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Sena- 1.04.3 <br />area. The Land Use Map, (Map 2.04-M1), shows the location and extent of historic surface <br />• disturbance in the mine permit and adjacent areas and both Exhibits 2.04-E 1, Land Use and Existing <br />Conditions, and 2.04-E2, Cultural Resource Information, provide relevant documentation for historic <br />land uses. The Coal Seam Isopach Maps, (I?aps2.04 M4A throueh 2.04-M4D) show the location and <br />extent of known historic mining in the Mine Permit Area. T- <br />Present Condition and Land Use <br />The major portion of the mine permit area consists of undisturbed lands which are utilized for limited <br />grazing and dispersed wildlife habitat and recreation, some of which are underlain by underground <br />mine workings. Historical and recent mining-related activities have resulted in surface disturbance of <br />a total of approximately 92 acres within the mine permit area. The disturbed areas include lands <br />which were disturbed by historical mining activities and have not been reclaimed, areas utilized in <br />conjunction with active ongoing mining operations, and areas which are inactive and have been <br />stabilized or reclaimed. The Somerset Cemetery lies within the limits of both the mine disturbance <br />area and the mine permit area. OMI maintains both the cemetery and a year-round access road for <br />local residents. In addition, a network of minor roads has been established for construction and <br />maintenance access to several powerlines which cross the mine permit area. These areas are <br />delineated and identified on the Land Use Map, (Map 2.04-M1) and the General Facilities Maps (Maps <br />2.05-M1) ? <br />The mine permit area straddles the boundary between Gunnison County to the east and Delta County <br />to the west. Delta County has not established land use classifications. Under Gunnison County?s <br />existing land use classification system, the undisturbed lands are designated as "Undeveloped Land" <br />and surface disturbance areas are designated as "Industrial/Mining Operations". In addition to the <br />Undeveloped and Industrial/Mining Operations classifications within the mine permit area, nearby <br />• areas are designated as "Residential" (the Town of Somerset to the south), "Industrial/Mining <br />Operations" (Mountain Coal Companys operations to the southeast), and "Agricultural" (grazing <br />operations in the high park areas to the north). Existing land use classifications are shown on Map <br />2.04-M1 7 <br />Land Use Capability/ Productivity and Potential for Alternative Uses <br />Land use capabilities within the mine permit area are limited by location, terrain, and environmental <br />factors. Productivity or the productivity potential of current disturbance areas and surrounding <br />undeveloped areas is reflected by existing vegetation communities found in valley, drainage, and <br />mountainside areas and is limited primarily by the semi-arid climate, steep hillslopes, and poorly <br />developed, shallow soils. There are currently no intensive agricultural land uses in or adjacent to the <br />mine permit area. <br />The potential for intensive commercial land uses such as residential or commercial development <br />would be limited by distance from major conmtercial and population centers and related <br />transportation considerations. Intensive agricultural development, including farming, orchards, hay <br />production, intensive grazing, or timber production would be limited by the productivity constraints <br />noted above as well as the lack of large contiguous areas of arable land and available water resources <br />for irrigation. Given the noted limitations on potential alternatives to the current land uses of <br />"Industrial/Mining Operations" and "Undeveloped Lands", potential alternative lands uses would be <br />limited to small-scale industrial development or limited, dispersed nu-al, vacation or retirement home <br />development, consistent with current prevailing development patterns in the area. <br />Changes in Land Use <br />• The only recent changes in land use which have occurred in the mine permit area have involved re- <br />designation of limited areas of "Undeveloped Lands" to the "Industrial/Mining Operations" <br />classification, to allow construction and operation of the surface facilities required to support ongoing <br />PR04 2.04-3 Revised August 2000