Laserfiche WebLink
E"IERGY FUELS <br />CULTURAL RESOURCES <br />• 779.12(b) <br />A. Description of Existing Environment <br />Information concerning cultural resources in the nine ?tan area is derived <br />from three cultural resources surveys which were performed on Darts of the <br />mine plan area: 1) a survey by the Laboratory of Public Archeology (LOPA), 2) <br />a reconnaissance survey by Al Olson, and 3) surveys of two coal lease areas <br />(C-22644 and C-26913) by the BLit. Sherri Hansen, BLM Area Archeologist of the <br />Little Snake Planning Area of the Craig District, and Ric Athern, Historian, <br />Bureau of Land Management, State Office, were also consulted Eor further <br />information. These surveys may not constitute a 1007, cultural resources <br />inventory of the mine plan area. However, both the LOPA survey and the BLM <br />surveys indicated that dense vegetation and steep topography prohibited an <br />intensive investigation of all areas which would be impacted by this mining <br />operation. Sherri Hansen provided maps showing those areas intensively <br />surveyed and also indicated that any open areas in the leases were also <br />investigated. A composite map of the mine plan area was drafted showing the <br />perimeters of each survey and site locations. Some uncertainty regains as to <br />the adequacy of the cultural resources coverage for [he mine plan. Energy <br />Fuels scared in section 779.12(b) of the mine plan taht none of the sites <br />described in [he reports cited above are listed or are eligible for listing in <br />the National Register of Historic Places. This statement is discussed in Part <br />C of this analysis. <br />The following site descriptions and site evaluations were developed in <br />• consultation with Dr. Joe Lischka, University of Colorado, Dr. Cal Jennings, <br />LOPA, Colorado State University, Ric Athern and Judy Shafer, Office of Surface <br />Mining (see Attachment !f1, and rig) <br />All sites in the mine plan area that were recorded riuring the LOPA survey are <br />described below: <br />Site-5RT2a <br />Location: S 1/2 SW 1/4, Section 13, T4V, R87W <br />Description: SRT24 is an open lithic site consisting of a thin scatter of <br />flakes in an area 50 by 100 m. It is located on a north-facing slope <br />downstream from [he confluence of Foidel Creek and an unnamed drainage. <br />Foidel Creek constitutes the nearest water source, lying 15 m to the north or <br />the site. The site elevation is 7150 ft (2,179 m). Vegetation on the s_te <br />includes sage, Gamble's oak, aspen trees and grasses. Vo surface features <br />were visible, nor were there any portable cultural aaterials other than hakes <br />(Arthur 1977). <br />Evaluation: The site has been disturbed by a jeep [tali which bisects part of <br />the site, and sheepherders have built two small sheep pens on the site. `:o <br />diagnostics artifacts were recovered which could be used to determine cultural <br />• <br /> <br />