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Methane Drainage Wells Project Plan <br />Technical Revision 101; Holes 19-09, 19-10 and 19-11 <br />Page 6 of 14 <br />Gulch Exploration License and for Longwall Panels 14 and 15. An Environmental <br />Assessment and corresponding Finding of No Significant Impact was issued by the USFS <br />for Gob Vent De-gas Boreholes 15-01 through 15-OS in October 2001. <br />The proposed methane drainage well project activities will avoid riparian 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 />To facilitate the agency review of this plan, the report entitled, "Box Canyon West <br />Methane Drainage Wells, Wildlife Habitat Evaluations and Inventory for T&E, Sensitive <br />and Management Indicator Species" prepazed by Michael Wazd Outdoors and Monarch & <br />Associates dated June 2005 was prepared and is attached. This report summarizes, "No <br />Federally-listed or State-listed Threatened and Endangered Species that could potentially <br />occur within this portion of the Gunnison National Forest would be adversely impacted <br />by construction of drill site locations and access roads because little or no suitable habitat <br />would be affected. The only management indicator species observed were red-naped <br />sapsuckers and elk. Sapsuckers were commonly observed in aspen stands and elk, or <br />evidence of their presence, was always observed throughout the project area." The report <br />further concludes, "There are no Endangered or Threatened plant species known to occur <br />in the project area." <br />LAND USE <br />The present land use of the proposed methane drainage project azea consists of domestic <br />grazing, wildlife habitat, watershed, recreational lands, and big game hunting. No <br />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 aze three mines in the North Fork Valley; the Ells <br />Creek Mine operated by Oxbow Mining, Inc.; the Bowie No. 1 and No. Z Mines operated <br />by Bowie Resources Limited; and the West Elk Mine. Other mines that have existed in <br />the valley include Beaz 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 project area. The <br />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 />