Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Removing 218 acres of vegetation would result in long-term habitat loss, degradation, and
fragmentation and have long term, probable, moderate adverse effects that are medium in extent
and slight in precedence to general wildlife. Though habitat would be lost, mitigation discussed
above and reclamation efforts would help minimize the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation.
Reclamation activities would restore the current use of rangeland. While this would benefit
species that rely on grasslands for habitat or food, some habitat would be removed from the
permit area. The haul roads would create additional fragmentation for wildlife populations in the
area. The direct mortality of wildlife expected during mining operations cannot be quantified.
However, based on the size of the affected area, the effects would be minor to moderate in
magnitude, short term, medium extent, probable, and slight in precedence. Most wildlife species
in the permit area are mobile and could readily avoid direct mortality. Small mammals,
amphibians, and reptiles that are more sedentary and less conspicuous would be most susceptible.
Speed limit postage of 15mph would reduce the amount of wildlife mortality.
Displacement during mine development and operation would occur and is expected to have longterm,
minor to moderate, and probable adverse effects that are medium in extent and slight in
precedence. After reclamation activities, many wildlife species would return to the area. Because
this area is currently used as grasslands for livestock grazing, existing wildlife in the region is
already adapted to this type of land use. Major effects from exposure to chemical and radiation
hazards associated with bioaccumulation in the air, soil, vegetation, and prey species are not
anticipated. Adverse effects overall would be minor to moderate, long term, and medium in
extent, possible, and slight to moderate in precedence.
Overall adverse effects to general wildlife from wildlife mortality, habitat loss, alteration,
degradation, fragmentation, displacement, and exposure to chemical radiation hazards are
expected to be long term, minor to moderate in magnitude, medium in extent, probable to
possible, and slight to moderate in precedence.
State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species
Although the spotted bat is not known to occur in the project area and was not observed during
surveys, habitat removal during mine development could remove suitable or occupied habitat of
this bat. Adverse impacts to the spotted bat would be similar to impacts to general wildlife
discussed above. While up to 218 acres of the spotted bats’ habitat (piñon juniper-woodland and
desert grassland/shrublands) could be removed, the isolated and scattered permanent water bodies
or stock tanks that provide the spotted bat with foraging habitat would be unaffected.
Bats in the area may change their roosting habitat, moving to undisturbed areas adjacent to the
mining site. Because bats are nocturnal and adapted to low light and unlit conditions (Bat
Conservation Trust, 2012), artificial lighting at night could also disturb them and cause these
species to displace to other areas. RHR has proposed several measures to minimize the amount of
wildlife mortality including posting speed limits of 15 mph and placing screens over ventilation
openings (RHR, 2009c). Reclamation activities would restore the area to pre-mining conditions.
Bats would not be able to use the mines for hibernation, limiting their exposure to uranium and
other radionuclides. Overall adverse effects to this bat species is expected to be long term, minor
to moderate in magnitude, and medium in extent. Effects would also be probable or possible and
slight to moderate in precedence. Once reclamation has taken place, this species population
would be expected to return in a few years to pre-mine levels, barring the local appearance of
white-nose syndrome or other catastrophic conditions (USFWS, 2012c). Any mining related
238 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest