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I . 2.05.5 Postmining Land Use The approved postmining land uses for the mine and facilities azeas are livestock grazing and wildlife habitat, which aze entirely compatible with adjoining and surrounding lands. Rangeland is the historic land use of the HG Mine property and all of the encompassing Williams Fork Mountains. Some bottomlands and adjacent rolling hills along the major drainages in the area suitable for cropland were planted in the late 1800s and early 1900s under the Agricultural Homestead Laws. Most of the non-farmable lands in the azea, which includes the mine site, were reportedly acquired for private ownership through the Stock Raising Homestead Act. The original 1,269 acre permit azea was part of several privately owned ranches where seasonal livestock grazing was the only controlled land use. The mine reclamation plan was designed to create lands and vegetation conditions conducive to livestock and wildlife utilization. Incorporation of permanent impoundments in the final reclamation design enhances the post mine land uses and affords additional grazing management opportunities. I[ is generally accepted in the mine vicinity that water availability is a key component in the distribution of livestock and also influences wildlife distribution. Leaving permanent impoundments at the site will help shift livestock pressure away from other nearby permanent water sources such as Hayden Gulch. HGCC is the sole surface owner within the pemtit azea and does not intend to introduce any grazing within the permit azea prior to Phare III Bond Releare. HGCC has been participating in a cooperative wildlife ranching program with the CDOW that allows controlled public hunting on the mine property. Pazticipation in this voluntary pxogram may or may not continue through bond release. • Previous findings by the MLRD in conjunction with permit renewals approved the post-muting land uses and deteunined that rangeland and wildlife habitat meet the requirements of Rule 4.16. 2.05.6 Mitigation of Surface Coal Mining Impacts 2.05.6(1) Air Pollution All air quality permits formerly issued for the HG Mine have been allowed to expire as there aze no longer any activities or sources of air pollutants subject to regulation at the mine site. During operations, all activities were conducted pursuant to requirements of air quality/emissions permits issued by the Colorado Department of Health. An air quality monitoring program incorporating four sampling sites was initiated at the mine in Maxch 1980 and discontinued in 1986, following termination of mining actinides. 2.05.6(2) Fish and Wildlife No threatened or endangered plant or arilmal species were identified on the mine site property during the baseline biological studies or mine operations. Baseline studies also confirmed the absence of any ctitica2 habitat for sensitive species within the pem$t azea. There were no fish or natural riparian habitats present within the permit area as there aze no perennial water sources. The seed mixtures used for reclamation relied heavily on native plant species, including shmbs, preferred by wildlife. Big game species on the mine property are managed in accordance with the Wildlife Ranching Agreement between HGCC and the DOW previously referred to. 2.05-14 Revised - G/Ol