|
NMD (Panels 17 Right through 23 Right, PR 99 -05, PR 03 -06, TR00 -37, TROT -39) =The surveys for the Northern
<br />Mining District also include the area within the boundary of the Fish Creek Alluvial Valley Floor in portions of
<br />Sections 16 and 17 in T5N, R86W. In reference to the SWA of Section 3, S/2 of Section 4, E/2 of Sections 7 -10,
<br />Section 11, the W/2 of Section 13, N/2 of Section 14, N/2 of Section 16, the N /2S/2 of Section 16, N /2N/2 of Section
<br />.16, and7the N/2 of- Section 17, all-in T5N, R86W it was determined- at tl e-time- these areas--- w-eTe -yermitted that
<br />cultural resource surveys were not required, due to the fact that there will be no surface disturbance which would
<br />cause any sites to the disturbed. TCC's experience has shown that, except for areas where there are cliffs or
<br />significant outcrops, undermining and subsiding these areas does not result in significant surface disturbance,
<br />therefore, cultural resource surveys are typically not required for these areas (subject to SHPO review).
<br />18 -Right Ventilation Shaft (TR 04 -44, TR05 -50, MR04 -190, MR05 -200, MR05 -204) - TCC contracted with
<br />Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. to complete an intensive Class III cultural resources survey of a potential
<br />shaft site for the new 18 Right intake ventilation shaft, along with the associated access road, located in Sections 2,
<br />10, and 11, T5N, R86W. At the same time, Metcalf's project also included a Class III cultural resource survey of a
<br />second potential shaft site, four proposed seismic lines, and three proposed coreholes. Four isolated finds and a
<br />previously recorded site (5RT157) were found to be within the area of potential effects for the projects. The isolates
<br />were determined to be non - significant resources and required no additional work. Site 5RT157 was recommended as
<br />"need data" by previous investigators at the time of the survey. Limited testing was conducted at this site to help
<br />determine its eligibility. No buried cultural material was recovered during the testing. Therefore, Metcalf
<br />recommended in their evaluation, that 5RT157 be listed as not eligible. No significant cultural material was
<br />encountered during the survey and Metcalf recommended cultural resource clearance for both of the shaft sites,
<br />seismic lines and corehole sites. Survey results are presented in the Confidential Appendix, in Exhibit 6N,
<br />Twentymile Coal Company's 2004 Exploration, Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of Proposed Seismic Lines,
<br />Drill Locations and Air Shafts, Routt County, Colorado, dated November 2003.
<br />6 -Main North Ventilation Installation (TR05 -48, TR05 -56, TR05 -57, TR07 -61, TR10 -73, MR05 -198, MR05-
<br />201, MR06 -208, MR06 -209, MR06 -210, MR06 -212) -_The intensive Class III cultural resources survey for the 18-
<br />• Right Shaft, referenced above, included the site for the proposed new 6 -Main North ventilation and ancillary facilities
<br />installation, along with the associated access road, located in Section 17, T5N, R86W. Survey results for this site are
<br />as summarized in the preceding paragraph for TR04 -44. The pad location was shifted and expanded to accommodate
<br />a power -drop borehole into the mine, so supplemental cultural resource investigations were completed during Spring -
<br />2005. The resulting survey documentation, which indicated no significant cultural resources, was submitted
<br />separately to the CDMG for insertion in Exhibit 60. In conjunction with mining support operations at the 6MN
<br />location, a Mine Water Storage Reservoir was permitted and constructed in 2007 -2008. Cultural resource
<br />investigations for the Reservoir site were completed by Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, and are summarized by
<br />the survey report included in Exhibit 6Q. A supplemental cultural resource survey was complete in June 2010 for the
<br />19RT Mine Dewatering Installation in Sections 8, 9, and 17, T5N, R86W. This survey identified no new cultural
<br />resource values, as documented by the survey report, provided in Exhibit 6S.
<br />WESTERN MINING DISTRICT (WMD)
<br />WMD (Panels 12 -Left through 17 -Left, PR09 -08) - TCC contracted with Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
<br />to complete an intensive Class III cultural resources survey of the WMD subsidence area, the proposed 18 -Left Shaft
<br />site, a potential dewatering pad area, and associated facilities areas, located in Sections 17 through 20, T5N, R86W
<br />and Sections 13, and 22 through 27, T5N, R87W. Ten prehistoric isolated finds, two new prehistoric sites, three
<br />previously documented prehistoric sites, and two previously recorded historic sites were found to be within the area
<br />of potential effects for the projects. The isolates were determined to be non - significant resources and required no
<br />additional work. The two new prehistoric sites identified were recommended as not eligible. The previously
<br />recorded prehistoric sites were found to be in essentially the same condition as when they were recorded, although'
<br />review of one of the previously documented prehistoric sites resulted in a change in designation from "field eligible"
<br />to not eligible. Survey results are presented in the Confidential Appendix, in Exhibit 6S Western Mining District
<br />(PR09 -08) Cultural Resource Information, dated February 2009
<br />• 18 -Left Ventilation Shaft Installation (TR09 -66) -_TCC contracted with Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.
<br />to complete an intensive Class III cultural resources survey of the proposed 18 -Left Ventilation Shaft
<br />MR 10 -251 2.04.9 05/27/11
<br />
|