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2.04.3 General Requirements: Site Description And Land Use Information <br />• The location of all of the existing land uses within the permit area and adjacent areas for the <br />mining operation can be found on the Land Use Map (Map 17). Although part of the area has <br />been previously mined by underground techniques and part currently is mined by surface <br />methods, the present dominant land use within the permit area is rangeland. Some limited <br />amount of land within the permit and adjacent areas is used as cropland and pastureland. The <br />land use designations in the permit and adjacent areas are confirmed by the Moffat County <br />Land Use Map which was prepared by the Soil Conservation Service, United States <br />Department of Agriculture. <br />As stated above, another use is found on much of the proposed permit boundary, yet it has <br />not been included in land use categories as defined under existing Colorado regulations for <br />coal mining. This use is "mined land" and is one of the current land uses within the permit <br />boundary. This land use results from the fact that the permit boundary covers both <br />undisturbed land and lands which are presently subject to surface coal mining and <br />reclamation operations. <br />The current mining operations of Colowyo were initiated in 1976; this mine employees <br />surface mining techniques as described in Sections 2.05.2 and 2.05.3. Two underground coal <br />mining operations, known as the Red Wing Mine and the Streeter Mine, were previously <br />operated in the area. The portals were sealed by concrete and are covered by the Streeter Fill. <br />Map 31, Red Wing Mine provides additional information. <br />• The areas designated as rangeland adjacent to the permit area are grazed by either sheep or <br />cattle during the spring, summer and fall depending on the grazing plan. No evidence could <br />be found that indicated the land use of rangeland had changed within the preceding five <br />years. <br />As described in Section 2.04.11, the rangeland also supports substantial populations of deer, <br />elk, sage grouse, non-game birds, raptors, and numerous other wildlife species. <br />~I <br />2.04.3-1 <br />