2008-09-29_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (31)

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RULE 2 PERMITS until 1951, when the workings collapsed. In 1952, a fire was discovered within the closed mine; the fire is believed to have resulted from spontaneous combustion of the coal seam, and is still burning. On December 1, 1973, W. R. Grace & Co. acquired Colowyo Coal Company, which included assignment of Federal Coal Lease No. D-034365. Shortly thereafter, carbon monoxide was detected behind seals connecting the Red Wing Mine with the Streeter Mine. It was believed that the fire in the adjoining Streeter Mine caused the presence of the carbon monoxide behind the seals. The Red Wing Mine was ordered closed by the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration on February 12, 1974, due to the dangers posed by the fire in the adjoining mine. Surface coal mining operations began at the site in 1976 with the construction of necessary support facilities. During the 1975 intensive cultural resource survey, several historical resources were located. The historical sites located with the permit area are shown on the Historical and Archaeological Site Map (Map 16). Two historic sites were found on Federal Coal Lease D-034365. One is a small log house at the bottom of Streeter Canyon with a collapsed roof (5MF405) ; age and history of the house is unknown. A second site contains six small sandstone piles of unknown origin (5MF403). Five piles are about three feet thick and twice as long; the sixth is about thirty. feet long. Since the 1975 survey, it has been determined that small areas of the Lease were dry-land farmed many years ago, and the rock piles are the result of rocks being removed from the farming area. Further testing of the piles was not recommended by the historical consultant. The Colowyo Mine Lease lies on the edge of Axial Basin. In 1882 William S. Taylor engaged in ranching at Spring Gulch and founded the Axial Post Office: In the same year C. J. (Charlie) Duffy came to Axial Basin and settled near Signal Butte. Thomas Iles bought the first major cattle ranch in Axial Basin in 1904, located at the mouth of Milk Creek Canyon. Other than the past mining activities and some minor homesteading, the permit or adjacent areas had no significant historical events take place on it. The abandoned surface facilities of the Red Wing mine and the Streeter Mine have been removed. The permit area was not the location of any events important to the course of state or national history. None of the two underground mining sites have been associated with people important in state or national history. None of the surviving physical remains have any characteristics that make them either more representative or more distinctive than many of the other abandoned sites in the surrounding county that are near to the mining activities. In addition, there is nothing historic about the permit area. Sites of past coal mining and past residence are merely old. The removal of any sites will not constitute an impact on the significant historical resources of the region. On April 21, 1981 the Division wrote a letter which conveyed concerns identified in the initial adequacy review of the cultural resources section of the Permit Application. A copy of this letter can be found in Exhibit 5 - Archaeological Information. On September 1, 1981 Colowyo submitted the responses to the above letter which can also be found in Exhibit 5 - Archaeological Information. Rule 2 Permits 2.04.4-2 Revision Date: 6/23/08 Revision No.: MR-91