Laserfiche WebLink
Topics contained in supporting information: <br />• Wildlife -Literature search and field investigation. <br />Vegetation and Land Use -Literature search and field investigation. <br />Soils -Aerial photo interpretation, literature search, field sampling, and laboratory analysis. <br />Air Quality -Literature search and field investigations. <br />Hydrology -Literature search and field observations. <br />Archaeological resources were investigated under the direction of Mr. Carl Conner -Former <br />curator of the Historical Museum and Institute of Western Colorado, and Dr. Clifton Wingall of <br />Mesa College. In addition, many topics and studies have been completed by the applicant. <br />1.1 FIISTORICAL ACTIVITY <br />USGS Exploration Permit <br />The Munger Canyon site was established as part of an exploration program through the USGS. <br />The owner -applicant for the project was Sheridan Enterprises Inc. The activities allowed under the <br />Exploration Permit included the establishment of six small mines in [he federal lease block to <br />• evaluate the feasibility of mining the various coal seams in the area. The exploration activities also <br />included a drilling program which was to complete about sixty drill holes to evaluate the continuity <br />of the coal resource. The concept of using mines to help evaluate the resource was developed <br />because there had been no major mining activity in the area previously. <br />The facilities installed at the site in 1977 were approved during an on-site inspection of the area <br />with representatives of Sheridan Enterprises, Inc. and the USGS. The activities proposed and <br />approved during the inspection included construction of the road and mine bench. There were no <br />requirements established for the reclamation of topsoil from the areas to be disturbed. <br />Mining activities in the Cameo Coal seam established a mine that extended about 2,500 feet into <br />the reserve block. The exploration mine revealed that the thickness and quality of the Cameo would <br />not be constant throughout the area. The coal seam pinched from ten feet thick to about five feet <br />thick at the face. Quality of the coal was effected by out of seam dilution in the thinner areas. <br />C1 <br />M~ Page I -2 10 - 13 -- 00 <br />