PERMFILE131849 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Livestock grazing and possibly wood and timber cutting were probably the principle uses. The potentially affected surface from rock quarrying has been obliterated by recent coal exploration work and natural erosion. There was also a wildfire in the vicinity of the early quarry which makes it impossible to assess the surface damage that occurred at this time. The quarry is shown on Map 4-1. Since issuance of the original CDMG permit, surface coal mining operations have commenced. The open pit mining system was used to extract neaz-surface coal deposits. The seams mined are the Lewis and the Cazbonera coal beds. The coal seams which have been mined has been discussed in Section 2.05 in detail. Only limited mining activities have occurred since issuance of the first CMLRD mining permit. Only 20,000 tons of coal have been removed since 1983. The dates of the mining were at sporadic intervals from 1984 to 1985. The land uses existing prior to mining were described above. Additionally, there is limited wood cutting and the harvesting of juniper and oak posts. Big game hunting occurs during the various hunting seasons but is generally controlled by surface owners. The permittee is the surface owner and will wntrol hunting activities within the permit area. The Bureau of Land Management has classified its adjacent lands as mule deer and elk winter range and recognized the mineral values in its planning system. The dry • farmlands to the west have been classified by the La Plata County Planning Commission as having potential for commercial or residential development. The La Plata County Planning Commission does not use county zoning to regulate land use but rather compatibility of a project with surrounding land uses as the basis for its decision making. Current development of property immediately west of the mine includes a golf course and proposed residential development. Additionally, the landowner immediately southwest of the permit area has developed an equestrian center. Within and east of the coal mining operation, aggregate (sand and gravel) is being mined to supply the La Plata county building industry. The sand and gravel mining is separately permitted under the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act. 2.04.4 Cultural and Ilistotic Resources Information There are no documented cultural properties in the permit area with the exception of the a potential site discussed in the SHPO Letter of October 8, ]992. The clearances obtained from the Colorado Historical Society are wntained in Appendix 4-1. The potential site identified by SHPO was cleared by the agency for this permit. • Technical Revision 09 (v 1.0) 4-3 Revised 3/1998