PERMFILE120668

• Permit No: C1981016
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: Main permit narrative
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Formation, escarpments, sharp ridges, and narrowly cut canyons are the major
•
landforms of the area.
In addition, there are several landforms on the permit area which repre-
sent both erosional and depositional processes. Along the North Fork Gunnison
River, a narrow flood plain is restricted to a narrow V-shaped canyon. Al-
luvial sediments, primarily sand and gravel, have been dispositioned in the
flood plain. At slightly higher elevations along the river canyon above the
flood plain lie alluvial terraces or pediments, which are the erosional rem-
nants of ancient river levels left high above the current river.
Finally, several massive slump features are evident along the southern
•
edge of the lease area on the north-facing slopes south of the North Fork
River. These features are the result of mass movement of blocks of consol-
idated rock and unconsolidated soil. Although it is somewhat difficult to
differentiate between slumps and old terraces, slumps occur primarily on moist,
steep, generally north-facing slopes.
2. Land Use
The existing land use of the North Fork Valley is an approximate balance
of natural scenery and human development. The predominant land uses in the
valley are agriculture, coal mining, recreation, and a small amount of urban
development. Few transportation, housing, and service facilities exist in the
valley, and development potential is limited because of limited desirable land
surface. In addition, the Gunnison National Forest encompasses much of the
mountainous region southeast of the valley.
The Hawk's Nest Mine permit area is in the least developed portion of the
•
valley, the narrow winding eastern end. Major developments in the area are
other operating coal mines such as ARCO's Mt. Gunnison Mine and the Sunflower
Energy Corporation's Blue Ribbon Mine
43
Other federal coal lease holders