2022-02-22_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (4)

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West Elk Mine 2.04-7 Rev. 06/05- PR10, 03/06- PR10, 04/06- PR10, 09/07- PR12; 07/18- PR15; 01/22- MR459 Service, et al, 1962); however, agriculture is an important factor in the economics of the region. In 1964, 45.6 percent of the land in Delta County and 10.3 percent of the land in Gunnison County were in farmlands. In Delta Count y in 1964, 24 percent of the farmland was irrigated and 60.6 percent of that land had crops harvested from it. Irrigated croplands extend up the valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison River in Delta County to the confluence of Hubbard Creek and the North Fork of the Gunnison River. In Gunnison County in 1964, 23.4 percent of the farmland was irrigated and 66.6 percent of that land had crops harvested from it. 2.04.4 Cultural and Historical Resource Information Significant Cultural and Historic Resources There are no known cultural and historic resources within the West Elk Mine permit area listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There are no known significant archaeological sites existing on any areas proposed or likely to be affected by coal mine development, extraction or subsidence over the life of the mine in this area. The USFS has required on-the-ground cultural and historic investigations for areas of surface disturbance at the mine where potential or actu al impact to cultural or historic resources could occur. The results of these investigations have identified or located very few cultural and historic resources (Spath 1995, Exhibit 10C). As part of the cultural and historic investigations required by the U.S. Forest Service, file searches have been conducted through the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP). The file searches identified several cultural resource investigations that have included portions of the legal sections containing the permit area. The only documented cultural resources in the vicinity of the West Elk Mine permit area are the Hawk's Nest Coal Mine, the Oliver Mine, the Gallob Mine in Sylvester Gulch, and a prehistoric artifact scatter and two prehistoric isolated finds near Minnesota Creek in Sections 33 and 34, T13S, R90W. (Spath 1995, WCRM 1994, Exhibit 10C). Cultural and historic resource investigators have concluded that pre-European use of the immediate mine area was probably limited by steep topography, narrow drainage channels, thick vegetative cover, and unpredictable water sources. These factors combined to limit pre-contact area usage to small, transient hunting groups. These factors would also explain the relative paucity of pre-European sites and artifacts identified in the area. Historic use of the area has been largely limited to livestock grazing and recreation. Historical resources that have been identified in the general area include stock camps, irrigation ditches, and split-rail fences. None of these resources have been recommended as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Recommendations of cultural and historic resource investigators are limited to pedestrian surveys of likely camp areas located within flat or gently sloping areas within areas to be affected by West Elk Mine operations. A qualified archaeologist will survey these areas if surface disturbance is proposed by MCC.