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Rule 1.05 2.05.5 Postmining Land Use The approved pos[mining land uses for the mine and facilities areas are livestock grazing and wildlife habita[, which are entirely compatiblewith adjoining and surrounding lands. Rangeland is [he 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 area, which includes the mine site, were reportedly acquired for private ownership through the Stock Raising Homestead Att. The 1,398 acre permit area 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 utiliza[ion. Incorporation of permanent impoundments in the final reclamation design enhances the pos[ mine land uses and affords additional grazing management opportunities. It 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 has been participating in a cooperative wildlife ranching program with the CDOW [hat allows controlled public hunting on the mine property. Participation in this voluntary program may or may not continue [hrough bond release. • Previous findings by the MLRD in conjunction with permit renewals approved [he pos[-mining land uses and determined that rangeland and wildlife habitat meet the requirements of Rule 4.16. 2.05.6 Mitigation of Surface Coal Mining Impacts 2.05.8111 Air Pollution All air quality permits formerly issued for the HG Mine have been allowed to expire as there are no longer any activities or sources of air pollutants subject to regula[ion at the mine si[e. During operations, all activities were condutted pursuant to requirements of air quality/emissions permits issued by the Colorado Depar[ment of Health. An air quality monitoring program incorporating four sampling sites was initiated at the mine in March 1980 and discontinued in 1986, following termination of mining activities. 2.05.8(2) _ Fish and Wildlife No threatened or endangered plant or animal species were identified on the mine site property during the baseline biological studies or mine operations. Baseline studies also confirmed [he absence of any critical habitat for sensitive species within the permit area. There were no fish or natural riparian habitats present within the permit area as there are no perennial water sources. The seed mixtures used for reclamation relied heavily on naive plant species, including shrubs, 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. • H:~BJJ V'ERMn VttJLE2~05. HG 11/26/95 E:lOpm WP51/cmc 2.05-14 Revised - 11/28/95