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11!10/2005 14:06 9709295595
<br />24XGZF37XCA rmdBProjectPlmi
<br />Minor Recisioe 3Z6
<br />o~6ofll
<br />WEST ELK
<br />PAGE 10
<br />Assessment and corresponding Finding of No 5ignificam Impact was issued by the USFS
<br />far Gob Veiat Degas Boteholes 15-01 ihmugh 1.5-05 in October 2001.
<br />71te proposed methane drainage well pmject activities will avoid riparian habitats to the
<br />extent possible. Operations wilt be located such as not to interfere with raptor nesting
<br />sites, and managed to minimise oontliets with the deer and elk oa winter range and user
<br />rnnllict durin8 big Same homing ~~~.
<br />LA~TA USE
<br />The present land use of the proposed well project area consists of domestic grating,
<br />wildlife babita>; watershed, reixeationat lands, and big Same hunting. No agricallmal
<br />areas exist within ibe area.
<br />Coal mining has a Iong history is the North Fork Valley. Mountain Coal Company has
<br />operated the West Elk lupine as a viable mine since 1981 with an undezgmmid longwall in
<br />opaatioa since 1992. Cvneatly there ace three mixes in the North Fork Valley; the Elk
<br />Creek Mice opetaohzd by Oxbow Mining, Inc.; the Bowie No. l artd No. 2 Mutes operated
<br />by Bowie Resources Limited; and the West Elk 1VFnte. Other mines that have existed in
<br />the valley include Bea Mme Nos. 1, 2, ~d 3; Oliver Miae Nos. 1 and 2; NawI6 Ness
<br />Mme; the Somerset Mine; and the Edwards Mine.
<br />col.Tlix~,L RESOURCES
<br />Previous Class III cultural inventories were conducted in the methane drainage project
<br />area. The results of the surveys were negative and were submittted to the USFS. Coburn!
<br />inventories bane been conducted on tb~e adjoining Ravens Gulch Exploration Area (COG
<br />60622; expired). The list of studies includes six Class III surveys and two Class II surveys
<br />(Metcalf Archeological Consultams, hu., 1987, 1989, 1993, 7/94, 8194, 11194, 1996,
<br />1997) and (Ar+ch~logical Emironmecnal Research Corp., 1990). 1Ue surveys were
<br />concrpleted under the Federal Exploration License Numbers COC-51751, COC-5381,
<br />COG53793, COC 58219, COC-60622, and those described in the 1996 .revision of the
<br />West Ells Mine, CDMG Permit No.C-80-007. No caltmal c+evaurnes were identified in
<br />those investigations. Additional cultraal ceso+ace reports titled, `~blourrtahl Coal
<br />Compa~+'s West Elk Mine Gob Vent/De-gas Boreholes Class II[ Colfiual Resource
<br />hrvemory T135, R90W, Sections 23, 26, 27, 34, and 35 Gunnison County, Colorado,
<br />hme 2001', and "Moumain Coal Compan)r, West Elk Mme, Block Ctrttutal Resource
<br />Inventory (140 acres) for Five Aril! Pad Locations and Access, T]35, R90W, Gunnison
<br />Couny, Coloaado, Augrst 2001", also showed negative results. Other previous cultural
<br />resouccc suaveys fur the adjaceoR drilling are titled "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk
<br />1bTme, Drill Pads for Panels 16, 17, 17S, Cass III Ctiltaal Resource Inventory, Gunnison
<br />Coumy, Colorado" and "MoucAsin Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Drill Pads for Panels
<br />18 to 24, Class III Cuttrmal Resource Inventory, Gunmwn County, Calotado`. No
<br />cultural reso~es were idemified in these investigations.
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