Laserfiche WebLink
-11- <br />• ZI. Land Use - Rules 2.04.3, 2.05'.5 and 4.16 <br />Panes 4-I to 4-5 of volume I of the application contain the information pertinent <br />to rules concerning land use. The following determinations have been made for <br />the operation. <br />In the area surrounding the operation, the predominant land use is rangeland <br />and wildlife habitat. The canyon which the operation occupies is characterized <br />by steep slopes and fairly sparse vegetation. Rangeland is restricted to Che <br />valley bottoms which have shallow slopes and sufficient vegetation. The <br />applicant proposes to return the operation to rangeland and wildlife habitat. <br />Characteristics of the vegetative cover after reclamation will approximate <br />pre-mining conditions (see Section XIS of this document). The restoration of <br />pre-mining conditions after mining wi1Z ensure the attainment of the proposed <br />post-mining Zand use. <br />Pre-mining Zand use at the Loma loadout was a Zoading and storage siding for <br />sugar beets. Salt Creek 6fining Company intends to reclaim the Zoadout to its <br />previous condition, as required by the Lease agreement with the DsRG%~' Railroad. <br />L~tails of the reclamation plan are given in Section XVII, Backfilling and <br />Grading, of ttu:s document. <br />Pursuant to Rv1e 2.07.6(2)(1), the Division finds that the proposed post-mining <br />land use of the permit area meets the requirements of Rule 4.16. <br />• The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />III. Cultural and .Yistoric Resources - Rules 2.04.4 and :.05.6 <br />_*nform~ation appropriate to cultural and historic resources can be found in <br />Section 4.1.5 of Volume 1 and in appendix J of Volume V of the application. <br />These sections have been reviewed by the Division and the following commments <br />result.. <br />A number of cultura_' resource studies have been prepared for Salt Creek ~~fininq <br />Company's McCZane and Munger Canyon coal mine areas in Garfield County, <br />Colorado. Chief among the reports is a submission by the Grand River Institute, <br />1980 and two survey reports by the lluseum ofrlestern Colorado of cork conducted <br />in the area in 1977, The surveys covered roads, dri_'Z hole _'ocations, areas <br />of potential surface disturbance and a sample survey of areas t.`.at .n the future <br />.'nay be affected by subsidence. A total of three an.heological sites (two <br />pte-histo r'c aad one ,'vacoric) and one suspect area :re re recorded during the <br />surveu. <br />Several ccn terns were raised by the ~i visi on and the Gffi ce of Sur_"ace :!i Wing <br />(r.SFt) during the re viecr of t!:e cultural resources survey. 'he applicant was <br />asked to define t!:e extent of toe survey, expiai.n sample selecting procedures <br />and suoeiu a review of tie areas .'ustoric deve!oonent. T.':e applicant satis- <br />factorily responded to these concerns. <br /> <br />