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• raptor nesting sites, and managed to minimize conflicts with the deer and elk on winter <br />range and user conflict during big game hunting seasons. <br />LAND USE <br />The present land use of the proposed gob vent / de-gas pads and drilling areas consist of <br />domestic grazing, wildlife habitat, watershed, recreational lands, and big game hunting. <br />No agricultural areas exist within the azea. <br />Coal mining has a long history in the North Fork Valley. Mountain Coal Company has <br />operated the West Elk Mine as a viable mine since 1981 with an underground longwall in <br />operation since 1992. Currently there are three other mines in the North Fork Valley <br />which include the Sanborn Creek Mine operated by Oxbow Mining, Inc. and the Bowie <br />No. 1 and No. 2 Mines operated by Bowie Resources Limited. Other mines that have <br />existed in the valley include Beaz Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. l and 2; <br />Hawks Nest Mine, the Somerset Mine, and the Edwards Mine. <br />CULTURAL RESOURCES <br />Class III cultural inventories were conducted for coal exploration holes 96-27-1 (S) and <br />RAV-l0. The results of the surveys were negative and have were submitted to the USFS. <br />• Cultural inventories have been conducted on the adjoining Ravens Gulch Exploration <br />Area (COC-60622; expired). The list of studies includes six Class III surveys and two <br />Class II surveys (Metcalf Archeological Consultants, Inc., 1987, 1989, 1993, 7/94, 8/94, <br />11/94, 1996, 1997); (Archeological Environmental Reseazch Corp., 1990). The surveys <br />were completed under the Federal Exploration License nos. COC-51751, COC-5381, <br />COCO-53793, COC-58219, COC-60622, and those described in the 1996 revision of the <br />West Elk Mine, CDMG Permit No.C-80-007. No cultural resources were identified in <br />those investigations. <br />PROPOSED ACCESS ROUTES <br />The access route for the project is proposed from existing roads and trails. The access <br />route for the gob vent / de-gas boreholes will utilize Gunnison County Road 710 to USFS <br />Road 711 and thence USFS Rd. 711a beginning above the Minnesota Creek Reservoir to <br />the West Flat Iron Road Junction. The West Flat Iron road has been closed to full size <br />vehicle access at the junction of USFS Rd. 711a to [he top of West Flat Iron Mesa via the <br />use of tank traps and rock boulders. This Project proposes the temporary re-opening of <br />the road for a period of time to complete drilling, monitoring, and reclaiming the project. <br />No new roads or trails are proposed at this time. <br />Refer to the attached Gob Vent / De-Gas Borehole Surface Maps for depiction of the <br />proposed access routes. Special Use and Road Use permits will be modified if requested <br />• by the U.S. Forest Service. <br />