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12/16/2005 16:04 9709295595 WEST ELK 1 PAGE E8
<br />24]i5-04 WetlProjeaPlan
<br />Minor Revision 332
<br />Page 6 of 11
<br />The proposed methane drainage welt project activities will avoid riparian habitats to the
<br />extent possible. Operations will be located such as not to interfere with raptor nesting
<br />sites„ and, managed to minimize conflicts with the deer and elk ozt wurtc~r range and reset
<br />conflict drning big game hunting seams.
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<br />LAND USE
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<br />The present land use of the proposed well project area caosists of domestic ,grazing,.
<br />wildlife habitat, waGershhed, recreational lands, and big game hunting, No agricaldnral
<br />areas exist within the area-
<br />Coal minting has a long history in the Notch Fork Valley./ Mountain Coal. Company has
<br />operated the West Elk Mine as a viable mine sire 1981 vf:ith as undergorurd Iongvvall in
<br />operation since 1992. Currently there are three mines in the North Fork Valley; fire Elk
<br />Creek Mme operated by Oxbow Mining, Inc.; the Bowie No. 1 and No. 2 Mines operatied
<br />by Bowie Resources Limited; and the West Elk Mine. Other mines that ,have existed in
<br />the valley include Bear Mme Nos, i, Z, and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. I and 2; Hawks Nest
<br />Mme; the Somerset Mine; and are Edwards Miae.
<br />CULTURAL RESOURCES
<br />Previous Class ID crrlpnal im+exrtories wean conducted in the methane drainage prnjea
<br />area. The results of the surveys were negative and were submitted to the USFS. Cultural
<br />inventories ]rave been wnduaed on the adjoining Ravens,Gul,ch Exp]oratian Atra (COG
<br />60622; expired). The list of studies includes six Class ID surveys and two Class II surveys
<br />(Metcalf Archeological Consriltants, Inc., 1987, 1989, 1993, 7/94, 8194, 11/94, 1996,
<br />1997) and (Archeological Environmental Research Corp-, 1990). The surveys were
<br />completed under the Federal Exploration License Numbers COC-51751, COG5381,
<br />COC-53793, COG58219, COC-60622, aztd those descatibed in the 1996 revision of the
<br />West Elk Mime, CDMG Fermat No.C-80-007. No cnltmal resorm:es were identified is
<br />those investigations. Additional cultural resource reports titled, "Mouttain Coal
<br />Company>s West Elk Mme Gob VenRLDe-gas Boreholes Class III Cultural F.esonree
<br />brvenRory T13S, 1t90W, Sections 23, 26, 27, 34, and 35 Gunnison County, Colorado,
<br />Janie 2001", and "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Block Cultural Resoruce
<br />Im~enuory (140 acres) for Five Drill Pad Locations sad Access, T13S,1Z90W, Gamoison
<br />County, Colorado, August 200I", also showed negative results. Other previous cnitarai
<br />tesour+ce satveys for the adjacent drilling are tided "Mourrtaar Coal Company, West Ellr
<br />Mme, Drill Pads for .Panels 16, 17, 17S, Class lII Cultural Resource Inventory, Gunnison
<br />County, Colorado" and "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Drill Pads for Paoeis
<br />18 m 24, Class Ili Cultural Resotuce Inventory, Gumrisoa County, Colorado". No
<br />cultural resotttces were idceGGcd in these investigations.
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