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Management Summa <br />Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (MAC) has completed a survey of <br />just over 500 acres for Peabody Coal Company's Seneca II-W mine expansion. One <br />isolated find (IF) was discovered and one previously recorded site falls within <br />the project area. <br />The IF, 5RT709 is not considered to be eligible for nomination to the <br />National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The previously recorded site, <br />5RT118 is a rock art and camp site and is considered to be significant. Further <br />work will be needed at 5RT118 should the site be threatened by coal mining <br />activities. <br />Introduction <br />On July 8 and 9, 1990, MAC completed an archaeological survey of <br />approximately 500 acres for Peabody Coel Company's Seneca II-W mine expansion. <br />Peabody plans to strip-mine coal in this area. Since this mine expansion comes <br />under federal regulations, an archaeological survey was to be conducted in order <br />to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. <br />The major objective of this study was to survey,. identify and record all <br />cultural resources within the proposed mine expansion area (Figure 1). These <br />resources would then be evaluated as to their scientific significance in terms <br />of the guidelines set forth for eligibility to the National Register of Historic <br />Places (NRHP). <br />Field personnel for MAC included Ronald J. Rood as crew chief and Principal <br />Investigator, and Judy Rau as crew member. All pertinent data on this project <br />is on file at the MAC office in Eagle, Colorado. <br />Effective Environment <br />The general environment of the project area and surrounding areas has been <br />described by LaPoint (1987) and only a summary is needed here. The project area <br />is located in the northern foothills of the Williams Fork Mountains toward the <br />northern end of the Southern Rocky Mountains (Thornbury 1965). Specifically, <br />the project area is located between Dry Creek and Sage Creek, botji of which flow <br />into the Yampa River. <br />Geologically, the area is dominated by two formations, the Pierre shale <br />and the coal bearing Iles Formation. Soil in the area is quite clayey and there <br />is great variation in the overall degree of soil development and in the thickness <br />of preserved Holocene soil. <br />Vegetation in the project area is dominated by the Mountain-Shrub <br />vegetation zone with aspen groves, serviceberry, and scrub oak all present. <br />The understory is quite variable, and includes numerous grasses, Forbs, and <br />sagebrush. Overall visibility was poor to fair across the study area. Currently <br />the area is used For grazing and recreation. <br />