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C3 • Abstract Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (MAC), conducted an intensive cultural resource inventory of seven proposed core drilling pad locations. An area of approximately one-half acre (ca. 75 to 100 foot radius) around each staked drill location was inspected, depending on terrain and vegetation. A total of approximately four acres was surveyed for these seven drill pad sites. Previously inspected pad locations and difficult access corridors for locations B and D were abandoned, and new locations on existing trails were surveyed. Of the remaining five locations, C and G were in open grassy meadows with excellent surface visibility, E was in a previously bulldozed area with no intact deposits, and F and H were on mass slump features overgrown by oak-serviceberry thickets. 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 seven of the proposed drilling pads. Two of these pad locations were relocations of previously surveyed pad locations. Several of the proposed core hole pads are located on private land or involve access across private land. All proposed access is by existing roads, some portions of which may require minor improvements, including clearing of brush or installation of culverts or waterbars for drainage. The pedestrian survey was completed on June 29, 1993, by Carl Sp~th of MAC, accompanied by Glenn E. Miller and Alex Papp of ARCO Coal Company and the private landowner. Affected Environment The proposed exploratory drilling sites are located on Jumbo Mountain in the western foothills 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 to 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