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-I1- II, Land Use - Rules 2.04.3, 2.05.5 and 4,I6 Pages 4-1 to 4-5 of Volume I of the application contain the information pertinent to rules concerning Land use. The following determinations have been made for the operation. In the area surrounding the operation, the predominant land use is rangeland and wildlife habitat. The canyon which the operation occupies is characterized by steep slopes and fairly sparse vegetation. Rangeland is restricted to the valley bottoms which have shallow slopes and sufficient vegetation. The applicant proposes fio return the operation to rangeland and wildlife habitat. Characteristics of the vegetative cover after reclamation will approximate pre-mining conditions (see Section xLi of this document). The restoration of pre-mining conditions after mining will ensure the attainment of the proposed post-mining land use. Pre-mining land use at the Loma loadout was a loading and storage siding for sugar beets. Salt Creek Mining Company intends to reclaim the loadout to its previous condition, as required by the lease agreement cvith the D&RGW Railroad. Details of the reclamation plan are given in Section XVII, &ackfilling and Grading, of this document. Pursuant to Rule 2.07,6(2)(1), the Division finds that the proposed post-mining land use of the permit area meets the requirements of Rule 4.I6. The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. 222. Cultural and Historic Resources - Rules 2.04.4 and 2.05.6(4) Information appropriate to cultural and historic resources can be found in Section 4,1.5 of Volume 1 and in Appendix J of Volume V of the application. These sections have been reviewed by the Division and the following comments result. A number of cultural resource studies have been prepared for Salt Creek Mining Company's McClane and Munger Canyon coal mine areas in Garfield County, Colorado. Chief among the reports is a submission by the Grand River Institute, 1980 and two survey reports by the Museum of Western Colorado of work conducted in the area in 1977. The surveys covered roads, drill hole locations, areas of potential surface disturbance and a sample survey of areas that in the future rray be affected by subsidence. A total of three archeological sites (two pre-historic and one historic) and one suspect area were recorded during the survey. Several concerns were raised by the Division and the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) during the review of the cultural resources survey. The applicant was asked to define the extent of the survey, explain sample selecting procedures and supply a review of the areas historic development. The applicant satis- factorily responded to these concerns.