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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT <br /> APE for cultural resources includes the direct footprint above mining operations at the Dunn Ranch Area <br /> LBA and any areas of direct surface disturbance, as consulted on between the OSMRE and BLM with the <br /> UMO Tribal Historic Preservation Office and the State Historic Preservation Office(SHPO).The APE covers <br /> a large area, primarily due to the possibility of surface subsidence resulting from underground mining <br /> operations. A total of approximately 20 acres would be disturbed by the Project over the life of the mine. <br /> This would include 10 acres for construction of the low-cover crossing at the outset of the Project and 10 <br /> acres cumulatively for all other dispersed surface disturbances of variable sizes that would occur over the <br /> life of the mine. No surface modifications are proposed and no buffer zones were inventoried beyond the <br /> APE (Appendix A, Figure 1-2). <br /> Cultural resource sites can be directly or indirectly impacted by surface disturbing activities or the <br /> construction of associated mining infrastructure. "Needs data" sites are managed as though they are <br /> eligible for the NRHP until further evaluated. Indirect impacts may include increased subsidence, soil <br /> erosion and gullying, vibration from blasting, and dust from operations. In addition, there would be <br /> increased potential for unlawful artifact collection and/or vandalism of cultural resources. <br /> Table 3-6 summarizes the cultural resources within the APE (i.e., disturbance area and Dunn Ranch LBA). <br /> All of the sites are within the Dunn Ranch LBA. <br /> Table 3-6. Cultural Resource Sites Within Analysis Area <br /> Site Number Site Type Cultural Affiliation NRHP Evaluation <br /> 5LP10572 Temporary Camp Historic UMU Not eligible <br /> (hunting cabin) <br /> 5LP11383 Temporary camp Historic UMU Not eligible <br /> 5LP11384 Artifact Scatter Late Archaic Potentially eligible (needs data) <br /> 5LP11385 Artifact Scatter Unknown historic Not eligible <br /> 5LP11386 I Artifact Scatter Late Archaic I Potentially eligible (needs data) <br /> 5LP11387 Artifact Scatter Middle to Late Archaic Potentially eligible (needs data) <br /> 5LP11388 Ranching facility Historic UMU Not eligible <br /> Effects of Alternative A—Proposed Action <br /> Direct and Indirect Effects <br /> The potential surface disturbing activities would be less than 20 acres. Of the 7 cultural resource sites <br /> within the APE, none would be directly impacted by the Project as no surface disturbance is proposed in <br /> the site areas. Further, these sites would be subject to cultural resource avoidance monitoring <br /> requirements. <br /> Cultural resources (Table 3-6) could be impacted by subsidence as they are located above proposed <br /> panels. However, potential subsidence is expected to occur very infrequently at King II due to a variety of <br /> factors, such as the stability of the Cliff House sandstone (Section 3.4.6). As noted in Section 3.4.6, the <br /> subsidence that has occurred has been less than 1 foot in depth, and 0.25 to 0.5 ft in width. In the existing <br /> federal permit and lease areas, no effects to historic properties have been observed due to subsidence. <br /> Based on known occurrences and frequency of subsidence in the existing mine area, no subsidence impacts <br /> to NRHP-eligible or potentially eligible sites are anticipated. <br /> Dunn Ranch Area Coal Lease by Application COC-78825 and Mine Plan Modification EA 3-18 <br />