Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action
2. Mine Operation – This phase includes activities directly related to production of
uranium ore from the underground mine, and transport of the ore offsite for mineral
processing. Soils, rock, and ore would be stockpiled on the surface. Up to 4,000 gallons
per minute (gpm) of water would initially be pumped from the mine and treated prior to
discharge onto a nearby rancher’s private property, where it would irrigate pastureland.
Subsequent, long-term volumes of water pumped, treated, and discharged would likely be
substantially less than the initial maximum of 4,000 gpm.
3. Mine Reclamation – This phase consists of activities intended to reclaim land affected
by mine development and operation, and to return that land to an approved post-mining
land use (grazing).
Figure 2. Proposed Roca Honda Mine permit area location map
4 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest