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. 2.05.5 Post-Mining Land Uses <br />Oakridge Energy plans to return the disturbed areas at the Carbon Junction Mine to <br />post-mining land uses consistent with the existing and planned uses of the landowners. <br />The proposed post-mining land uses are industrial and commercial, recreation, and <br />residential. During the initial permitting of the Carbon Junction Mine, the Ewing Mesa <br />area was relatively undeveloped and generally outside the azea adjacent to the city of <br />Durango thought logical for development. With the large influx of new residents in the <br />early 1990's, development of Durango and mid-La Plata County has increased greatly, <br />malting development of Ewing Mesa property a realistic and economically feasible <br />endeavor. The need for construction materials fueled the development of the current <br />Ewing Pit (sand and gravel extraction) within the Carbon Junction Mine permit <br />boundaries. The sale of Ewing Mesa properly which was formerly in dryland farming, <br />or undeveloped, has resulted in residential development, establishment of an equestrian <br />center, and the development of a golf course. As evidenced by these developments, the <br />current land uses of property within and adjacent to the Carbon Junction Mine have <br />significantly changed since initial mine permitting in 1982. <br />With the recognition of the changes in adjacent land uses, Oalaidge Energy modified <br />the proposed post-mining land uses for the Cazbon Junction Mine permit area in 1996 <br />• to reflect the reality that reclamation of the Carbon Junction Mine will be ultimately <br />directed toward serving these "new" land uses. The present disturbance at the mine <br />will be reclaimed at the conclusion of mining to the standards presented in this <br />approved permit. To the extent that approved reclamation activities will hinder <br />implementation of the post-mining land uses, Oakridge Energy will seek approval from <br />CDMG to modify the reclamation plan to conform to the approved post-mining land <br />uses. <br />Rule 4.16.3 addresses performance standard requirements where alternative land use <br />designations have been requested. These requirements are addressed below. <br />Compabbi/ity <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 <br />commercial (equestrian center, sand and gravel mine), and recreation (golf course <br />development). These land uses are compatible with the La Plata County planning <br />designations. As there are no state or federal lands within the permit azea, no state or <br />federal land management agencies have any valid interest in the land use of this <br />property. Adjacent BLM surface lands have been classified as ungulate winter range <br />with recognition of mineral development and extraction land uses. <br />r1 <br />U <br />Technical Revision 08 (v 1.3) 5-29 Revised 911997 <br />