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z.oa <br />study area or the vicinity of the mine site include rabbits; mallard and green-winged teal; and sage, blue <br />and sharp-tailed grouse. The orily game bird which is regulazly hunted in the vicuury is the blue grouse. <br />No breeding grounds for grouse species were found within the study area. Two Eurbearing animals, <br />beaver and long-tailed weasels, aze napped regulazly neaz the site. <br />Among raptors which are known to occur in the general area, red-tailed hawks, Coopei s hawk, Marsh <br />hawks, American kestrels and golden eagles were observed on the study site. No active nests Eor any of <br />these species were observed within the study area although an active golden eagles nest was observed in <br />Hayden Gulch about two miles south of the study azea. <br />Complete results of the Biolagi~allnventory far the Proposed Hayden Gulch Mine, prepazed by 3R Corporation <br />in May 1977, aze found in Appendix H, Volume IV. <br />2.04.3(2)Land Uses <br />Pre and post-mining land uses in the spazsely populated mine site vicinity and the general Williams Fork <br />area consists predominantly of livestock ranching on native rangelands. The entire mine area lies within <br />a privately owned ranch encompassing some 14,000 acres where seasonal catde and sheep grazing aze the <br />dominant land uses. Carrying capacities within the mine permit azea were estimated at 0.17 to 0.45 AUMs <br />per acre by scientists from the SCS Steamboat Springs office. Detailed information concerning carrying <br />capacities by range site types was presented in the Land Ure Arralyrir report prepared by 3R Corporation for <br />HGCC in June 1977 which is found in Volume II, Appendix B of the August 1980 permit application. <br />The region azound the mine provides seasonal recreational opportunities in the form of excellent big game <br />. hunting due to ease of access and high densities of deer and elk, both of which were historically hunted <br />on dte mine property. Currently the mine property and adjoining Williams Fork Ranch aze participating <br />in a Wildlife Ranching Agreement with the DOW which allows controlled public and private hunting on <br />the properties. <br />The only other significant land use activity in the mine vicinity and region is coal mining. Several active <br />and inactive coal mines, both surface and underground, are located within 20 miles of the Hayden Gulch <br />mine. <br />Coal mining as a land use was authozized at the Hayden Gulch mine by the Routt County Commissioners <br />through Special Use Permits granted to W.R Grace & Company on July 12 and September 27, 1977. In <br />Maxch 1978, the Board of County Commissioners for Routt County approved transfer of the Special Use <br />Permits to H-G Coal Company. Particulars of the permits are recorded at Book 415, Page 339, and <br />amended in Book 436, Page 500 of the records of the Clerk and Recorder of Routt County, Colorado. <br />2.04.3(3)Previous Mining <br />A couple of portals for old underground coal mines ate located within the H-G permit boundary. One <br />of these portals was sealed and reclaimed in July 1995 by the DMG through the Abandoned Mined Land <br />(AML) reclamation program. If there is information available for these historic mines, it is probably <br />located in the DMG's files. <br />r-~ <br />~.J <br />2.04-3 Revised - 06/01 <br />