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24HG2E27XC Sample Hole(s) Project Plan
<br />Minor Revision 320
<br />Page 6 of 11
<br />Assessment and corresponding Finding of No Significant Impact was issued by the USFS
<br />for Gob Vent De-gas Boreholes 15-O1 through 15-OS in October 2001.
<br />The proposed methane drainage well project activities will avoid ripazian habitats to the
<br />extent possible. Operations will be located such as not to interfere with raptor nesting
<br />sites, and managed to minimize conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user
<br />conflict during big game hunting seasons.
<br />LAND USE
<br />The present land use of the proposed well project azea consists of domestic grazing,
<br />wildlife habitat, watershed, recreational lands, and big game hunting. No agricultural
<br />areas exist within the area.
<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 aze three mines in the North Fork Valley; the Elk
<br />Creek Mine operated by Oxbow Mining, Inc.; the Bowie No. 1 and No. 2 Mines operated
<br />by Bowie Resources Limited; and the West Elk Mine. Other mines that have existed in
<br />the valley include Bear Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. 1 and 2; Hawks Nest
<br />Mine; the Somerset Mine; and the Edwards Mine.
<br />CULTURAL RESOURCES
<br />Previous Class III cultural inventories were conducted in the methane drainage project
<br />area. The results of the surveys were negative and were submitted to the USFS. Cultural
<br />inventories have been conducted on the adjoining Ravens Gulch Exploration Area (COC-
<br />60622; expired), The list of studies includes six Class III surveys and two Class II surveys
<br />(Metcalf Archeological Consultants, Inc., 1987, 1989, 1993, 7/94, 8/94, 11/94, 1996,
<br />1997) and (Archeological Environmental Research Corp., 1990). The surveys were
<br />completed under the Federal Exploration License Numbers COC-51751, COC-5381,
<br />COC-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. Additional cultural resource reports titled, "Mountain Coal
<br />Company's West Elk Mine Gob VenUDe-gas Boreholes Class III Cultural Resource
<br />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
<br />Inventory (140 acres) for Five Drill Pad Locations and Access, T13S, R90W, Gunnison
<br />County, Colorado, August 2001", also showed negative results. Other previous cultural
<br />resource surveys for the adjacent drilling are titled "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk
<br />Mine, Drill Pads for Panels 16, 17, 17S, Class III Cultural Resource Inventory, Gunnison
<br />County, Colorado" and "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Drill Pads for Panels
<br />18 to 24, Class III Cultural Resource Inventory, Gunnison County, Colorado". No
<br />cultural resources were identified in these investigations.
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