Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
increases in mule deer numbers on Cibola National Forest may be a result of several large
wildfires which have occurred in the area. Mountain shrub and piñon-juniper habitat have not
proven to be a limiting factor for population expansion (USFS, 2005 MIS Report). Because
populations of mule deer are declining in the permit area, overall adverse effects from the
proposed action over the short term are expected to be moderate, medium in extent, probable or
possible, and slight to moderate in precedence.
Reclamation activities would restore mule deer habitat in the permit area. Over the long term
then, adverse impacts would likely be at most minor, medium in extent, probable or possible, and
slight to moderate in precedence. The forestwide trend of piñon-juniper woodland habitat is
anticipated to remain stable. Any adverse effects to mountain shrub habitat would be mitigated by
reclamation activities and would not contribute to the overall decline of this habitat forestwide.
Mountain shrub habitat trend would remain downward forestwide. The forestwide population
trend for mule deer is expected to remain downward since factors other than this project are
causing the current population trends.
Impacts to the juniper titmouse would be similar to impacts to general wildlife as well. About 12
acres of piñon-juniper—the preferred habitat of juniper titmouse—would be removed in Section 9
for the duration of the Roca Honda Mine. Up to an additional 10.5 acres of desert
grassland/shrubland or piñon-juniper woodland could be temporarily lost due to the pipeline
development on Cibola National Forest. Cibola National Forest contains 838,376 acres of this
habitat forestwide. The titmouse is very sedentary and disinclined to wander, even in winter.
Thus, it would be more susceptible to wildlife mortality than larger, more mobile species.
Though populations at the national level show a stable trend for the juniper titmouse, surveys
conducted since 1966 through 2003 indicate a downward population trend in New Mexico. The
titmouse also appears to be declining on the Cibola National Forest (USFS, 2005 MIS Report).
Overall adverse effects of the proposed action on the juniper titmouse are expected to be
moderate over the short term and, once reclamation has taken place, minor over the long term,
and medium in extent, probable to possible, and slight to moderate in precedence. Forestwide
habitat trend in the piñon-juniper habitat type is expected to remain stable because a very small
amount of the total habitat available would be affected. The forestwide population trend of the
juniper titmouse is expected to remain downward since factors other than this project are causing
the current population trend.
High Priority Migratory Birds
Impacts to migratory birds under this alternative would be similar to impacts to general wildlife,
though removal of nesting habitat or disturbance and displacement of migratory birds during the
breeding season could have moderate to major adverse effects to migratory birds in the area and
would result in unintentional take. BMPs and mitigation efforts not included in the plan of
operations would be needed to minimize these effects. These mitigation efforts include contacting
the Forest Service and developing appropriate avoidance and minimization measures if a
migratory bird nest is discovered during mining operations.
Mitigation measures could include working around the nest site as feasible to avoid disturbance
or developing a mitigation and monitoring plan. Effects on migratory birds in the process of
migration from, for example, collisions with structures and facilities, would likely be minor.
242 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest