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-8- II. Land Use - Rules 2.04.3, 2.05.5, and 4.16 The applicant plans to return the disturbed area to rangeland and wildlife habitat (see Section 2.05.5 of Volume I). Premining land use in the area was rangeland and wildlife habitat, as determined through inventories and historical records. This land use is consistent and compatible with adjacent land uses. Shrub densities are relatively high in the area around the mine. Because pre-mining shrub densities are difficult to achieve in the reclamation situation, the Division has granted H-G Coal Company a variance from the shrub density requirement as authorized by Rule 4.15.8(7). H-G is consulting with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Soil Conservation Service (U.S.D.A.) to devise a shrub clumping and spacing plan which will improve the value of the reclaimed area with respect to grazing and wildlife habitat potential. H-G has proposed to reclaim the loadout area to agricultural cropland. Details of the means proposed for determining revegetation success and type of crop to be harvested are given in the vegetation section of this document (section XIII). Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(1), the Division hereby approves the post-mining land use of the operation. It is determined that rangeland and wildlife habitat meet the requirements of Rule 4.16. The operator is in compliance with the requirements of this section. III. Cultural and Historic Resources - Rules 2.04.4 and 2.05.6(4 Based on cultural resource inventories supplied by the applicant and review by the State Historic Preservation Officer, it has been determined that no cultural and historic resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places have been identified within the permit area. Two sites which are not listed or eligible for listing were identified within the permit area during one of the surveys. These sites include a chipping site and a trash dump. Both sites are located more than 300 feet from the active pit area and are not in an area which is to be disturbed during this permit term or any other planned future disturbance. It is very unlikely that these sites will be affected by flyrock from overburden and coal blasting because of their distance from the mine. Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(e), the Division finds that mining operation will not adversely affect any publicly owned park or place listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section.