The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests (GMUG NF) has received a proposal from Mt. Emmons Mining Company (MEMC) for an exchange of Federal lands near Crested Butte, Colorado, for non-Federal lands in Gunnison and Saguache Counties. Western Land Group, Inc. has been retained by MEMC to facilitate the land exchange. The exchange proposal is referred to as the Mt. Emmons Land Exchange.
The GMUG NF is conducting public scoping to gather input in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Public comments on this proposal will help me make an informed decision. At this time, a categorical exclusion is being considered to authorize the exchange because the resulting uses of the Federal land would remain essentially the same because MEMC plans to continue to use these lands for water treatment, mining reclamation, surface water runoff control, road and ditch maintenance, and to allow backcountry skiing along designated routes.
The proposed exchange involves the United States, via the Forest Service, acquiring up to four parcels of land, one located in Gunnison County and three located in Saguache County. In exchange, three parcels of National Forest System (NFS) land would be conveyed out of Federal ownership. The three Federal parcels are contiguous to MEMC’s patented claims associated with the historic Keystone Mine.
The Forest Service values public participation. Communications from the public regarding this project, including commenters' names and contact information, will become part of the public record. Comments should be submitted no later than October 17, 2022.
There will be an open house on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 4 – 6 pm at the Crested Butte Town Hall.
More information can be found at project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61798
