Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Physical APE
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
As described above in the section of “Region of Influence,” the physical APE includes the mine
permit area requested by Roca Honda Resources (Sections 9, 10, and 16 in their entirety); the
haul road routes in Sections 11, 17, and 20; the utility corridor and access road in Section 15; and
the dewatering discharge pipeline corridor and discharge points in Sections 11, 2, and the
unplatted private land to the north. Because the locations of the mine permit area and the
additional areas do not differ between the alternatives, the boundaries of the physical APE are the
same for all three.
Mt. Taylor TCP
The Mt. Taylor TCP has previously been determined eligible under Criteria A, B, and D and, thus,
is an historic property as well as a cultural resource. The TCP boundary encompasses almost all
of Sections 9 and 10, and only a small piece of the northeast corner of Section 16. Most of
Sections 11 and 2, where the discharge pipeline runs north, are also within the boundaries. A
small area of Section 15 is within the boundaries, but not where the utility corridor and access
road would be located. Sections 17 and 20 are not within the TCP (figure 62). Extensive
discussion of the Mt. Taylor TCP is presented below.
Within the area of overlap between the Mt. Taylor TCP and the physical APE, there are certain
specific locations identified for this EIS that contribute to the eligibility of the TCP. These
contributing elements “. . . are those features that can be demonstrated to be associated with the
traditional and ceremonial use of the mountain. These include shrines, offering places, pilgrimage
trails, cairns, and springs” (Benedict and Hudson, 2008:31). The tribal ethnographic assessments
resulted in the identification of four specific locations that contribute to the eligibility of the Mt.
Taylor TCP and are located within the area of overlap between the TCP and the physical APE.
Archaeological Resources
The types of archaeological resources identified in the physical APE include various types of
habitations, from roomblocks with associated trash piles indicating long-term use, to shorter term
field houses, campsites, rock shelters, and hogans. Hearths, American Indian petroglyphs, historic
inscriptions, rock alignments, rock cairns, shrines, and corrals were identified. Also found were
concentrated scatters of ceramic sherds, flaked stone tools and debris, and ground stone. Other
artifacts identified were bone artifacts, shell ornaments, glass fragments, metal cans and
fragments, and rifle cartridges.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 321