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SECTION 2.04 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES INFORMATION <br />The objective of this application is to provide the Division with a complete and accurate <br />description of the environmental resources that may be impacted or affected by the <br />project. This information was generally submitted as a part of the original permit <br />application. The objective of this section is to reincorporate the pertinent original <br />information into the abridged permit document for the reclaimed mine site. <br />2.04.3 General Requirements: Site Description and Land Use Information <br />The existing and pre- mining environmental resources within the permit area and adjacent <br />areas consist of a small watershed, a limited number of seeps and springs, groundwater <br />resources, native and introduced vegetation, native and introduced wildlife, soils, some of <br />which support agriculture, rock, a supporting small airshed and existing mining <br />operations conducted in accordance with previous mining permits. All of these resources <br />will be impacted to some extent by mining activity. Detailed descriptions of these <br />resources will be found in appropriate sections of this application. <br />Map 4 -1 (Land Use Map) indicates the general topography, the location of the permit <br />area in relation to existing, and some past uses of the permit area and adjacent lands. An <br />effort has been made to resolve the broad land use categories established in Section 1.04 <br />of the regulations to provide the reader with more site specific land use information. <br />The historic land use of the majority of the p ermit and adjacent area w undeveloped <br />� y p � as <br />land, serving as unfenced range for livestock and wildlife. A small plot of the permit <br />area, consisting of approximately 75 acres, was dryland farmed for winter wheat, and <br />approximately 19 acres is abandoned dry farmland. The land was also grazed by cattle, <br />sheep, and goats until approximately 1977. The sheep and goats were in trespass, but the <br />cattle were grazed under a grazing lease (personal communication, Marion and Kenneth <br />Jenkins). The pre- mining use of the land had not changed for the last five years prior to <br />the initial permitting of the mine in 1982. <br />The capability of the land to support a variety of uses prior to mining was limited. <br />Agricultural productivity was limited due to the lack of available irrigation water and the <br />thin and rocky nature of the majority of soils on Ewing Mesa. Use of the area for <br />livestock range was also limited, due to the sparse livestock forage present in the <br />predominating pinyon juniper vegetation community. The area was utilized by wildlife <br />as winter range, likely due to the southern aspect, low elevation (compared with the <br />surrounding San Juan Mountains), relatively gentle topography, and proximity to the <br />Animas River. <br />Dryland farming on flat portions of the permit area has occurred historically and <br />continues today, though not economically feasible by itself, the crops and hay provide <br />supplementary income to the farmer and landowner. Dryland farming of small grain <br />crops and alfalfa, on older terraces is widespread in this region of Colorado. The terrace <br />Abridged Permit Document 4 -1 Feb 2008 <br />