2011-01-13_PERMIT FILE - C1980006 (2)

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Section 780.23(a) Continued. Resource Management Plan (RMP) for federally owned surface lands within the mine permit area. The RMP is not yet adopted, but BLM has informed Kerr Coal that the proposed poatmining land use is consistent with the RMP in its present posture. Capability of the Land to Suyport a Variety of Alternative Uses Poatmining land use patterns will probably be consistent with the existing land use patterns described in 30 CFR 779.22. Kerr Coal intends to restore all disturbed lands in both the Kerr Mine Area and Kerr Tipple Area to their historic use as rangeland or grazing- land. Because of the existence of the Kerr Tipple and its proxi- mity to the Hines Lumber Mill, the present zoning classification of the tipple area is industrial. However, the industrial classifica- tion does not indicate the historic land use of the area, namely, rangeland. Changes from the premining land uses prevailing at the Kerr Mine and Tipple Areas are unlikely due to the lack of available water, the short growing season, the remoteness from a population center, the prlmative condition of existing transportation facilities and the current socioeconomic patterns. Furthermore, land use changes on the existing public domain lands located in the Kerr Mine Area are virtually precluded by the multiple use management scheme. Private lands located within the Kerr Mine Area could undergo some change in land use, but change appears unlikely due to the small acreages involved, and the fact that the private land is entirely surrounded by public domain surface. The likelihood that a change in land use would occur on the Kerr Tipple Area is also unlikely. The present county zoning for indus- trial use would continue after mining only if the area continued as an industrial site. Expansion of the Hines Lumber Mill into the I~ 780-129