Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species,
Forest Service Sensitive Species, and High Priority Migratory Birds
Impacts to sensitive and State listed threatened and endangered species under this alternative
would be similar, but likely less than, impacts under alternative 2 because of the reduction in the
project footprint and disturbed acreage. Under alternative 3, approximately 120 acres would be
disturbed during construction and mine operation activities within the Sections 9, 10, and 16. On
section 9, 10, and 16, 12 of these acres would be on national forest land. Additional surface
disturbance of 35 acres would occur outside of the permit area from haul roads, utility corridor,
and the mine water discharge pipeline. Of these 35 acres, 10.5 acres of desert grassland/
shrubland or piñon-juniper woodland could be temporarily lost due to the pipeline development
on Cibola National Forest.
Vegetation cover type that could be removed in the permit area includes piñon-juniper woodland,
juniper-savannah, and desert grassland/shrubland.
Because fewer habitats and less acreage would be altered and developed, overall adverse effects
to forest sensitive and State listed threatened and endangered species are expected to be less
except to migratory birds. Any violation of the MBTA would result in a major adverse effect.
Adverse effects are expected to be long term, minor to moderate, and medium in extent, probable
to possible, and slight to moderate in precedence to nonmigratory bird species. Adverse effects to
migratory birds are expected to be long term, minor to moderate and medium in extent, probable
to possible, and slight to moderate in precedence.
As with alternative 2, 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.
Management Indicator Species
Impacts to Rocky Mountain elk under this alternative would be similar to impacts under
alternative 2, but smaller in extent. Approximately 108 acres of montane grassland (desert
grassland/shrubland and juniper savannah) of the 865 acres within Sections, 9, 10, and 16 could
be temporarily lost due to mining development and operations. Eight of the 108 acres of montane
grassland would occur on national forest land. Additional habitat would be disturbed on 35 acres
outside of these sections. Of these 35 acres, 10.5 acres of desert grassland/shrubland or piñonjuniper
woodland could be temporarily lost due to the pipeline development on Cibola National
Forest.
The Cibola National Forest contains 192,037 acres of this habitat (USFS, 2005 MIS Report). In
addition, reclamation activities would restore grasslands in the permit area. The proposed action
is not expected to impact elk to the point of triggering declining population trends forestwide so
that forestwide the population trend is expected to remain upward. The forestwide habitat trend
for mountain grassland is also anticipated to remain stable.
Overall adverse effects to this species are expected to be long term, minor in magnitude, medium
in extent, probable, and slight to moderate in precedence.
Suitable grazing, fawning, and winter range habitat for mule deer would be removed on about 12
acres of piñon-juniper woodland and up to 108 acres of montane grassland/shrubland in the
244 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest