2008-03-21_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007 (3)

Home Browse Search

Description of the Environment Site Description and Land Use -Rule 2.04.3 The West Elk Mine is located approximately one mile east of the town of Somerset on Colorado State Highway No. 133. The western permit boundary extends to the outer slopes of Jumbo Mountain. Permit revision No. 11 extended the eastern permit boundary into the Raven Gulch and Deep Creek watersheds. The northern extremity of the permit area lies just north of the North Fork of the Gunnison. Permit Revision 10 extended the southern boundary of the permit area south of Minnesota Reservoir into the drainage basins of Minnesota Creek, Dry Fork, Lick Creek, Poison Gulch, and Deep Creek. The active Elk Creek Mine is located just northwest of the West Elk Mine facilities, north of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The inactive Bear I, II, and III Mines are next to the West Elk Mine on the west. The inactive Oliver Mine is next to West Elk on the east. The West Elk Mine is on the western flank of the West Elk Mountains in the drainage basin of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The climate is semi-arid. Topography is characterized by steeply sloping mountains covered primarily with tall shrub vegetation, particularly Gambel oak and Saskatoon serviceberry. The general area where the mine is located is currently used for grazing domestic livestock (cattle and sheep) and wildlife (deer and elk). Recreational activities such as big game hunting also occur here. Slopes range from 0 to 60 percent on the permit area, and elevations range from 5,900 feet at Somerset in the valley of the North Fork, to above 8,000 feet in the southeast corner of the permit area. The steep slopes of the stream valleys and the instability of the rock strata in the North Fork drainage basin have contributed to numerous landslides, mud flows and rock falls. These mass wasting features have been mapped by W.R. Junge of the Colorado Geological Survey and published as an open file report, entitled "Geologic Hazards, North Fork Gunnison River Valley, Delta and Gunnison Counties, Colorado." The primary land uses within the permit area are characterized as rangeland and woodland, supporting big game (deer and elk) and livestock (cattle and sheep). Portions of the lease area are within the boundaries of Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Cultural and Historic Resources -Rule 2.04.4 and 2.05.6(4) Cultural and historic resources are discussed in Section 2.04.4 of the permit document. Records from the Historic Buildings and Sites file of the Colorado Historical Society and the Archaeological Survey file of the Office of the State Archaeologist were reviewed for previously recorded sites. No evidence was found indicating the existence of known sites in the vicinity of the mine. An archaeological reconnaissance was also conducted. Field studies, laboratory operations, and report preparation were completed by an archaeological team from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. This report can be found in Exhibit 10 of the permit document. No sites were found as a result of the field study. 6