1986-11-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981008A

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TAB 4 LAND USE Premining and Existing Land Use at the Nucla Mine General . Historical land use in and around the Nucla Mine has been predominantly related to agriculture. The white man actively began settling the area in the last 1890s, establishing livestock operations to take advantage of the large grazeable tracts of native rangeland. Around 1900, the town of Nucla was established and became a center of agricultural activity with the completion of the Colorado Cooperative Irrigation Ditch in 1910. The completion of the ditch and the delivery of San Miguel River water to the First and Second Park areas surrounding Nucla provided a means for viable agricultural production in an area with a near desert climatic regime. The extensive surrounding lands which remained in native rangeland continued to be used for livestock production and hunting of wildlife, primarily big game. In 1898, the uranium bearing ore carnotite was discovered in the area and uranium mining began its roller coaster ride to importance as a major industry in the area. When mining of carnotite declined after 1923, the mining of vanadium for steel alloys became an important industry through World War If . Also during World War II , uranium mining began gaining importance again and boomed in the 50's and 60's as nuclear power and weapons' demands increased. The 70's saw a decline in the uranium mining and processing industries, with activity virtually at a standstill by 1986. The mining of coal had been ongoing on a small scale from the early to mid 1900s. These mining operations were small underground operations generally run by individuals. The present Nucla surface coal mine, the largest coal operation in the area, was initially opened in 1958 by the Edna Coal Company as the Navajo Mine. In September of 1963, Peabody Coal Company purchased the mine, renamed it the Nucla Mine and operated it until temporary cessation of activities in 1983. Annual production from the Nucla Mine totaled 90,000+ tons. The power plant at Naturita, operated by Colorado Ute Electric, was supplied with coal from the Nucla Mine and provided another level of industry in the Nucla area for approximately 30 years until 1983 when the plant was deactivated. Currently, agriculture and seasonal tourism related to hunting are the primary uses in the area. The uranium industry is essentially dead and the processing plant operated by Union Carbide at Uravan is being decommissioned. The power plant at Naturita has been 4-1 Revised 11/01/86