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2023 Cultural Resource Site Assessments for Collom Expansion Project Colowyo <br /> <br />5MF.1652 – Prehistoric Lithic Scatter with Features <br />5MF.3996 – Prehistoric Camp Site <br />5MF.4003 – Historic Homestead and Prehistoric Lithic Scatter <br />5MF.4006 – Rock Cairn <br />5MF.4010 – Prehistoric Lithic Scatter <br />5MF.5417 – Rock Cairn <br />5MF.5418 – Rock Cairn <br />5MF.5419 – Rock Cairn <br />5MF.6116 – Rock Cairn <br />5MF.6130 – Prehistoric Lithic Scatter <br />5MF.6088 – Prehistoric Lithic Scatter <br />5MF.6098 – Historic Homestead and Prehistoric Lithic Scatter <br />Abstract <br />In 2023 Tetra Tech conducted the third round of cultural resource site assessments for 15 <br />previously identified cultural resource sites (Sites 5MF.969, 5MF.1652, 5MF.3996, 5MF.4003, <br />5MF.4006, 5MF.4008, 5MF.4010, 5MF.5417, 5MF.5418, 5MF.5419, 5MF.6088, 5MF.6098, <br />5MF.6116, 5MF.6128, and 5MF.6130) as part of the Colowyo Coal Company’s Collom Project. <br />Colowyo has committed to avoid the sites during all present and future mining related activities. <br />Through the Colorado DRMS, OAHP mandated that assessments be repeated at four-year <br />intervals for a minimum of 12 years. Tetra Tech conducted the initial round of assessments in <br />2015 (Karpinski and Dugmore 2015) and a second round in 2019 (Karpinski et al. 2019). <br />In 2023 Tetra Tech completed the third round of assessments. All 15 sites were found to be in <br />similar condition to their most recently reported assessment condition in 2019. Overall, <br />vegetation coverage was significantly denser in 2023 than in previous visits due to a very wet <br />winter. Each wash in the valley bottoms was full during the revisit and prevented the physical <br />revisit of all portions of Site 5MF.6128. The flooding was occurring within, but not adversely <br />affecting the center of Site 5MF.4008. Site 5MF.3996 has had a part of the wash bank naturally <br />slump into the wash. However, no artifacts or other cultural material were observed in the <br />sediments exposed by the wash; therefore, the impact from the slump is considered minimal. <br />Site 5MF.1652 was still accumulating aeolian sediments resulting in the burial of all previously <br />documented cultural features. The added sediment is not considered to be an impact to the <br />site. The cairn at Site 5MF.5419 that was not relocated in 2019 was relocated in 2023. The <br />cairn was found under a stand of dense vegetation growth. No changes to the cairn were noted <br />compared to the 2015 revisit. The topmost portion of the mining topsoil pile is visible from the <br />cairn at Site 5MF.6116. However, the change in the site viewshed is not significant and is not <br />impacting the site setting. <br />Tetra Tech does not recommend any additional work at the assessed sites. Colowyo should <br />continue to avoid the sites during the development of the Collom Project. In the event it is