Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Predatory birds (raptors) would hypothetically be most susceptible to adverse effects from
bioaccumulation of uranium and other radionuclides, except that, as noted above, due to the
nature of the planned facilities and the manner in which uranium ore and mine water would be
managed and treated, these effects are expected to be minor in magnitude, possible, medium to
large in extent, and slight in precedence.
Conclusion – Impacts of Alternative 2 on Wildlife
Overall adverse impacts of the proposed action on State listed threatened and endangered species,
Forest Service sensitive species, MIS, and high priority migratory birds once all permit conditions
and mitigation measures are taken into consideration, and assuming that these would be diligently
implemented, would be direct and indirect, short term and long term, localized, minor to
moderate, probable, and of slight precedence or uniqueness. In most instances, once mining
activities have ceased and reclamation has occurred, the populations of any special status species
which now occur within the permit area are likely to return to their pre-mine levels over a period
of years as habitats are restored.
In conclusion, impacts of alternative 2 on wildlife would be less than significant as long as
mitigation efforts related to migratory birds are fully implemented, including contacting the
Forest Service and developing appropriate avoidance and minimization measures if a migratory
bird nest is discovered during mining operations.
Alternative 3
Under this alternative, there would only be one mine shaft. Mining development, operation, and
reclamation would occur primarily on Section 16 and Section 9. This section analyzes the general
impacts to wildlife, State listed threatened and endangered species, Forest Service sensitive
species, MIS, and high priority migratory birds.
General Wildlife
Impacts under this alternative would be similar to impacts under alternative 2. Under this
alternative, approximately 120 acres would be disturbed during construction and mine operation
activities within Sections 9, 10, and 16. Additional surface disturbance of 35 acres would occur
outside of the permit area from haul roads, utility corridor, and the mine water discharge pipeline.
Thus, the total area of habitat disturbance would be 155 acres, versus 218 acres for alternative 2.
Vegetation cover types that could be removed in Sections 9, 10, and 16 include 12 acres of piñonjuniper
woodland, 8 acres of desert grassland/shrubland, and 100 acres of juniper-savannah/desert
grassland/shrubland. 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.
Overall effects to general wildlife are expected to be long term, minor to moderate, and medium
in extent, probable to possible, and slight to moderate in precedence. Impacts to wildlife on
Cibola National Forest land would be mostly confined to Section 9.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 243