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(USFS 711) is recognized and maintained by the U.S. Forest Service as a classified mad. Rr..mant roads, originally constructed for exploration drilling access, occur in the area User created ATV trails and jeep trails also exist. Game trails exist and it is a know elk winter range. Coal mining has a long history in the North Fork Valley. Mountain Coal Company has an underground longwall operation north of the proposed exploration area which has been a viable mine since 1981. Currently there are three other mines in the North Fork Valley, which include the Elk Creek Mine, operated by Oxbow Cazbon and Minerals, and the Bowie No. 2 Mine operated by Horizon Natural Resources. Other mines that have existed in the valley include Beaz Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Hawks Nest Mine, Orchard Valley Mine, Sanborn Creek Mine, the Somerset Mine, and the Edwards Mine. Cultural Resources Multiple cultural resource inventories have been conducted on the Ravens Gulch Exploration Area (COC-60622). The list of studies includes six Class III surveys and two Class II surveys (Metcalf Archeological Consultants, Inc., 1987, 1989, 1993, 7/94, 8/94, 11/94, 1996, 1997); (Archeological Environmental Research Corp., 1990). The surveys were completed under the Federal Exploration License nos. COC-51751, COC-5381, COCO-53793, COC-58219, COC- 60622, and those described in the 1996 revision of the Mountain Coai Company pemtit #C-80- 007. No cultural resources were identified in those investigations. Class III Cultural Resource Inventories surveys have been conducted on all drill locations and access roads for the Dry Fork and Lions Mesa exploration areas (Greystone 2004). Copies of the reports are attached. No cultural resources were identified in those investigations. Proaosed Access Routes The Dry Fork Exploration Area is accessed by the existing Gunnison County Road 710 to the USFS classified system Road 711 which follows the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek drainage. This road is also known as the Hammond Trail or Dry Fork Road. In the project area the mad follows the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek in a northwest to southeast direction before crossing the divide between the Deep Creek and Dry Fork watersheds in the SE quarter of Section 2. After crossing Deep Creek the road ascends the west flank of Coal Creek Mesa gaining 1000' of elevation in a little over one mile. USFS 711 has been maintained by MCC as an access mad to exploration drill hole and MDW sites over the previous decade. Upgrades and improvements to the road include gravel, culverts, ditches, gates, and drainage control structures. During 2002 the approximately four miles between the USFS boundary below Minnesota Reservoir and the Deep Creek crossing was bladed, spot graveled, and upgraded with culverts and sediment control devices to facilitate access to the 17-01 MDW location north of the Deep Creek crossing. The Lions Mesa Exploration Area may be accessed either by the existing Gunnison County Road 710 to the intersection of the 4WD roads in the Lick and South Prong Creek drainages which are