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Description of the Environment <br /> Site Description and Land Use - Rule 2.04.3 <br /> The West Elk Mine is located approximately one mile east of the town of Somerset on Colorado <br /> State Highway No. 133. The western permit boundary extends to the outer slopes of Jumbo <br /> Mountain. PR-11 extended the eastern permit boundary into the Raven Gulch and Deep Creek <br /> watersheds. The northern extremity of the permit area lies just north of the North Fork of the <br /> Gunnison. PR-10 extended the southern boundary of the permit area south of Minnesota <br /> Reservoir into the drainage basins of Minnesota Creek, Dry Fork, Lick Creek, Poison Gulch, and <br /> Deep Creek. PR-12 extended the permit area to the southeast with the addition of the Dry Fork <br /> lease. PR-15 extended the southern boundary of the permit area, to include the South Prong and <br /> Horse Creek watersheds. (See Figure 1). <br /> The active Elk Creek Mine is located just northwest of the West Elk Mine facilities, north of the <br /> North Fork of the Gunnison River. The reclaimed Bear Mine is adjacent to the West Elk Mine <br /> on the west. Several historic mines, including the Hawks Nest, Black Beauty, Edwards and <br /> Oliver Mines are situated within or near to the northeast of the West Elk Mine permit area. <br /> The West Elk Mine is on the western flank of the West Elk Mountains in the drainage basin of <br /> the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The climate is semi-arid. Topography is characterized by <br /> steeply sloping mountains covered primarily with tall shrub vegetation, particularly Gambel oak <br /> and Saskatoon serviceberry. The general area where the mine is located is currently used for <br /> grazing domestic livestock(cattle and sheep) and wildlife (deer and elk). Recreational activities <br /> such as big game hunting also occur here. <br /> Slopes range from 0 to 60 percent on the permit area, and elevations range from 5,900 feet at <br /> Somerset in the valley of the North Fork,to above 9,800 feet in the southeast corner of the <br /> permit area. <br /> The steep slopes of the stream valleys and the instability of the rock strata in the North Fork <br /> drainage basin have contributed to numerous landslides, mud flows and rock falls. These mass <br /> wasting features have been mapped by W.R. Junge of the Colorado Geological Survey and <br /> published as an open file report, entitled "Geologic Hazards, North Fork Gunnison River Valley, <br /> Delta and Gunnison Counties, Colorado." <br /> The primary land uses within the permit area are characterized as rangeland and woodland, <br /> supporting big game (deer and elk) and livestock(cattle and sheep). Portions of the permit area <br /> are within the boundaries of Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. <br /> 13 <br />