Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Table 27. Comparison of vegetation classifications in areas of potential impact
Vegetation Classification
Roca Honda Mine Project
Location
(Sections 9,10, and 16)
Total
Acreage
Percent of
Survey Area
Total
Acreage
Water Reuse
Pipeline Route
Percent of
Survey Area
Piñon-Juniper Woodland 375.4 20 57.6 70
Piñon-Juniper Mixed Woodland 373.0 19 1.5 2
Juniper Savanna 679.3 35 — —
Shrub Grassland 185.3 10 23.0 28
Semi-Stable Dune 17.3 1 — —
Source: Modified from McClain and Thompson, 2012
Forest Service Sensitive, State Listed, and
Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Species
Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Plant Species
The USFWS lists two Federally threatened plant species that occur in McKinley and Cibola
Counties, New Mexico: the Zuni fleabane (Erigeron rhizomatus) and Pecos sunflower
(Helianthus paradoxus). Neither has appropriate habitat in the Roca Honda Mine permit area nor
along the proposed pipeline route and, therefore, neither is likely to occur. Table 28 lists the two
species with their protection status, habitat requirements, and potential to occur onsite. As
expected, neither of these species was found during the surveys (RHR, 2009d).
Table 28. USFWS-listed endangered, threatened, or candidate plants, McKinley and Cibola
Counties
Species Status Habitat and Distribution
Pecos
sunflower
(Helianthus
paradoxus)
Zuni fleabane
(Erigeron
rhizomatus)
Source: RHR, 2009d
Threatened Saturated saline soils of desert
wetlands. Usually associated with
desert springs or the wetlands created
from modifying desert springs, and
from 3,300–6,600 feet. Known from
Cibola County.
Threatened Nearly barren detrital-clay hillsides
with soils derived from shales of the
Chinle or Baca Formations (often
seleniferous), most often on north- or
east-facing slopes in open piñonjuniper
woodlands at 7,300–8,000 feet.
Known from McKinley County.
Potential to Occur in the
Permit Area or Along the
Pipeline Route
No appropriate habitat. There is one
area with saturated soils created by
damming a drainage; however, the
area is not saline. Both the permit
area and the pipeline route are above
the elevation range of the species.
No appropriate habitat. There are no
shales of the Chinle or Baca
formations in the permit area. Most of
the permit area and all of the pipeline
route is below the elevation range for
this species.
204 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest