Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Effects to Mt. Taylor TCP
Impacts from construction, operations, and reclamation that would affect the Mt. Taylor TCP are
discussed above. Either of the action alternatives would have an adverse affect on this historic
property because it would alter the characteristics of the property that qualify it for inclusion in
the NRHP in a manner that would diminish the property’s integrity of relationship, condition, and
setting. These effects, discussed more below, would be permanent and severe.
Mt. Taylor has an integral relationship with the beliefs and traditional cultural practices of the
involved tribes and it is critical to the maintenance of the cultural identity and transmittal of their
beliefs. It is this relationship that contributes to the property’s significance. The action
alternatives would result in the disruption, alteration, and displacement of traditional cultural
activities that are critical to the continuity of cultural beliefs and practices of these tribes. In the
view of the involved tribes, changes to the traditional practitioners’ ability to conduct their
traditional cultural activities would lessen the overall effectiveness of their prayers, medicine, and
healing ceremonies, thereby impacting the traditional practices and diminishing their value. These
impacts and changes would affect the TCP by diminishing the property’s integrity of relationship.
In the view of the tribes, Spirit Beings and their association with Mt. Taylor are integral to the
spiritual and cultural beliefs of the tribes and play a vital role in the view of the mountain as a
powerful living, breathing entity. These beings provide vital resources such as rain, snow, plants,
and wildlife that allow the tribal communities to survive and prosper. The Spirit Beings’ presence
and protection on the mountain is essential for contemporary prayers, medicine, and healing
ceremonies to be successful. The proposed project would have an impact upon the Spirit Beings
associated with the TCP. The action alternatives threaten the relationship between the Spirit
Beings and the mountain. It is believed that mining for uranium is an activity that would anger the
Spirit Beings who reside on or travel to the mountain, and impact the relationship of the Beings to
the mountain, the people, and the traditional cultural practices associated with the mountain.
These impacts would also affect the TCP by diminishing the property’s integrity of relationship.
Physical damage to the Mt. Taylor TCP itself would occur as a result of either of the action
alternatives. The natural and cultural landscape of the TCP contributes to the context and
historical significance of the Mt. Taylor TCP, and is important to convey the TCP’s cultural
values. The extent of alteration to the TCP, which is 442,659 acres in size, would be limited.
Under alternative 2 (proposed action), 71 acres in Section 10 and 12 acres in Section 9 would be
developed within the TCP. Under alternative 3 (one shaft alternative), 18 acres in Section 10 and
12 acres in Section 9 would be developed within the TCP. While the size of the damage to the
TCP under either action alternative would not significantly alter the landform, the impact would
still affect the TCP by diminishing the property’s integrity of condition.
Construction of the mine facilities would result in damage to physical features within the Mt.
Taylor TCP’s setting. The natural and cultural landscape surrounding the TCP contributes to the
context and historical significance of the Mt. Taylor TCP. In addition, all three phases of the
proposed project are anticipated to introduce visual and audible elements out of character with the
Mt. Taylor TCP. The scenery and viewshed currently retain the historic sense of place for this
property, and this setting is a significant historic feature of the TCP. Impacts to the physical
features of the TCP’s setting and the introduction of elements out of character with the TCP
would affect the TCP by diminishing the property’s integrity of setting.
352 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest