2013-04-03_PERMIT FILE - X201322801 (2)

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Lease stipulations will mitigate impacts due to creation of roads and pads within the area, winter access, and vegetative changes. The stipulations are shown in section III of the BA (Project File) and their application to specific Forest Plan objectives and guidelines for human uses project such as the proposed action are indicated in Appendix 1 of the BA (Project File)." Final Environmental Impact Statement, Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC -1362 and COC- 67232, pages 125 -131, August 2012. The proposed exploration will occur in the late spring, summer, and early fall months and avoid riparian habitats to the extent possible. Operations will be located such as not to interfere with raptor nesting sites, and scheduled to minimize conflicts with the deer and elk on winter range and user conflict during big game hunting seasons. Land Use The prevailing land use of the acreage contained in this application is wildlife habitat. Surface topography is rugged. Limited camping, hunting, and cattle grazing occur in the proposed exploration area. There are no highways or critical structures in this area. Remnant roads, originally constructed for stock pond construction and access, occur in the area. User created ATV trails 41so exist. Coal mining has a long history in the North Fork Valley. Mountain Coal Company has an underground longwall operation north of the proposed exploration area which has been a viable mine since 1981. Currently there are two other mines in the North Fork Valley, which include the Elk Creek Mine, operated by Oxbow Mining, LLC, and the Bowie No. 3 Mine operated by Bowie Resources, LLC. Other mines that have existed in the valley include Bear Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Oliver Mine Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Hawks Nest Mine, Orchard Valley Mine, Sanborn Creek Mine, the Somerset Mine, and the Edwards Mine. Cultural Resources Cultural resource inventories were conducted on the Sunset Trail Exploration Area in 2011 and again in 2012. This survey was conducted by ERO Resources as an Archeological Class II surveys and Class III entitled Cultural Resource Inventory, Mountain Coal Company's Lease Modifications- Sunset Trail Project Area, Gunnison County, Colorado. No cultural resources were identified in those investigations. The reports are included as Attachment 2. Proposed Access Routes There are three primary access routes to the exploration area. ALC will utilize Highway 92 to the West Elk Mine entrance and the private and USFS administrative road thru Sylvester Gulch to USFS 711 as their main access route. A 0.4 mile length of USFS 711 will be utilized to access a second USFS administrative road to the exploration area. Secondary access may utilize the existing Gunnison County Road 710 to Lick Creek. Access is controlled through a gate at the bottom of the Lick Creek Road on MCC's fee surface to the exploration area. Additionally a third access may be used via USFS 711 and the spurs 711 -2C to the proposed sites and 711 -2A to Lions Mesa. Refer to Map 1 for road identification. USFS 711 has been maintained by MCC as an access road to exploration drill holes and MDW sites over the previous 17 years. Upgrades and improvements to the road include gravel, culverts, ditches, gates, and drainage control structures. Ongoing maintenance is a stipulation to MCC's 6