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Introduction <br />• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering issuing a surface lease and <br />rights-of-way to Salt Creek Mining Company for the purpose of mining coal and <br />constructing associated facilities. The project area is located on the Howard <br />Canyon 7.5 quadrangle T.7S., R.1021J., Sections 21, 29 and 32 along East Salt <br />Creek at Mac Lane and plunger Canyons (see attached map). <br />Inventory work was conducted in 1980 by Grand River Institute personnel and is <br />reported as "Cultural Resources Inventory, McClane and Munger Canyons Mine <br />Plan/Permit Areas." Further survey was performed in 1983 by the Grand River <br />Institute and is found in the report entitled "Cultural Resources Inventory of <br />Several Roads and Storage Areas Associated tirith the McClane and Munger Canyons <br />Mine Plan/Permit Areas in Garfield County, Colorado". Six sites were located <br />during inventory. Four sites are located on BLM land and three are considered <br />eligible for National Register listing. One site that is recommended for <br />inclusion to the NRHP is outside of the project area, two sites are within the <br />project boundaries and are recommended for National Pegister listing. <br />Project Description <br />Salt Creek Mining Company currently holds permits for two underground coal <br />mines, Munger Canyon and Mac Lane Canyon. The mines are located in Garfield <br />County, Colorado near Douglas Pass, approximately 20 miles north of Loma, <br />Colorado on State Highway 139. <br />Salt Creek Mining Company proposes to expand and upgrade its existing <br />facilities. Permanent structures, including bath houses, training center, <br />. office, lab, shop and warehouse, and wash plant will be built. A road to <br />connect the Mac Lane Canyon mine and the Munger Canyon mine will be <br />constructed. A series of belt conveyors will be constructed to provide a <br />method of handling the coal produced at the mines. These conveyors will <br />transport coal from the mines to a central processing area which will have <br />rotary breakers (crusher), stockpiles, wash plant, and loadout. <br />Refuse from the wash plant will be transported to a disposal area. A road <br />will be built between the central facilities and the refuse disposal area to <br />provide for access and refuse transportation. <br />A rail loadout and a stream diversion are also planned. The removal of a <br />finger ridge at the mouth of Munger Canyon will facilitate the conveyor system <br />from the mines and provide gravel for the road building operations. <br />The central facilities will be located at the mouth of Munger Canyon along <br />East Salt Creek. Nine hundred and fifty five acres of public land were <br />surveyed for cultural resources by the Grand River Institute in 1980 and <br />1983. <br />• ' <br />