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A Class III Cultural leesource Inventory of the west Portal Development Area for Colorado hpstnoreland Inc.'s Orchard Valley Mine, Delta County, Colorado by Steven G. Bakes CFNIURIFS REvSFJ~F~i, INC. This is the final report on a Class IZI or one-hurdnd percent cultural resource itrventory conducted in 1986 on behalf of Colorado Westmoreland, Inc.'e Orchard Valley Mire reaz Paonia, Delta County, Colorado. the inventory was undertaken in support of plans for developiw~t of a new portal for the mine, the azea of undertaking for the portal develaprent was initially established at 880 acres in the Stevens Gulch end Aoatcap Creek drainages. 7Yus was later revised to a 20 acre maxLnan area, Cultural resource inventories of varying rntenrsities have been taiQleted in previous years in most of the inrtial project area. these efforts had resulted in the recording of two sites, 5171271 and 5UI125. These were respectively a prehistoric lithic scatter and an historic oa~l mine. Prehistoric site SD1702 was previously recorded and found to be outside yet near the south boundary of the rni[ial study area. The inventory recorded two additional prehistoric resources. 'these were a weak and widely dispersed littric scatter recorded as en iwlated find (SUf772) and a scull lithic scatter which was thought to be associated with a series of boulder piles which rtoy :due served as prehistoric game blinds. This lithic scatter and aze~blanatical series of gone blips was designated 5[ri'771. t'inal~designs for the new portal were rot in hand when the cultural resource study was undertakes. ey late July of 1986 it still appeared • sat SDT271 and/or 5171771 might be impacted by oonstrvctia~ of the new portal. Test excavations were accordingly initiated at both sites in -der to fully evaluate their eligibility for inclusion on the National :~gister of Historic Places. SDt'771, as currently understood and recorded, was found to tie insignificant and not eligible for the register. Due to its possible association with a prohlematical series ^` gone blinds consisting of natural piles of wlranic boulders, it is zcmfmsded that an azchaeological ~rorutor be present in the event that :ny construction activity takes place mar this resource. A test excavatirn progrmn vas also undertaken at SDT271 since it was believed .~ be relatively close to the general area designated for the nrw :nrtal. This resurrce was suspected of being eligible for the National izyister but was ultimately deemed by the BI14 to he outside the revised area cf ~^'~*+a4 ~*+g. The widely dispersed lithic scatter designated as isolated find SU1^172 is provisionally believed to be insignificant. It nos, however, been remmietded that an azchacological neuron be present u, the event gnxud disturbance is ,~*+~+-~a4a^ in the vicinity of SDI772. . series of small rock alcoves across faoatcap Creek from SDT271 are vrnght to have been capable of serving as rockshelters in the :,rehistoric occ~ution of the area. In keeping with SHPO policy, these :eve nut been given a fornal site designation but are regarded as having one potential of yielding significant cultural remains, They aze apparently rot threatened with any inpact from the proposed portal :revelopment area. In the event such a threat were to occur, they would ~w~ed [o be tested for National Register eligibility. The inventory of 880 acre study tract should not be mnside: ed cortplete un[il this is -:crnylished. With the exception of the ne:itianed resources, the _::itial 880 acre azea of undertalun7 was found to !x free of cultural ~~_scxu-ces. The snuller revised azea of undertaking tus teen found to be ~r:arrely free of cultural resources. It is remmrnded that cultural ~~_source clearance with appropriate stipulations be granted for this ro~ect, r 1 1` J ii