Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Table 39. Criteria for rating impacts to wildlife
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Major Factor Definition in Terms of Wildlife
Magnitude
Major Effects to wildlife would be obvious, long term, and would have substantial consequences to
wildlife populations in the region, mortality of a number of individuals that subsequently
jeopardizes the viability of the resident population, extensive mitigation measures not included
in the plan of operations would be needed to offset any adverse effects and their success would
not be guaranteed. Violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and/or the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 would occur.
Moderate Effects to wildlife would be readily detectable, long term and localized, with consequences
affecting the population level(s) of species. Mitigation measures not including in the plan of
operations, if needed to offset adverse effects, would be extensive and likely successful.
Violation of the MBTA and/or the Endangered Species Act of 1973 would not occur.
Minor Temporary displacement of a few localized individuals or groups of animals, mortality of
individuals that would not impact population trends, mitigation measures if needed to offset
adverse effects, would be simple and successful. Violation of the MBTA and/or the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 would not occur.
Duration
Long-term Greater than 1 year or during critical (reproduction or rearing periods)
Medium-term One month to 1 year
(limited or
intermittent)
Short-term Less than 1 month
Extent
Large Effects document at the population or habitat level
Medium Effects documented at the groups of individual or localized level (permit area)
(localized)
Small (limited) Effects are limited to scattered individuals
Likelihood
Probable Occurs during typical operating conditions
Possible Occurs under worst case operating conditions
Unlikely Occurs under upset/malfunction conditions
Precedence and Uniqueness
Severe Impacts are completely unprecedented; no similar impacts have been known to occur; types,
extent, or probability of the impacts cannot be reasonably predicted; there is substantial and
sustained dispute among subject matter experts, agencies, organizations, and/or citizens about
the nature or importance of the impacts.
Moderate There is moderate confidence in the accuracy of the predications as to types, extent, and
likelihood the impacts; there is moderate dispute among subject matter experts, agencies,
organizations, and/or citizens about the nature or importance of the impacts.
Slight The types, extent, or probability of the impacts can be reasonably predicted with only slight
uncertainty there is very limited dispute among subject matters experts, agencies,
organizations, and/or citizen about the nature or importance of the impacts.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 229