Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
would generally be localized and confined to the general permit area, around haul roads, and the
pipeline during mine development and operation.
Impacts from light pollution depend on the brightness, intensity of the lights, size of the area
illuminated, and habitat types surrounding the lights. Animals live by a pattern which is adapted
to the 24-hour cycle associated with our planet’s rotation. When this pattern is disrupted, animals
can become disoriented. Types of animal behavior that rely on the length of dark hours include
mating, migration, sleep, and foraging. Potential impacts from light pollution include decreases in
reproduction, difficulty foraging, exposure to predators, impairment of night vision, confusion of
natural instincts that protect against predators and the elements, high expenditures of energy, and
interference with migration and mating. Light pollution may result in temporary to long-term
displacement of wildlife surrounding the permit area depending on the frequency and duration of
light use (IDSA, 2008). Impacts would generally be localized and confined to the general permit
area, around haul roads, and the pipeline during mine development and operation.
Birds and raptors are especially vulnerable to disturbance during nesting activities and the level of
sensitivity to a disturbance depends on the species and individual’s tolerance level. Intrusioninduced
behaviors—such as bird nest abandonment and decreased nest attentiveness—have led to
species decline (USFS, 2009b). Temporary absence from a nest could result in high nestling
mortality from overheating, chilling, desiccation, or premature fledging. Most raptors return to
the same nest site or territory for consecutive years, but may not return to their nesting territory
the following season if it was disturbed during the previous year (USFS, 2011).
Short- to long-term adverse effects from wildlife displacement could range from minor to major
in magnitude and would be medium in extent, probable, and slight in precedence. Major impacts
would occur if RHR violated the MBTA.
Exposure to Chemical and Radiation Hazards Associated
with Bioaccumulation in the Air, Soil, Vegetation, and Prey Species
A potential impact to wildlife from mining activities is the degradation of habitat from
contamination of chemical elements, including uranium, radon, radium, and other radioactive
decay products. The greatest potential for the release of radioactive decay products into the
environment would occur from:
• Exposing uranium-bearing rock;
• Extraction of ore and nonore;
• Placement of ore on ore pads;
• Loading ore on trucks;
• Hauling ore offsite; and
• Depressurizing mine water.
Uranium is an element that undergoes radioactive decay. Radioactive decay occurs naturally and
breaks uranium down at a steady and predictable rate by releasing one or more small particles and
ionizing radiation. This process can produce an isotope of uranium that has a different mass, or
create different elements altogether (daughter products). All uranium isotopes are radioactive and
the three natural uranium isotopes found in the environment also undergo radioactive decay. The
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 233