REP00635 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Section 1 Introduction and Background Relative to the Migigation Plan In 1984, a comprehensive cultural resource inventory was conducted by Centuries Research on behalf of Colorado Westmoreland's Orchard Valley Mine at Paonia, Delta County, Colorado. This inventory was conducted at varying levels of intensity in approximately 5,000 acres of BLM and private lands in support of a permit application to expand coal mining operations. This application was submitted to the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division and the Office of Surface Mining. The cultural resource inventory completed by Centuries (Baker 1984} resulted in recording of twenty (20) previously unrecorded resources. These ranged from early 20th century homesteads to prehistoric Indian sites. When combined with the sites recorded in previous inventories of the study area (Baker 1977, 1984a), this inventory brought the total number of known resources to forty-four (44) within and near the 1984 revised permit area. Only nine of the newly recorded resources were believed to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Thirteen (13) newly and previously known resources were thought to require additional evaluation efforts if they were to be impacted. Overall, however, the proposed coal mine expansion appeared to pose few substantial threats to any existing or potential National Register eligible resources. Upon completion of the inventory, Colorado Westmoreland anticipated preparation and implementation of final evaluation and/or mitigation plans for any potential National Register eligible resources which final review by the Office of Surface Mining indicated would face impact from the expanded coal mining operations (Baker 1984:91). The final recommendation of Centuries Research in regard to future plans was as follows: Final Recommendation The following plan for evaluation and mitigation is offered only for resources within the direct or indirect impact areas which are deemed to actually be threatened with impacts. If resources are not to be impacted then it may be unnecessary. Centuries Research has recommended to CWI that a combination final evaluation and mitigation plan be prepared in conjunction with the Orchard Valley Mine's Revised Permit Application in support of which this entire project was undertaken. After evaluation of impacts, if needed this plan will be prepared (Baker 1984b) and will structure a test excavation program designed to resolve the significance and implement mitigation needs for any of the sites involved. The plan will be based on the premis that all of the thirteen resources are potentially eligible to the National Register. If submission, approval and implementation of such a plan, as needed, is made a -1-