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CULTURAL RESOURCES <br />Affected Environment: The description of the existing environment contained in the 2005 <br />Spruce Stomp CEL EA is still accurate for the current proposed action. In addition to the <br />cultural surveys completed for the proposed disturbance on USFS lands, appropriate surveys <br />were also completed on the proposed disturbance sites on BLM lands (Hadden 2010, Gray <br />2010). <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: <br />Proposed Action - Given that the access road and drill pad areas have been previously <br />inventoried and no cultural resources have been found, the no impact fording of the 2005 Spruce <br />Stomp EA is remains accurate for USFS and BLM lands. <br />Mitigation: Mitigation contained in the Conditions of Use (Appendix A) applies to USFS <br />lands. <br />For BLM lands the following cultural resource mitigation will be applied: <br />1) If historic, archaeological or paleontological materials are uncovered during permitted <br />activities, the operator is to immediately stop activities in the area of the find that <br />might further disturb such materials, and immediately contact the AO. Within five <br />working days the AO will inform the operator as to: <br />• - Whether the materials appear eligible for the National Register of Historic Places; <br />- The mitigation measures the operator will likely have to undertake before the <br />construction may proceed. <br />2) Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4(g) the holder of the authorization must notify the AO, by <br />telephone, with written confirmation, immediately upon the discovery of human <br />remains, funerary items, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony. Further, <br />pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4(c) and (d), you must stop activities in the vicinity of the <br />discovery and protect it for 30 days or until notified to proceed by the AO. <br />Cumulative Impacts - None <br />No Action Alternative - There would be no impacts from coal exploration activities. <br />SOILS (includes a finding on Standard 1) <br />Affected Environment: The topography and climate are as described in the previous EA for <br />the Spruce Stomp Exploration License (BLM 2005). The elevations range from 7,120 feet in the <br />south to 8,520 feet in the northeast of the project area. The climate is semi-arid. <br />Soils in the project area are in two different soil surveys. The lands in T. 12 S., 6th PM are <br />described in the soil survey for Grand Mesa - West Elk Area, Colorado, Parts of Delta, Garfield, <br />Gunnison, Mesa and Montrose Counties and the lands in T. 13 S., 6th PM are described in the <br />soil survey for the Paonia Area, Colorado, Parts of Delta, Gunnison and Montrose Counties <br />10 (MRCS 2010). While there are minor naming differences, the soil unit descriptions and <br />properties are as described in the previous EAs. Soils are also summarized in the Land Health <br />DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2010- 0017 EA Page 18 of 43 May 2010