2008-04-22_PERMIT FILE - X200822901 (4)

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believes they are inherently non-significant and recommends a finding of "no historic properties affected" and recommends that there is no additional cultural resources work necessary for these sites. At the time of this NOI submittal, ,exploration sites CCU025 and CCU027 - CCU033 need cultural/archeological resource clearance. It is anticipated that MAC will complete the cultural resource inventories at these eight sites as soon as ground conditions allow for site access (early to late May). The cultural resource inventories for sites CCU025 and CCU027 - CCU033 will be submitted to CDRMS and State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation upon completion. Table 2, Cow Camp Project - 2008 Exploration Program Drillhole Specifications, summarizes the status of the cultural resource inventory for each exploration site. Based on recent cultural resources surveys in the project area (completed for both this NOI drilling program and the 2007 Exploration Program [NOI X-2007-229-00]), MAC considers historic and prehistoric sites, and/or isolated finds a possibility. However, based on previous work and the isolated nature of the area, it is not anticipated that sites of significant cultural interest or potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places will be identified. CCR requests that CDRMS consider a three phase approval process for conducting the Cow Camp 2008 exploration activities. • Phase I includes exploration sites CCU013 - CCU022. These nine sites are on lands with executed surface access agreements (see Appendix A), fully leased or fee coal resources and completed cultural resource inventories (see Appendix D). Exploration activities at these nine sites can be initiated upon receipt of the necessary approvals (CDRMS, State Land Board, Routt County Board of County Commissioners and BLM). • Phase II involves sites CCU028, CCU029 and CCU032. These exploration sites are on lands with full surface and coal access, but lack a completed cultural resource inventory (as of the submittal date of this NOI). Exploration activities at these sites will not start until the cultural resource inventory has been completed and approved by CDRMS and the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Phase III covers exploration sites CCU012, CCU019, CCU023, CCU024, CCU025, CCU027, CCU030, CCU031 and CCU033. These nine exploration sites are on lands with surface use access, but unleased federal coal. A Federal Coal Exploration License application has been submitted to BLM to conduct exploration activities at these nine locations. Exploration activities at these nine sites will not start until BLM issues a coal exploration license, and in the case of sites CCU025, CCU027, CCU030, CCU031 and CCU033, cultural resource inventories are completed and approved by CDRMS and the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. 5) Describe Exploration Activities Proposed Exploration Activities: The primary methods of exploration and geologic and chemical data collection proposed in this application include exploration drilling, geophysical logging, and sampling, followed by reclamation of all exploration disturbances, as more specifically described in the following sections. CCR anticipates drilling 15 exploration drillholes during 2008 and the remaining 6 exploration drillholes during 2009 to further delineate and characterize geologic conditions, coal seam occurrence and quality, and overburden physical and chemical characteristics. The drillholes are designated as Cow Camp Project - 1008 NO/ J//S/OS