Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Using this process, both direct and indirect effects that could occur as a result of implementing
the proposed action were identified. As mentioned above, direct effects are immediate impacts
caused by an action at approximately the same time and place as the action. Indirect effects are
impacts caused by the action(s) that occur at some distance in space and/or time from the action,
or, as described above, by means of a longer chain of cause-and-effect linkages.
The preliminary C-E-Q diagram that the study team prepared at the outset of the analysis helped
organize the investigation and focus it on relevant issues. The team also used this C-E-Q in the
two scoping meetings in Grants and Gallup to solicit input from the public in December 2010.
Environmental Impact Statement Significance Criteria
A project such as the proposed Roca Honda
uranium mine can have a wide variety of
impacts on different components of the
environment. The importance, or “significance,”
of each of these diverse impacts depends on
several factors. Some of these factors are
matters of objective fact. For example, if a
Federal law would clearly be violated by any
aspect of the proposed action, then that would
obviously be a significant impact. Other factors
affecting significance are matters of judgment,
such as the importance of losing some amount
of wildlife habitat. The Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations on
NEPA provide a list of factors to be considered
in determining impact significance. These
factors are presented in the text box at the right.
The EIS study team used an assessment
methodology that combines these multiple
factors into an overall assessment of
significance.
During the planning stage of the EIS study, the
study team reviewed similar projects and
documentation to ascertain the activities
associated with the proposed action, and the
types of impacts they could cause. Research was
supplemented by professional judgment
concerning impacts of typical concern for any
large construction project. A preliminary
environmental evaluation diagram (i.e., the C-E-
Q diagram) which lists the potential impacts for
that activity, was developed for each activity
associated with the proposed action.
CEQ Regulations on Significance
(40 CFR 1508.27)
The rating of an impact as “significant” in NEPA
requires consideration of both the context and
intensity of the impact.
Context: The significance of an action must be
analyzed in several contexts, including society as
a whole, the affected region, the affected
interests, and the locality. Both short- and longterm
effects on an action should be analyzed.
Intensity: Intensity refers to the severity of an
impact. In evaluating the intensity of an impact of
the proposed action, the following should be
considered:
• Impacts that may be both beneficial and
adverse;
• Effects on human health and safety;
• Unique characteristics of the geographic
area;
• Highly controversial effects;
• Highly uncertain or risky effects;
• Potential for the action to set a precedence
for future actions with significant effects;
• Cumulative effects;
• Adverse effects on significant scientific,
cultural, or historic resources;
• Adverse effects on a threatened or
endangered species or its habitat; and
• Whether the action violates or threatens a
Federal, State, or local law or requirement.
92 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest