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Rule 2.04 • study area or the vicinity of the mine site include rabbits; mallard and green-winged teal; and sage, blue and sharp-tailed grouse. The only game bird which is regularly hunted in the vicinity is the blue grouse. No breeding grounds for grouse species were found within the study area. Two for- bearing animals, beaver and long-tailed weasels, are trapped regularly near the site. Among raptors which are known to occur in the general area, red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawk, Marsh hawks, American kestrels and golden eagles were observed on the study site. No active nests for any of these species were observed within the study azea although an active golden eagles nest was observed in Hayden Gulch about two miles south of the study area. Complete results of the Bio[ogicallnventory for the Proposed Hayden Gulch Mine, prepared by 3R Corporation in May 1977, are Found in Appendix H, [/olume /V. 2.04.3121 Land Uses Pre and post-mining land uses in the spazsely populated mine site vicinity and the general Williams Fork azea consists predominantly of livestock ranching on native rangelands. The entire mine azea lies within a privately owned ranch encompassing some 14,000 acres where seasonal cattle and sheep grazing are the dominant land uses. Carrying capacities within the mine permit area were estimated at 0.17 to 0.45 AUMs per acre by scientists from the SCS Steamboat Springs office. Detailed information concerning cazrying capacities by range site types was presented in the Land Use Analysis report prepared by 3R Corporation for HGCC in June 1977 which is found in Volume • II, Appendix B of the August 1980 permit application. The region azound the mine provides seasonal recreational opportunities in the form of excellent big game hunting due to ease of access and high densities of deer and elk, both of which were historically hunted on the mine property. Currently the mine property and adjoining Williams Fork Ranch are participating in a Wildlife Ranching Agreement with the DOW which allows controlled public and private hunting on the properties. The only other significant land use aaiviry in the mine vicinity and region is coal mining. Several active and inactive coal mines, both surface and underground, are located within 20 miles of the Hayden Gulch mine. Coal mining as a land use was authorized at the Hayden Gulch mine by the Routt County Commissioners through Special Use Permits granted to W.R. Grace & Company on July 12 and September 27, 1977. In March 1978, the Board of County Commissioners for Routt County approved transfer of the Special Use Permits to H-G Coal Company. Particulars of the permits are recorded at Book 415, Page 339, and amended in Book 436, Page 500 of the records of the Clerk and Recorder of Routt County, Colorado. 2.04.313) Previous Mining A couple of portals for old underground coal mines are located within the H-G permit boundary. One of these portals was sealed and reclaimed in July 1995 by the DMG through the Abandoned • Mined Land (AML) reclamation program. If there is information available for these historic mines, tt ~s probably located in the CDMG's files. TR-6 3 ~ f Y~96 2.04-3 ll~a6~96 S~BMrrrAL