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wildlife habitat include the upland sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and areas of riparian <br /> vegetation associated with Tuttle Draw and several small tributaries. It is probable that <br /> irrigation tailwater has created or significantly enhanced areas of riparian vegetation. <br /> Historic and Existing Land Use on the Permit Area. The historic land use on the mine <br /> permit area prior to 1958, when mining activities were begun by the Edna Coal Company, was <br /> fairly well split between irrigated crop/hayland and native rangeland/wildlife habitat. <br /> By the time Peabody purchased the Navajo Mine in 1963, nearly all irrigated lands south of <br /> the east-west county road had been abandoned and approximately one quarter of the present <br /> permit area was affected by mining activities. In May 1983, Surface Mine Permit No. <br /> C-008-81 was approved for the Nucla Mine. At that time, approximately two-thirds of the <br /> present permit area was affected by mining activities and all irrigated lands south of the <br /> county bypass road and west of the north-south county road had been abandoned. Existing <br /> land use on the mine permit area is predominated by mining disturbances, mining related <br /> activities, or reclamation (Exhibit 4-1 ). Native rangeland, abandoned cropland and <br /> irrigated cropland comprise nearly all of the remaining lands in the permit area (Exhibit <br /> 4-1 ). Table 4-1 "Acreages by Land Use, Nucla Mine Permit Area" lists the various land <br /> uses within the permit area and the corresponding acreages. A discussion of these various <br /> land uses follows. <br /> Reclaimed Lands. This category includes all mined lands and mining related disturbances <br /> which have been reclaimed within the Nucla Mine permit area. Included are lands reclaimed <br /> both prior to and after May 3, 1978. <br /> Mining Related Disturbances, Unreclaimed. Included in this category are all areas of <br /> disturbance within the permit area requiring final reclamation. Final reclamation <br /> activities will vary from area to area but will include some or all of the following: <br /> backfilling, grading, topsoiling and seeding. <br /> Undisturbed Native Rangeland/Wildlife Habitat. These areas have not been affected by <br /> mining or intensive agricultural activities. The mine control boundary and permit area <br /> fences exclude livestock and thus wildlife are the only animals that make use of these <br /> areas at this time. <br /> Sanitary Landfill . The sanitary landfill is operated by both San Miguel and Montrose <br /> Counties and is located on lands which were mined in the late 1950's or early 19601s. <br /> 4-3 Revised 11/01/86 <br />