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Methane Drainage Wells Project Plan
<br />Technical Revision 103; MDWs 20-04, 20-05, 21-05, 21-06
<br />Page 6 of 12
<br />observed in aspen stands and elk, or evidence of their presence, was always observed throughout
<br />the project area." The report further concludes, "There are no Endangered or Threatened plant
<br />species known to occur in the project area."
<br />LAND USE
<br />The present land use of the proposed methane drainage project azea consists of domestic grazing,
<br />wildlife habitat, watershed, recreational lands, and big game hunting. No agricultural azeas exist
<br />within the azea.
<br />Coal mining has a long history in the North Fork Valley. Mountain Coal Company has operated
<br />the West Elk Mine as a viable mine since 1981 with an underground longwall in operation since
<br />1992. Currently there aze three mines in the North Fork Valley; the Elk Creek Mine operated by
<br />Oxbow Mining, Inc.; the Bowie No. 1 and No. 2 Mines operated by Bowie Resources Limited;
<br />and the West Elk Mine. Other mines that have existed in the valley include Beaz Mine Nos. 1, 2,
<br />and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. 1 and 2; Hawks Nest Mine; the Somerset Mine; and the Edwards Mine.
<br />CULTURAL RESOURCES
<br />Previous Class III cultural inventories were conducted in the methane project azea. The results of
<br />the surveys were negative and were submitted to the USFS. Cultural inventories have been
<br />conducted on the adjoining Ravens Gulch Exploration Area (COC-60622; expired). The list of
<br />studies includes six Class III surveys and two Class II surveys (Metcalf Archeological
<br />Consultants, Inc., 1987, 1989, 1993, 7/94, 8/94, 11/94, 1996, 1997) and (Archeological
<br />Environmental Research Corp., 1990). The surveys were completed under the Federal
<br />Exploration License Numbers COC-51751, COC-5381, COC-53793, COC-58219, COC-60622,
<br />and those described in the 1996 revision of the West Elk Mine, CDMG Permit No.C-80-007. No
<br />cultural resources were identified in those investigations. Additional cultural resource reports
<br />titled, "Mountain Coal Company's West Elk Mine Gob Vent/De-gas Boreholes Class III Cultural
<br />Resource Inventory T13S, R90W, Sections 23, 26, 27, 34, and 35 Gunnison County, Colorado,
<br />June 2001", and "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Block Cultural Resource Inventory
<br />{140 acres) for Five Drill Pad Locations and Access, T13S, R90W, Gunnison County, Colorado,
<br />August 2001", also showed negative results. Other previous cultural resource surveys for the
<br />adjacent drilling are titled "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Drill Pads for Panels 16,
<br />17, 17S, Class III Cultural Resource Inventory, Gunnison County, Colorado" and "Mountain
<br />Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Drill Pads for Panels 18 to 24, Class III Cultural Resource
<br />Inventory, Gunnison County, Colorado". No cultural resources were identified in these
<br />investigations.
<br />A Cultural Resources Survey (Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Methane Drainage
<br />Wells 19-09, 19-10 and 19-11 and Access Corridors, Cultural Resource Inventory, Gunnison
<br />County, prepazed by Greystone Environmental Consultants) of a nearby area (within
<br />approximately one-half mile) was conducted and the results indicate that, "Pad location 19-09 is
<br />on an azea of reasonably flat ground but it is on a high, inaccessible ridge top faz from any
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