2016-11-23_PERMIT FILE - C1981019 (2)

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Cultural Resource Site Assessments for Collom Expansion 5.1.2 Suitability Analysis Results The suitability analysis defined 727 acres (approximately 30 percent) of the permitted disturbance area as HPA (Table 4; Figure 25). The remaining permitted disturbance area acreage is classified as MPA with 1,494 acres (approximately 62 percent) and LPA with 200 acres (approximately 8 percent). Table 4. Suitability Analysis Breakdown of Permit Area Suitability Category No. of Acres (% of total High Potential Area (HPA) 727(30%) Moderate Potential Area (MPA) 1,494(62%) Low Potential Area (LPA) 200(8%) As a test of the analysis, Tetra Tech extended the results across the entire Colowyo permit boundary. The test compared all previously recorded site locations throughout the greater Colowyo permit area to the analysis results. The comparison found the majority of previously identified sites, and all previously identified sites reported to have a potential subsurface components, are located in areas classified as HPA. Two exceptions to the analysis are rock caims and prehistoric sites located on aeolian landforms. Rock cairns were constructed by humans for a variety of purposes during both the prehistoric and historic -eras. The reported uses tended to require cairn placement in high visibility areas typically not intensively utilized by human populations for other activities. The sedimentary environments of the areas are also not conducive to the burial and preservation of cultural resources. Therefore potential for the rock cairn sites to contain intact subsurface components is low. No rock caims are present within the permitted disturbance area. Aeolian landforms have a significant potential to bury and preserve subsurface cultural material, such as at site 5MF.613O. Aeolian landforms, including sand sheets, shadows, and dunes, form where soft bedrock is exposed to wind and surrounding topography winnows out the wind eroded material to create the deposit. Tetra Tech determined that such aeolian deposition was limited to the southern margins of the Axial Basin. No significant aeolian landforms are present with the permitted disturbance area. Based on the analysis the potential for intact subsurface cultural resources to be present is limited to defined HPA areas. The potential for the MPA or LPA areas within the permitted disturbance area to yield such material is low. Tetra Tech July 25, 2016 30 For Official Use Only: Disclosure of Site Locations Prohibited (43 CFR 7 18)