Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

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Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Drawdown from pumping in the Gallup and Dakota can be large, but is predicted to be localized to in and near the mine permit aera. Drawdown in the Westwater is modeled as much more extensive. Figure 43 is a map of the modeled drawdown in the Westwater caused by the Roca Honda Mine (i.e., the difference between scenarios 2 and 1) at the end of mining (assumed to be 13 years from startup). The map was prepared by the USFS using data from the Intera model. Contour lines are given for 1,000 feet of drawdown, 100 feet, 10 feet, and 1 foot. The Westwater cone of depression would continue to expand after mining and dewatering stop and water levels at the mine begin to recover. This occurs in the Dakota as well, but as its pumping is limited in time, the effect is much less. The result is that maximum Westwater drawdowns outside the permit area may occur years after mining. Figure 44 is a map showing modeled drawdowns 100 years after mining ceases (assumed to be the year 2125). At this time the Westwater cone is both broad and shallow. As of 2025, the 10-foot drawdown contour extends 16.6 miles out from the mine and the 1-foot contour extends as far as 17 miles. At this time, the maximum drawdown is still within the permit area and is about 30 feet. Changes beyond 2125 are not simulated. Due to the length of time it would take water levels in the Westwater Canyon aquifer to recover to pre-pumping conditions, the impact of the Roca Honda Mine on this groundwater resource would be considered significantly adverse. It is possible to plot drawdown over time for any layer and any grid location within the model domain. Figures 45–47 provide three such hydrographs; the impact of RHR is seen by comparing scenario 2 (with the mine) to scenario 1 (existing pumping only). The hydrographs were prepared by the USFS using data from the Intera model. Year 0 in each graph represents the year construction begins. Scenario 4 is also shown in these figures and it and scenario 3 are discussed below under cumulative impacts. • As indicated in figure 45, Roca Honda Mine dewatering would cause no significant impact to the San Mateo community well, which draws from the Point Lookout aquifer, far higher in the stratigraphic column than the Westwater. • Well 143 is a ranch well about 2 miles west of the mine that may be completed in the Westwater. (Based on the reported depth of the well, it may be completed in a shallower unit.) As shown in figure 46, under existing conditions, water levels are simulated as rising as they recover from past mining. The RHR impact is immediate and large, reaching about 200 feet of maximum drawdown. Water levels are predicted to recover after mining ceases. • As indicated in figure 47, there would be no impact from RHR at Crownpoint, where community wells also draw from the Westwater but outside the cone of depression of the mine. No wells drawing from the Dakota or Gallup were identified that would have significant impacts from the RHR mine. A possible exception is Well 143, which could be completed in one of those units; if so, impacts would be much smaller than shown in figure 46. 168 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Figure 43. Drawdown of Westwater Canyon aquifer after 13 years of pumping (close of Roca Honda Mine) DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 169
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United States Department of Agricul
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Environmental Impact Statement for
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Summary Roca Honda Resources, LLC (
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• Potential effects on the charac
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Mine Operation Summary Mine operati
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Resource Impacts and Mitigation •
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Resource Impacts and Mitigation num
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Contents Chapter 1. Purpose of and
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Contents Table 29. State of New Mex
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Contents Table 94. Food stamp enrol
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Contents Figure 66. Aerial image of
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H1N1 Influenza A virus, subtype H1N
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STD sexually transmitted disease SW
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Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for
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Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including
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Land Use Chapter 2. Alternatives, I
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Treated Water Discharge in an Alter
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Table 3. Impact comparison matrix T
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Topic Alternative 1 - No Action Res
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Vegetation Topic Alternative 1 - No
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Topic Alternative 1 - No Action Sen
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Topic Alternative 1 - No Action Rec
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Transportation Topic Alternative 1
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Topic Alternative 1 - No Action Hum
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Topic Alternative 1 - No Action Leg
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Other Actions and Projects Consider
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Marquez Canyon Exploration Current
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Chapter 3. Affected Environment and
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Figure 33. Permit area watershed an
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Common Name (Scientific Name) Gunni
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Table 39. Criteria for rating impac
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Wildlife Mortality Chapter 3. Affec
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Table 40. Impact characterization f
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Transportation Chapter 3. Affected
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Figure 57. Nearby recreation sites
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Table 41. Impact characterization f
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Minority Populations Chapter 3. Aff
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Figure 58. Distribution of minority
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High school graduates, percent of p
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Earnings Chapter 3. Affected Enviro
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Public Finance Chapter 3. Affected
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providing an estimate of the “rip
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Tax Revenue Chapter 3. Affected Env
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Table 61. Household characteristics
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Tribal History Chapter 3. Affected
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Natural Resources Chapter 3. Affect
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Physical APE Chapter 3. Affected En
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Agricultural Fields Chapter 3. Affe
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• Removal of a property from its
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Impacts to Natural Resources with C
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Site No. Project Section Land Statu
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Visual Resources Affected Environme
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Figure 64. View looking north from
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Alternative 1 Chapter 3. Affected E
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Environmental Consequences Chapter
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New Mexico 1.11 (0.98 - 1.25) Cibol
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Magnitude Descriptor Precedence or
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Noise Chapter 3. Affected Environme
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Resource Area Cultural and Historic
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Cumulative Effects Chapter 3. Affec
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Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordin
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Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordin
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Glossary Air-Quality Control Region
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References Cited (ACHP, 2005). Advi
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References Cited (Basin Coordinated
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References Cited (Brugge et al., 20
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References Cited (Census, 2011). U.
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References Cited (DesertUSA, 2011).
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References Cited (Gordon, 1961). Go
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(NatureServe, 2010a). NatureSevere.
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References Cited (NMDH, 2010c) New
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References Cited (NRGNHA, 2011). No
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References Cited (RHR, 2011a). Roca
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References Cited (Stacier and Guzy,
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References Cited (USEPA, 1975). U.S
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References Cited (USFS, 2001). U.S.
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References Cited (USFWS, no date).
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References Cited (WildEarth Guardia
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Index E economic impacts - 15, 73,
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Index N National Environmental Poli
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Index W waste - 18, 40, 46, 56-57,
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

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