2013-10-08_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1982056

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Wildlife Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area. The most predominant are elk, mule deer and Columbian sharptail grouse. Other wildlife species include: black bear, cougar, rabbit, coyote, bobcat, red fox, rodents, bats, skunks, waterfowl, amphibians and reptiles. Two golden eagle nests are located on sandstone cliffs adjacent to the disturbed area within the permit boundary. There is critical winter habitat for elk, an elk migration corridor and elk calving grounds and critical sage grouse habitat within and adjacent to the permit area. Sage grouse critical habitat is located outside of the disturbed area. Cultural and Historical Resources Cultural and historic resources within the permit area include four historic sites and one prehistoric or protohistoric site. Two of the historic sites are undistinguished homesteads with no important architectural features and which are not associated with persons important in history. Another historic site is an uninhabited cabin with a corral. The Colorado State Historical Preservation Officer determined that this uninhabited cabin is an undistinguished structure with no important architectural significance and with no associations with persons important in history. The fourth historic site, the Foidel Canyon Schoolhouse, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and is located in the general area of the main facilities along Foidel Creek. It will not be undermined or subsided and is protected appropriately. The prehistoric site (5RT345) is a rock art site located on the outcrop of the Twentymile Sandstone directly north of the main mine facility area. Mining approved under PR-02 (Southwest Mining District) undermined and subsided 5RT345. Stipulation No. 33 was attached to the PR-02 approval and Twentymile Coal Company took appropriate measures, as determined by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), prior to undermining this site. Mitigation measures required by the BLM involved extensive research and documentation of this site. The site has since been destroyed by subsidence and subsequent rockfall. Land Uses Pre-mining and post-mining land uses within the permit area are pastureland and rangeland. Some of the surface was previously disturbed by surface mining methods under Mine No. 1, Mine No. 2, and Eckman Park Mine (C-81-071) and Energy Mine No. 3 (C-84-062), and by facilities previously permitted under the permit for the Fish Creek Tipple (C-1981-036). 11 Foidel Creek MineOctober 8, 2013