PERMFILE130951

• Permit No: C1981022A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 9/16/2005
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.04 Environmental Resources
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

Sezimt - 2.04.4
Cultural and Historic Resource Studies
• Based on review of file documentation from the Colorado Historical Sociery and several site-specific
cultural resource investigations, there are no known cultural or historical resource sites or values
within the mine permit area which are or would be eligible for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places. The following summarize the research and investigations and related findings for
cultural and historic resources in the mine permit area. Documentation for all file searches and site
investigatioris u provided in Exhibit 2.04-E2; Cultural Resource Information.
On October 11, 1977, Centuries Reseazch, Inc.; conducted a cultural resource survey in the project
area of the Blue Ribbon Mute near Paonia in Delta County, Colorado. Thu project was completed on
behalf of Sunflower Energy Corporation of Denver. The tract tonsured of a 400' by 400' area and
approximately one-half mile of access road. The area surveyEd is located on ground owned at that
time by the United States Steel Corporation and Sunflower Energy Corporation. Documentation For
the 1977 survey u included in Exhibit 2.04E2. Supplemental infortnation u provided by a December
1977 file search and a July 1981 report prepared by Nickens and Associates, alto included in Exhibit
2.04-E2. The areas surveytd were found to be entirely free of cultural resources except for those
structures associated with the original Blue Ribbon Mtne.
The Colorado Historical Society was contacted on Match 20, 1980 requesting a search of the
Colorado Archaeological Site Inventory and the Colorado Inventory of Historical Sites, as well as
nominations pending or on the National Register of I Lstoric Places. The search was condutted for T
13 S, R 90 W, and, R 91 W and T 12 S, R 91 W, 6th PM State of Colorado. Results of the 1980 file
search are included in Exhibit 2.04-E2. The file search indicated that there are no known
archaeological resources in the permit area. Two previously documented resources were reported by
the Colorado Historical Society, the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition, and the Somerset Cemetery.
• The new West Valley haul road was constructed in the vicinity of the Somerset Cemetery. The
cemetery has been evaluated and determined to not be a historic feature. Road construction did not
disturb the cemetery and provides improved access. Evaluation of the Somerset Cemetery u
addressed by Exhibit 2.04E2. Although these resources have not been evaluated for inclusion in the
National Register, they must be considered until a formal detemtination has been completed. Since
the Somerset Mme surface disturbance already exists, no incremental adverse itnpatt on
archaeological, historical, or other cultural resources u anticipated.
The Colorado Historical Society was contacted on April 3 and June 20, 1990 requesting file searches
of the Colorado Inventory of Cultural Resources for T13S, R90W, Sections 3, 4, 9 and 10. Two sites
were located in Section 10 and one site was located in Secion 3. The Sanborn Creek Mme's surface
facilities are located in Settion 9, so these sites were not impacted by these surface facilities. See
Exhibit 2.04-E2 for the results of the file search. In addition to the file search, on December 4, 1990,
Centuries Research Inc. conduced a cultural resource survey in the area to be disturbed by the
Sanborn Creek Mme, resulu of which were published in a January 1991 report. No Register Eligible
Cultural Resources were apparent in the project area. See Exhibit 2.04E2 for a copyof the repon.
Cht November 22, 1991, Grand River Iristirute per[ormed a Giltural Resource Inventory on the areas
to be disturbed by the Elk Creek coal stockpile azea. This survey covered the areas affected by both
the initial Phase 1 stockpiling activities and the 1997 stockpile expansion and conveyor modifications.
Grand River Institute's Declaration of Negative Findings is included in Exhibit 2.04E2.
During March 1992, Grand River Instirute prepared a Class I and doss II Cutural Resource
Inventory Report for the Sanborn East Tract. No cultural resources were encountered during the
field study and the sites recorded by the previous studies are not expected to be adversely affected by
the proposed mitring project. Grand River Instirute's Declaration of Negative Findings u included in
Exhibit 2.04E2.
PR04 2.04-5 Revised August 2000