Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action
Topic Alternative 1 – No Action
Resources (cont.)
Visual Resources
• Visual aesthetics at the proposed
site would remain unchanged.
Alternative 2 – Proposed Action
(Two-shaft alternative)
result in impacts to physical features
within the Mt. Taylor TCP’s setting that
contribute to its historic significance.
• During the operational phase, indirect
physical disturbance of historic properties
could occur from changed erosion patterns,
inadvertent impacts, and vandalism or
illegal artifact collecting.
• Operation and reclamation activities at
would continue to introduce visual and
audible elements out of character with the
Mt. Taylor TCP, further impacting the
setting of this historic property.
• After reclamation, the setting of the Mt.
Taylor TCP would not be the same as it is
currently, but the reclaimed area would fit
in with the surrounding landscape.
• Would cause impacts to natural resources
with cultural value, such as springs,
aquifers, wildlife and vegetation.
• In sum, impacts on cultural resources
would be significant, and the proposed
action would result in an adverse effect to
historic properties.
• Other past, current, and future projects are
also anticipated to result in significant
impacts.
• Cumulative effect of the proposed action
in combination with others would be
adverse and significant, exacerbating loss
of integrity of Mt. Taylor TCP.
• Mining operation plan describes the
following practices that would take place
to follow the naturally established form,
Alternative 3 – One-shaft
Alternative
than alternative 2.
• Impacts on cultural resources would still
be significant, and alternative 3 would
result in an adverse effect to historic
properties.
• Other past, current, and future projects are
also anticipated to result in significant
impacts.
• Cumulative effect of alternative 3 in
combination with others would be adverse
and significant, exacerbating loss of
integrity of Mt. Taylor TCP.
• Viewshed is smaller than that of alternative
2, in that the area east and northeast of
74 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest