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n <br />MF.LM.R1063) signed by SHPO on 1/8/15, discusses the proposed mine expansion in general <br />and how permitting actions by the BLM and Office of Surface Mining will require consultation <br />with SHPO. With the Concurrence Letter, BLM presented its findings that the exploratory <br />drilling that it permitted under a coal exploration license would not affect historic properties <br />within the expansion area and SHPO concurred with this finding. BLM also determined that <br />seven sites in the proposed expansion area required test excavation in order to determine their <br />eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places and SHPO also agreed with this finding. <br />Trapper Mining hired GRI to test excavate one of the seven sites and report on the findings in a <br />separate report because the site was to be impacted first by possible re -alignment of a nearby <br />county road as part of preparations for mine expansion. Prehistoric campsite 5MF7762 was test <br />excavated by GRI (Conner et al. 2016). BLM determined the site to be not eligible and sent the <br />test excavation report to SHPO with an Informational Letter signed by Acting Assistant Field <br />Manager Patricia Luby on 4/11/16. <br />Purpose of the Informational Letter <br />GRI test excavated the remaining six "need data" sites and reported on their findings in the <br />report accompanying this Informational Letter. Based on the evidence presented in the report, <br />BLM has determined that the sites do not have the potential to yield information important to <br />history or prehistory. From the standpoint of their historic significance and potential to improve <br />the current understanding if history or prehistory, the sites are not eligible to the National <br />Register. Among the six sites are two wickiup sites (5MF7691 and 5MF7692) that were <br />thoroughly test excavated with negative results. <br />Future Indian Consultation Regarding Wickiup <br />Sites 5MF7691 and 5MF7692 <br />Under the National Historic Preservation Act, federal agencies are required to consult with <br />Indian tribes to determine if certain sites involved in federal undertakings are eligible to the <br />National Register because of their cultural or religious importance to native people. The Little <br />Snake field area was aboriginally inhabited by the Utes and the area north of the Yampa is <br />known to have been within the territory of the Eastern Shoshone. The Little Snake Field Office <br />(LSFO) consults with these tribes when certain types of sites known to be of special concern to <br />the tribes are involved in federal undertakings. Included are sites with rock art, burials, <br />wickiups, stone circles, possible vision quest sites, and possible eagle trap sites. <br />Coal mining that is permitted or approved by the federal government constitutes an undertaking <br />under NHPA. Future expansion of the Trapper Mine would entail a series of federal <br />undertakings, including permitting of coal leases by BLM and approval of a mine plan by OSM. <br />In anticipation of the possibility of future coal leasing and mine plan approval, LSFO intends to <br />consult with the appropriate tribes regarding the cultural importance of the two wickiup sites, the <br />potential effect of any proposed mining -related activities on the sites, and possible ways to <br />mitigate any impacts to the sites should avoidance prove to be not feasible. Being situated in <br />