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2.05.5 Post-Minin¢ Land Uses <br />Oakridge Energy plans to return the disturbed azeas at the Cazbon Junction Mine to post- <br />mining land uses consistent with the existing and planned uses of the landowners. The <br />proposed post-mining land uses aze industrial and commercial, recreation, and residential. <br />During the initial permitting of the Carbon Junction Mine, the Ewing Mesa azea was <br />relatively undeveloped and generally outside the azea adjacent to the city of Durango <br />thought logical for development. With the large influx of new residents in the eazly <br />1990's, development of Durango and mid-La Plata County has increased greatly, making <br />development of Ewing Mesa property a realistic and economically feasible endeavor. The <br />need for construction materials fueled the development of the current Ewing Pit (sand and <br />gravel extraction) within the Cazbon Junction Mine permit boundazies. The sale of Ewing <br />Mesa property which was formerly in dryland farming, or undeveloped, has resu]ted in <br />residential development, establishment of an equestrian center, and the development of a <br />golf course. As evidenced by these developments, the current land uses of property within <br />and adjacent to the Cazbon Junction Mine have significantly changed since initial mine <br />permitting in 1982. <br />With the recognition of the changes in adjacent land uses, Oakridge Energy modified the <br />proposed post-mining land uses for the Carbon Junction Mine permit azea in 1996 to <br />reflect the reality that reclamation of the Cazbon Junction Mine will be ultimately directed <br />towazd serving these "new" land uses. The present disturbance at the mine will be <br />reclaimed at the conclusion of mining to the standazds presented in this approved permit. <br />To the extent that approved reclamation activities will hinder implementation of the post- <br />mining land uses, Oakridge Energy will seek approval from CDMG to modify the <br />reclamation plan to conform to the approved post-mining land uses. <br />Rule 4.16.3 addresses performance standard requirements where ahernative land use <br />designations have been requested. These requirements aze addressed below. <br />Compatibility <br />Rule 4.16.3(1) requires that alternative land uses may be approved if the proposed post- <br />mining land use is compatible with adjacent land use. As illustrated above, the existing <br />adjacent land uses include residential (single family housing), industrial and commercial <br />(equestrian center, sand and gravel mine), and recreation (golf course development). <br />These land uses aze compatible with the La Plata County planning designations. As there <br />are no state or federal lands within the pernut azea, no state or federal land management <br />agencies have any valid interest in the land use of this property. Adjacent BLM surface <br />lands have been classified as ungulate winter range with recognition of mineral <br />development and extraction land uses. <br />TROB, TR12 (v 1.0) 5-48 Revised 9/97, 8/02 <br />