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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />Aside from edaphic and topographic limitations, residential, industrial, or commercial development <br />appear unlikely due to the remoteness of the permit area from the population centers of Moffat and Rio <br />Blanco counties. Historic population trends in the area reflect a centralization of population in the towns <br />of Craig and Meeker. <br />Recreational opportunities exist in the permit and adjacent areas, primarily involving the hunting of deer <br />and elk. In recent years, land owners adjacent to the permit area have been leasing their lands to hunters <br />in increasing numbers. This trend may continue on lands adjacent to the permit area, but the possibility <br />for recreation on the permit area, as long as mining activities are on-going, is highly unlikely due to <br />problems involved with safety and potential vandalism. <br />Aside from rangeland and limited amounts of cropland and pastureland, there are no viable economic <br />changes in land use that can be made. <br />Previous Underground Mining <br />As mentioned earlier, underground mining activities of limited surface effect were carried on in the <br />permit area from 1914 until 1974. Historical information regarding this previous underground mining is <br />found in Section 2.04.4. From an historical viewpoint, the pre-mining land use, prior to any underground <br />coal mining, was probably rangeland. <br />The approximate underground mining limits are shown on the Existing Structures - South Map (Map 22). <br />Existiniz Land Use and Land Use Classifications Under Local Law <br />The Moffat County Commissioners, in conjunction with the Moffat County Planning Commission, have <br />designated the lands within the permit and adjacent area for uses of agricultural (rangeland). The land use <br />in the permit area is rangeland used mainly for domestic livestock and wildlife use; no commercial <br />forestry work has ever been conducted within the permit area. Colowyo currently holds special use <br />permits from both Moffat County and Rio Blanco County to conduct mining and reclamation activities. <br />Rule 2 Permits 2.04.3-3 Revision Date: 6/23/08 <br />Revision No.: MR-91