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• 1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />1.1 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT <br />Mountain Coal Company (MCC) proposes to expand the lower refuse pile at the West EIk Mine into <br />an adjacent, undisturbed area. The proposed new lower refuse pile (LRP-21 would be constructed <br />immediately east of the existing lower refuse pile. The proposed LRP-2 area encompasses <br />approximately 10 to 15 acres between 6,100 and 6,350 feet elevation immediately east of the <br />West Elk Mine permit boundary in T73S R90W Section 10 S 1 /2 and Section 15 N 1 /2, Gunnison <br />County, Colorado. All of this area is south of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and on both <br />sides of State Highway 133. <br />As discussed with MCC, the project encompasses two phases. The first phase consists of, <br />geotechnical investigations to collect the data required to properly design LRP-2. The geotechnical <br />investigations will consist of drilling approximately six borings throughout the area: five borings <br />will be driven to the south of State Highway 133 and one boring to the north. Drilling will be <br />• conducted along an existing, reclaimed road, which will result in minimal disturbance to the <br />environment. <br />The second phase consists of constructing LRP-2 after all necessary permits have been obtained. <br />As ultimately envisioned, refuse disposal would expand from the existing pile in an easterly <br />direction resulting in the re-routing of Sylvester Gulch. The present LRP-2 design and permitting <br />study is for astand-alone pile to the east of Sylvester Gulch. <br />1.2 SURVEY METHODS <br />The area was surveyed on foot by Robert Dorn, Ph.D., on September 27, 1995. The general <br />vegetation was noted and species observed were recorded (often only to genus to save timel. <br />Wildlife species observed were also recorded. Habitats were evaluated as potential habitat for <br />listed or candidate threatened or endangered species including, but not limited to, Penstemon <br />mensarum, Penstemon retrorsus, Lomatium concinnum, Astragalus brandegei, Gulo gulo, Felis lync <br />canadensis, Acciptiter pentilis, Empidonax traillii extimus, Lanius ludovicianus, and Speyeria <br />nokomis nokomis. <br />• <br />WESTEC Project No. 95258 Threatened & Endangered Speeiee Survey Report Na. 1370A <br />Apid ) 997 WESTEC, Inc. 1 <br />