PERMFILE120668 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

include U.S. Steel, Empire Energy, and Gulf Mineral Corporation. Nevertheless, • much of the area retains a predominantly natural and scenic character. Mining first began in the North Fork Valley in the early 1900's. These first mines (the Hawk's Nest Mine, the Black Beauty Mine) began mining to provide coal for domestic use. Subsequent mining operations in the 1930's began with the Oliver Power Plant and the three Oliver Mines. These mines supplied coal directly to the powerplant, which in turn provided power for the North Fork Valley. In the meantime Hawk's Nest and Black Beauty con- tinued to produce coal~on a small scale for domestic use. Around 1950 the Oliver Mines closed and Hawk's Nest and Black Beauty continued to produce. These two mines subsequently closed and were again reopened in 1970, under the combined ownership of Western Slope Carbon Incorporated. Aside from mining operations, the permit area has been primarily used for • livestock grazing (BLM grazing allotments), wildlife habitat, and recreation associated with wildlife (primarily hunting). Transportation systems in the area include State Highway 133 which runs along the north side of the North fork Gunnison River paralleled by a branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW). The BLM land within the permit area is part of the Coal Gulch (4517) graz- ing allotment. Sheep are grazed on this allotment on a rotational basis from 16 May to 1 July, with two of the three pastures used each spring, supporting two bands of sheep at one time. The total animal unit months (AUMS) of grazing on the allotment is 440, which converts to 2,200 maximum sheep for the 7,700 acres which make up the total allotment. It is a requirement of the BLM that sheepherders manage the sheep at all times. • 44