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a3 • Abstract Metcalf Archaeological Consutants, Inc. (MAC), conducted an intensive cultural resource inventory of two proposed core drilling pad locations and access routes. An area of approximately one-half acre (ca. 75 to 100 foot radius) around each staked tlrill location was inspected, depending on terrain and vegetation. A total of approximately one and one-half acres was surveyed for these three drill pad sites. An access corridor up to 100 feet wide was to be surveyed for new access routes. Because of dense trees and brush and rugged terrain features, the surveyed corridor for new access to location 93-D was approximately 50 feet wide. This access corridor was about 700 fee[ long and approximately 0.8 acres was surveyed. The total area of intensive pedestrian survey was 2.3 acres. In addition, reconnaissance and spot inspection was conducted along approximately 3,500 feet of access along existing trails. One pad location was in open scrub oak and serviceberry on a ridge finger, while the others were in aspen woodland with a high brush understory. Surface visibility was highly variable, but generally adequate to locate and identify cultural resources. No cultural resources were located within the survey area and cultural resource clearance is recommended. Introduction Mountain Coal Company, a division of ARCO Coal Company, proposes eight exploratory core hole locations in the Jumbo Mountain vicinity of Delta and Gunnison Counties, Colorado, for development of the West Elk Mine. The proposed drill sites are located in portions of legal sections 23, 24 and 25, Township 13 South, Range 91 West, and sections 19 and 30, Township 13 South, Range 90 West (Figure • 1). Because several of these proposed drill sites are located on public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, permitting for this undertaking must comply with applicable federal regulations regarding documentation and treatment of cultural resources. Consequently Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (MAC), was contracted to complete cultural resource inventories of three of the proposed drilling pads and new access corridors. The other proposed core hole pads involve private land and were excluded from the present investigation. Existing roads that will not require ground disturbing improvements (some trees or overhanging branches may be cut) were covered by reconnaissance and spot inspection. The pedestrian survey was completed on June 16, 1993, by Carl Spath of MAC, accompanied by Glenn E. Miller of ARCO Coal Company. Affected Environment The proposed exploratory drilling sites are located on Jumbo Mountain in the western Toothills of the West Elk Mountains. The North Fork of the Gunnison River is located approximately two miles to the northwest. Several small, intermittent drainages flow directly lc this river from the general project area. Topography of the area is generally steep and rugged, and vegetation is dominated by dense scrub oak and serviceberry Thickets and scattered stands of aspen and juniper. Soils in the area are dominated by unstable residual and colluviat sandy loams underlain by sandstones of the Mesaverde Formation. Beds of Mancos Shale are also complexly intertongued with the Mesaverde Formation in the vicinity, but tend to be more common on the lower slopes and mesas. Elevations of the proposed drill sites range between 7,300 and 7,950 feet (ca. 2,225-2,425 m). Game animals, particularly elk and deer are common in the area, and evidence of modern hunting activities is evident in the general project area. Stone materials suitable for prehistoric tool manufacture are extremely scarce in the immediate area antl tend to be sharply visible in contrast to the generally sandy soils. Cultural resources that would be anticipated in this area would tend to be small, ephemeral sites, and intact deposition that might contain older cultural materials would be restricted to localized pockets of level, stable terrain.