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• 2.04.4 During this century, many mining operations have been developed and operated along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Utah Fuel, later U. S. Steel, used their coal for coke in the steel-making process in steel mills in Utah. Some of the coal production from the Somerset mines was used for domestic heating in the North Fork of the Gunnison River valley. Other coal production has gone to utilities, cement plants, and miscellaneous industrial users. The steady expansion of population in the Somerset and Paonia area because of the coal mining activities also created a local market for agricultural products. Likewise, the railroad brought ranchers and farmers into contact with distant markets. Along with coal mining, the main economic base of the area during this century has been ranching and farming. Underground coal mining activity in the area of the Bear No. 3 mine portals began in the permit area in 1934 with the opening of an underground operation owned by Mr. Clark and Mr. Blair. Coal • mining from this operation continued over 30 years until the operation ceased in 1965. The underground coal mine in Section 17 was known as the Edwards mine and earlier as the Lone Pine Mine. Historic production rates from the old Edwards mine are shown on Table 2 Production from the Abandoned Edwards Mine. The previous operators of the mine are likewise listed in Table 3, Previous Operators of the Edwards Mine. The extent of the previous underground operations at the Edwards Mine are shown on the B-Seam Mine Plan Map (Map 9A) and the Previously Mined Areas Map (Map 16). Additional information concerning the previous underground coal operations within the permit and adjacent area is found in Exhibit 6, Previous Underground Mining Operations. Other than past mining activities, the permit area has had no significant historic events take place on it. • 2.04-7 Rev. 09-26-94