Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

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Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences predominant isotope (comprising about 99.3 percent of naturally occurring uranium) is termed “U-238” (sometimes written U238 or 238 U) and forms a series of decay products including radionuclides radium-226 and radon-222. The decay process continues until a stable, nonradioactive decay product is formed – lead (Pb-206, in the case of U-238) (USEPA, 2011g). These decay products emit energetic particles or energetic waves that travel through a medium or space and which can damage the tissue in a living organism. The amount and duration of radiation exposure determines the severity or type of health effects. These heavy elements also have a chemical toxicity, which is the degree to which a substance is poisonous to a living organism. Because the amount of exposure and uptake of uranium could determine the severity of the impact on wildlife, it is important to understand how wildlife can be repeatedly exposed to uranium and its decay products in the environment. Unless properly controlled, uranium and other radionuclides could be transported through the environment via atmospheric deposition (sedimentation of uranium or radionuclide particles from the air), dust, runoff, erosion and deposition, groundwater and surface water, and the food chain. Groundwater and surface water could become contaminated with uranium and its decay products from mining activities. Soil and food (prey species) could also have elevated levels of uranium and decay products due to mining activities (Hincks et al., 2010). When living organisms are exposed repeatedly to these radionuclides, toxins can build up in their tissues over time. Bioaccumulation is the buildup of a toxin in a living organism over time. Predator species, like the mountain lion, tend to accumulate higher concentrations of substances released into the environment because they are exposed to more pathways than prey species. For this analysis, major exposure pathways include ingestion, inhalation, absorption, and bioaccumulation. Figures 54 and 55 document these potential uranium and radionuclide exposure pathways. The extent and nature of the health effects on wildlife associated with exposure to uranium and its decay products remain somewhat inconclusive. Very little research has been conducted on the biological impacts of uranium and other radionuclide exposure on wildlife. Even fewer studies have attempted to quantify the risks to wildlife caused by the chemical or radiation releases at uranium mining sites. Though research is limited, it does suggest that uranium and other radionuclides can affect the survival, growth, and reproduction of plants and animals (Hincks et al., 2010). Exposure to chemical and radiation hazards is influenced by an animal’s life history and surrounding environment (Hincks et al., 2010). The sensitivity of wildlife to radiation and chemical exposures is also influenced by body size. Large-bodied species are typically more vulnerable to high levels of ration exposure as described above than small-bodied species (BLM, 2011). Animal studies have shown that sufficiently high doses of uranium ingested into the body may damage the kidneys, and at a still greater dose may cause death (Kathern, 2011). Historical mining and milling practices in this region in high localized levels of uranium and other radionuclide exposure to living organisms. Even a small increase in uranium contamination could hypothetically contribute to adverse impacts on wildlife. While past uranium mining in the area has contributed to contamination, there have been limited studies on the impacts of uranium on wildlife (EPA, 2011g). Although radiation from uranium and its decay products does not travel far, in the absence of proper ore handling and controls, uranium particles could be transported off the permit area due to the action of wind and water. If groundwater or surface water were to become contaminated, uranium and radionuclides could impact areas outside of the permit area. 234 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Figure 54. Biological pathways of exposure for uranium and association radionuclides within a food web in New Mexico (adapted from Hincks et al., 2010). DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 235
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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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Topic Alternative 1 - No Action Cul
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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 Alt
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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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Environmental Consequences Surface
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Construction Phase Effects Chapter
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Table 12. Storm water controls for
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Best Management Practices Chapter 3
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Effects on Sediment Transport and D
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Figure 45. Modeled hydrograph for S
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Figure 47. Modeled hydrograph for C
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Pollutant and Averaging Time Chapte
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Page 211 and 212: Climate and Greenhouse Gases Chapte
Page 215 and 216: Regulatory Review Chapter 3. Affect
Page 221 and 222: Radon-222 Emissions Chapter 3. Affe
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Page 231 and 232: State Listed Plant Species Chapter
Page 233 and 234: Species Status Habitat and Distribu
Page 241 and 242: Common Name (Scientific name) Black
Page 245 and 246: Common Name (Scientific Name) Gunni
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Page 291 and 292: Minority Populations Chapter 3. Aff
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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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(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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