Laserfiche WebLink
2.05.5 Post - Mining Land Uses <br />Oakridge Energy plans to return the disturbed areas at the Carbon Junction Mine to post- mining <br />land uses consistent with the existing and planned uses of the landowners. The proposed post - <br />mining land uses are industrial and commercial, recreation, and residential. During the initial <br />permitting of the Carbon Junction Mine, the Ewing Mesa area was relatively undeveloped and <br />generally outside the area adjacent to the city of Durango thought logical for development. With <br />the large influx of new residents in the early 1990's, development of Durango and mid -La Plata <br />County has increased greatly, making development of Ewing Mesa property a realistic and <br />economically feasible endeavor. The need for construction materials fueled the development of <br />the current Ewing Pit (sand and gravel extraction) within the Carbon Junction Mine permit <br />boundaries. The sale of Ewing Mesa property which was formerly in dryland farming, or <br />undeveloped, has resulted in residential development, establishment of an equestrian center, and <br />the development of a golf course. As evidenced by these developments, the current land uses of <br />property within and adjacent to the Carbon Junction Mine have significantly changed since <br />initial mine permitting in 1982. <br />With the recognition of the changes in adjacent land uses, Oakridge Energy modified the <br />proposed post - mining land uses for the Carbon Junction Mine permit area in 1996 to reflect the <br />reality that reclamation of the Carbon Junction Mine will be ultimately directed toward serving <br />these "new" land uses. The present disturbance at the mine will be reclaimed at the conclusion <br />of mining to the standards presented in this approved permit. To the extent that approved <br />reclamation activities will hinder implementation of the post - mining land uses, Oakridge Energy <br />-� will seek approval from CDMG to modify the reclamation plan to conform to the approved post - <br />mining land uses. <br />The change in the approved post - mining land uses did not necessitate significant changes in the <br />reclamation plan measures proposed. No changes to backfilling, grading, retopsoiling or <br />revegetation measures were proposed from the original reclamation plan. The single significant <br />change was in the revegetation success criteria, wherein the appropriate criteria of vegetation <br />cover sufficient to control erosion was employed. Should the planned development not take <br />place, no on- the - ground modifications to the existing reclamation plan are anticipated to be <br />necessary. <br />Rule 4.16.3 addresses performance standard requirements where alternative land use <br />designations have been requested. These requirements are addressed below. <br />Compatibility <br />Rule 4.16.3(1) requires that alternative land uses may be approved if the proposed post - mining <br />land use is compatible with adjacent land use. As illustrated above, the existing adjacent land <br />uses include residential (single family housing), industrial and commercial (equestrian center, <br />sand and gravel mine), and recreation (golf course development). These land uses are <br />compatible with the La Plata County planning designations. As there are no state or federal <br />lands within the permit area, no state or federal land management agencies have any valid <br />Abridged Permit Document 5 -31 Feb 2008 <br />