1994-10-21_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007

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Description of the Environment Site Description and Land Use - Rule 2.04.3 The West Elk Mine (WEM) is located approximately one mile east of the town of Somerset on Colorado State Highway No. 133. The eastern and western extremities of the WEM permit area are bounded closely by Sylvester Gulch and an unnamed drainage, respectively, and the northern extremity of the permit area is bounded by the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The southern boundary of the permit area ranges from approximately one mile to a quarter mile north of the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek. The Somerset and Bear Mines are located just northwest of the mine facilities. The general area in which the mine is located is along the western flank of the West Elk Mountains within the drainage basin of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and is characterized by a semi-arid environment of steeply sloping mountains covered primarily with tall shrub vegetation, particularly Gambel oak and Saskatoon serviceberry. The area is currently used for grazing domestic livestock (cattle and sheep) and wildlife (deer and elk) . Recreational activities such as big game hunting also occur here. Slopes range from 0 to 60 percent on the permit area, and elevations range from 5,900 feet at Somerset in the valley of the North Fork, to about 8,000 feet in the extreme southeast corner of the permit area. The steep slopes of the stream valleys and the instability of the rock strata in the North Fork drainage basin has contributed to numerous landslides, mud flows and rock falls. These mass wasting features have been mapped by W.R. Junge of the Colorado Geological Survey and published as an open file report, entitled "Geologic Hazards, North Fork Gunnison River Valley, Delta and Gunnison Counties, Colorado." The primary land uses within the permit area are characterized as rangeland and woodland supporting big game (deer and elk) and livestock (cattle and sheep) . Portions of the lease area are within the boundaries of Grand Mesa, Uncomprahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Cultural and Historic Resources - Rule 2.04 .4 and 2.05.6 (4) Cultural and historic resources are discussed in Section 2.04.4 of the permit application. Records from the Historic Buildings and Sites file of the Colorado Historical Society and the Archaeological Survey file of the Office of the State Archaeologist were reviewed for previously recorded sites. No evidence was found indicating the existence of known sites in the vicinity of the mine. An archaeological reconnaissance was also conducted. Field studies, laboratory operations, and report preparation were completed by an archaeological team from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. This report can be found in Exhibit 10 of the permit application. No sites were found as a result of the field study. Additional surveys for Jumbo Mountain were completed by Western Cultural Resource Management, Inc. (WORM, Inc.) during October and November 1993. Map 7A shows the areas surveyed during the field reconnaissance. A literature search was conducted by WCRM, Inc. in September 1993 . That search identified 15 cultural resource reports. Those reports are listed in Exhibit 10A. Exhibit 10B contains the results of the survey. Exhibit 11 contains clearance documentation from the State Historic Preservation Officer. Hydrologic Balance - Rules 2.04.5, 2.04.7. 2.05.3 (4) . 2.05.6 (3) and 4 .05 Ground water information can be found in Section 2.04 .7 of the permit application. Additional information can be found on Map 34, which shows the location of the ground water monitoring stations and Map 35, which is a composite Barren member well water level and spring elevation map. A description of ground water occurrence and mining impacts on ground water within the permit and adjacent areas can be found in the "Probable Hydrologic 5