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The Loadout permit includes 391.20 acres. PR-02 changed the post-mining land use of 170.3 <br /> acres to recreational use. Of those 170.3 acres proposed for release, 103.2 acres are recorded by <br /> the Division as disturbed. The remaining acres in the permit consist of 6.8 acres to remain as <br /> agricultural/hayland along Hwy 40 of which 2.3 acres are disturbed and 214.1 acres associated <br /> with the tie-across haul road(TAHR)that is planned to be transferred to Routt County as a <br /> County Road, of which 96.6 acres are disturbed. <br /> Coal was handled and shipped from this facility through 1987. The last active use of the facility <br /> was temporary coal storage in 1992. The loadout facilities were removed, and received a bond <br /> release from the Division with SL-1 in September of 2012. The former rail spur area has been, <br /> and will continue to be, converted to a recreational trail for the use of residents and visitors to the <br /> town of Hayden under a locally managed"Tracks to Trails" program. Between 2016 and 2019, <br /> the railroad spur track and ties were removed and a parking area was constructed to access the <br /> trail. In January of 2020, the Town of Hayden entered a lease with the Hayden Gulch Terminal, <br /> LLC and Sage Creek Land& Reserve for 170.3 acres of the permitted area for recreational use. <br /> Under the lease,the Town of Hayden has substantially commenced the recreation status of the <br /> land. The area is currently available to the public for both summer and winter recreational <br /> activities such as running,walking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing. During the <br /> Division's inspections over the last year, the Division has noted recreational use of this area by <br /> the public. The town of Hayden has provided a letter of intent to the Division, dated May 18, <br /> 2021. The letter states that the use of this area as recreational space is deemed acceptable by the <br /> Town of Hayden zoning designations and "will align with the intent of the Town to further <br /> develop and utilize the recreational area as part of our overall recreational master plan. The town <br /> has made sizeable plans related to the Rail Loop as well, this includes placing a dedicated budget <br /> line for the Rail Loop maintenance, contracting with vendors to manage weeds,repair fences, <br /> etc." <br /> The following page shows the PAP approved posted mining land use map for reference. The <br /> area proposed to be released in SL-2 is shown in purple and labelled as Recreational, Rails to <br /> Trails. <br /> HGL will be donating the property proposed to be released to the Town of Hayden. HGL will <br /> not be releasing the land to the Town of Hayden until the proposed SL-2 bond release has been <br /> issued by the Division after the comment period has ended on the proposed decision. <br /> 6 <br />