 
leasing availability of any coal within the State. Those decisions 
would need to undergo separate environmental analyses, public input, 
and decision-making.
    A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) has been 
prepared to complement the 2012 Final EIS for the Colorado Roadless 
Rule. The SEIS is limited in scope to address the deficiencies 
identified by the District Court of Colorado in High Country 
Conservation Advocates v. United States Forest Service (13-01723, D. 
Col), correction of boundary information, and to address scoping 
comments. In conjunction with the 2012 Final EIS, the SEIS discloses 
the environmental consequences of reinstating the North Fork Coal 
Mining Area exception into the Colorado Roadless Rule.
    The Forest Service wants to ensure that there is sufficient time 
for potentially affected parties, including States, to comment. Thus 
the Agency is providing an extended comment period for the proposed 
rule and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
    Reviewers may obtain a copy of the proposed rule and SEIS from the 
Forest Service Colorado Roadless staff Web site at go.usa.gov/3JQw, or 
from Regulations.gov Web site, www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: December 22, 2015.
Thomas L. Tidwell,
Chief, Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32872 Filed 12-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P