Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

• Removal of a property from its historic location;
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
• Change in the character of a property’s use or of physical features within a property’s
setting that contribute to its historic significance;
• Introduction of visual, atmospheric, or auditory elements that diminish the integrity of a
property’s significant historic features;
• Neglect of a property which causes its deterioration, except where such neglect and
deterioration are recognized qualities of a property of religious and cultural significance;
and
• Transfer, lease, or sale of property out of Federal ownership or control without adequate
and legally enforceable restrictions or conditions to ensure long-term preservation of a
property’s historic significance. (36 CFR 800.5(a)(2).
The Forest Service applied the criteria of adverse effect to the activities proposed for mine
development, operation, and reclamation to identify potential effects to historic properties
identified within the physical and setting APEs. These same criteria were also used to identify the
potential for impacts to other cultural resources not defined as historic properties.
Assumptions in Analysis
Built-In Project Plan Commitments
During the analysis conducted to identify cultural resources and assess potential impacts, RHR
incorporated certain design and operations commitments to minimize the potential for impacts to
cultural resources. These commitments are included as part of the two action alternatives, as
described in chapter 2. As such, the analysis of potential impacts to cultural resources assumes
that these commitments will be included in the approved mine plan of operations should either
action alternative be selected. These commitments include:
• Haul Roads and Access Roads
○ Commitment – upon receipt of the necessary permits to allow start of construction,
the first activity conducted by RHR will be to blade new access roads within the
proposed haul road routes. The new bladed roads will be the access used by all minerelated
vehicles, while the haul roads are being formally constructed. The existing
ranch roads in Sections 17 and 16, and the unauthorized two-track road in Section 11,
will not be used for mine-related activities. In Sections 9 and 10, new proposed
access roads to vent shafts and dewatering wells will be established prior to drilling
the shafts and wells.
○ Purpose – this commitment was developed to address the potential for impacts from
mine traffic prior to the establishment of formal haul roads and access roads.
• Perimeter Fencing
○ Commitment – perimeter fencing in Section 16 will be installed at the beginning of
construction activities in that section. The fencing will surround all facilities and
activity areas, with the exception of the exploratory drill locations. Perimeter fencing
will also be installed around all vent shaft locations in Sections 9 and 10. Perimeter
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 339