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E 1 Longwall Panel Methane Drainage Wells Project Plan
<br />Technical Revision No. 111;
<br />Page6of13
<br />The proposed methane drainage well project activities will avoid riparian habitat to the extent
<br />possible. Operations will be located such as not to interfere with raptor nesting sites, and
<br />managed to minimize conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user conflict during big
<br />game hunting seasons.
<br />The reports completed by Michael Ward Outdoors and Monarch and Associates summarize, "No
<br />Federally-listed or State-listed Threatened and Endangered Species that could potentially occur
<br />within this portion of the Gunnison National Forest would be adversely impacted by construction
<br />of drill site locations and access roads because little or no suitable habitat would be affected. The
<br />only management indicator species observed were red-napped sapsuckers and elk. Sapsuckers
<br />were commonly observed in aspen stands and elk, or evidence of their presence, was always
<br />observed throughout the project area." The report further concludes, "There are no Endangered
<br />or Threatened plant species known to occur in the project area."
<br />LAND USE
<br />The present land use of the proposed methane drainage project area consists of domestic grazing,
<br />wildlife habitat, watershed, recreational lands, and big game hunting. No agricultural areas exist
<br />within the area.
<br />Coal mining has a long history in the North Fork Valley. Mountain Coal Company has operated
<br />the West Elk Mine as a viable mine since 1981 with an underground longwall in operation since
<br />1992. Currently there are three mines in the North Fork Valley; the Elk Creek Mine operated by
<br />Oxbow Mining, Inc.; the Bowie No. 1 and No. 2 Mines operated by Bowie Resources Limited;
<br />and the West Elk Mine. Other mines that have existed in the valley include Bear Mine Nos. 1, 2,
<br />and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. 1 and 2; Hawks Nest Mine; the Somerset Mine; and the Edwards Mine.
<br />CULTURAL RESOURCES
<br />Previous Class III cultural inventories were conducted in the methane project area. The results of
<br />the surveys were negative and were submitted to the USFS. Cultural inventories have been
<br />conducted on the adjoining Ravens Gulch Exploration Area (COC-60622; expired). The list of
<br />studies includes six Class III surveys and two Class II surveys (Metcalf Archeological
<br />Consultants, Inc., 1987, 1989, 1993, 7/94, 8/94, 11/94, 1996, 1997) and (Archeological
<br />Environmental Research Corp., 1990). The surveys were completed under the Federal
<br />Exploration License Numbers COC-51751, COC-5381, COC-53793, COC-58219, COC-60622,
<br />and those described in the 1996 revision of the West Elk Mine, CDMG Permit No.C-80-007. No
<br />cultural resources were identified in those investigations. Additional cultural resource reports
<br />titled, "Mountain Coal Company's West Elk Mine Gob VentlDe-gas Boreholes Class III Cultural
<br />Resource Inventory T13S, R90W, Sections 23, 26, 27, 34, and 35 Gunnison County, Colorado,
<br />June 2001", and "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Block Cultural Resource Inventory
<br />• (140 acres) for Five Drill Pad Locations and Access, T13S, R90W, Gunnison County, Colorado,
<br />August 2001", also showed negative results. Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc. completed
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