Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Site No.
Project
Section
Land
Status
Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Criteria for
Eligibility
Source/Project Facility
162763 16 NMSLO D Stock piles, haul road, and reclamation
activities
165884 20 private D Construction of haul road.
Alternative 3
This section describes the impacts of the one shaft alternative on cultural resources. Under this
alternative, only one mine shaft and associated facilities would be constructed. Mining
development, operation, and reclamation would occur primarily on Section 16, with vent shafts
and safety features in Sections 9 and 10. The direct and indirect impacts to cultural resources
identified by the involved tribes (described above) would occur under this alternative. Impacts to
springs, groundwater, wildlife, and vegetation, all as resources infused with cultural meaning and
value, would occur under this alternative. Also, direct and indirect adverse effects (described
above) to historic properties, to features within the setting of historic properties, and to the visual
and audible characteristics of the setting of the Mt. Taylor TCP would occur. Specific direct
physical damage to historic properties under this alternative are displayed in table 69. Under
alternative 3, direct physical damage would be expected to occur to the same four historic
properties as alternative 2, plus the Mt. Taylor TCP. Because there would be no mine shaft and
associated facilities in Section 10, the extent of direct physical damage to the Mt. Taylor TCP
would be less under this alternative. An additional 33 historic properties could be at varying
levels of risk for indirect effects from erosion, inadvertent damage, and vandalism or looting,
based on their proximity to the proposed project facilities and mine activities.
Because of the reduction in surface facilities constructed in Section 10, which would mean less
ground disturbance, fewer surface facilities, and less activity and traffic, the totality of the
impacts and effects to the Mt. Taylor TCP and the resources and historic properties in that area
would be less under this alternative. However, the impacts of this alternative on cultural resources
would still be significant, and the proposed project would result in an adverse effect to historic
properties.
Table 69. Historic properties that would be directly physically damaged under alternative 3
(one shaft alternative)
Site No.
Mt. Taylor
Traditional
Cultural
Property
LA 156475
Project
Section
16, 9, 10,
11, 2
Land Status
Federal and
NMSLO
(portions outside
of project area
include private
lands)
Criteria for
Eligibility
Source/Project Facility
A, B, and D Construction of surface facilities in Sections
9, 10, 11, and 2. Extraction of mineralized
ore under Sections 9, 10, and 16.
Reclamation of surface facilities in Sections
9, 10, 11, and 2.
78873 16 NMSLO D Construction of haul road and perimeter
fence.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 357