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Section 780.23 (a) Continued. <br />area is possible but not probable due to a steep slope which separates the <br />existing mill operations from the tipple facility. <br />Due to climatic limitations, shortages of water, remoteness from a population <br />center having a suitable work force or market demand, existing socioeconomic <br />patterns in Jackson County, and the high cost of transportation, it is a <br />remote possibility that an alternative industrial enterprise or land use <br />category, as defined in 30 CFR 701.5, could occupy the present tipple site <br />upon conclusion of m;n;ng activities. In short, the capability of the land <br />to support alternative land uses appears extremely limited. The historic <br />tipple area grazing and rangeland land use, as described in Section 779.22, <br />appears to be the most feasible land use. <br />Postmin;nq Grazing Management Plan <br />Livestock grazing has long been the dominant historic land use on lands <br />within the proposed Kerr Permit Area (USDI, BLM 1980:20 and Weekly 1915). <br />Livestock grazing in score of the area was interrupted when the Marr Mine was <br />reopened in 1974, and has not been allowed since that time. Similarly, the <br />Kerr Tipple Area was used for the grazing of horses and cattle prior to <br />construction of the tipple facilities. <br />Livestock grazing on public lands within the Kerr Mine Area can be doc~ited <br />by reference to existing grazing leases issued by the BLM. Specifically, <br />Table 52, BLM Grazing Allotments, identifies the current grazing allotments <br />in or around the Kerr Mine Plea which range from 5 to 15 acres per ALE~I. The <br />North Park Land Use Map, (Map 27), also indicates estimated livestock <br />carrying capacities based on mapped vegetation types, with estimated carrying <br />capacities ranging from 3 to 19 acres per AUM. <br />As an essential ca[g~onent of Kerr Coal's plan to reestablish the pwm;n;ng <br />grazing and rangeland uses, implementation of a detailed <br />IH:\857\VOL.2\780REV. PGS <br />os/o1/96 1:17pm WP51/core 780-130 Revised -April 1996 <br />~~ 03 <br />