2013-10-05_REVISION - C1982056 - Laserfiche WebLink

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indicating potential for buried intact cultural material. Several artifacts showed signs of burning indicating this site may have served as a camp possibly used for hunting and faunal processing. Eligibility and Management Recommendations. This site is recommended as "needs data ". The two -track that passes through the site contains lithic debitage which indicates the possibility for intact buried cultural material. Testing via shovel probing would need to be conducted to determine whether or not intact cultural deposits actually exist. If the site contains buried cultural materials, it may have the potential to retain physical integrity and association, and to provide important information regarding chronology, subsistence, and settlement patterns in the area (Criterion D). The two -track is still being utilized by ranchers, mine personnel and hunters. Continued use of the road should not cause any additional damage to the site. However, if the road needs to be improved with any ground surface work then the site should be tested to determine a final evaluation. EVALUATION OF RESEARCH Based upon the current and previously conducted cultural inventories, the likelihood of identifying cultural resources, prehistoric and historic, were considered a possibility. Results for this study were fairly consistent with the expectations. The one documented site is in an area that were relatively accessible and near enough to reliable water'sources. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (MAC) conducted a Class III cultural resources inventory for Twentymile Coal Company's proposed water monitoring wells in Routt County, Colorado. The project area is located on State of Colorado administered land. Therefore, the project falls under the permitting authority of the State. In addition, small portions of existing maintained access roads lie on private lands. None of the existing maintained roads were inventoried for cultural resources. The inventory resulted in the recordation of one prehistoric site (5RT3256) which is evaluated as "needs data ". A section of the access to the 22 Right Longwall well passes through a portion of the site. This road is a two -track that has been created by use; it does not appear to have ever been bladed, therefore it has caused minimal damage to the site's cultural deposits. This road is currently used for ranching and mining activities, and continued use should not cause any additional damage to the site. However, if any ground disturbing work is necessary for access to the proposed well location then the site should be tested prior to this work in order to make a final NRHP eligibility determination. No fizrther work is recommended for the water monitoring project as long as the above recommendation is followed. For Official Use Only: Disclosure of Site Locations Prohibited (43 CFR §7.18) W