_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (236)

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Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. Access Road and Tunnel Portal Exploration Area Page 2 PROPOSED ACTION: The proposed action is the construction of an access road to extend about 1 .25 miles along Huntsman Ridge in Section 20, and the use of a 300 by 1 , 200 foot parcel in Section 24 as a tunnel portal exploration area. ENVIRONMENT: The study area is comprised of a series of ridges and benches dominated by Huntsman Ridge, which is underlain by Mesaverde formation, interlayered beds of sandstone, shale, and coal. Large sandstone outcroppings and boulders are scattered on the surface throughout the area. Drainage is by Muddy Creek and its intermittent tributaries . The soils are shallow, dark brown, sandy loams. The access road traversed primarily open areas at an average elevation of 11 , 200 feet with grade varying from 40 to 60% . Vegetation is mainly native grasses ( i .e. , Agropyron spp. , Bromus spp. ) and numerous forbs, providing ground cover of about 60% . There are occasional stands of Engelmann spruce ( Ficea englemannis) also. The portal exploration area is situated in an aspen glade with sparse grass cover of about 30%. The elevation here is about 9 , 500 feet ; the grade varies from 10 to 30%. Wildlife sighted during the survey or inferred from tracks include mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) coyote (Canis latrans ) , red-tailed hawk ( Buteo iamaicensis ) , and blue grouse ( Dendragapus obscurus ) . Numerous other animals , including black bears ( Ursus americanus ) , elk ( Cervus canadensis) , and various small rodents, are known to occupy the area. FIELD METHODS : The access road was surveyed by zig-zag transects to 50-feet on each side of the flagged center line to form a 100-foot right-of-way approximately 1 . 25 miles long ( 15 . 2 acres ) . The portal exploration tract ( 8.3 acres) was surveyed by a series of parallel northeast- southwest transects at intervals of 20-meters . Animal burrows, game trails , and drainage cuts were carefully examined for evidence of cultural resources. Total acreage surveyed was about 23 . 5 acres.