1992-12-16_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 12/16/1992
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for RN2
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

West Elk Coal Company, Inc. , Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine, to Mountain Coal
Company, West Elk Mine, was processed by the Division as a Succession of
Operator. Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Atlantic
Richfield Company. The Division issued a proposed decision to approve the
name change pursuant to Rule 2.08.6(4) on December 20, 1991 . The decision was
final following the public comment period, on January 20, 1992.
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
Lone Pine Gulch, 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.
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.
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