Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Section 10 includes vegetation similar to section 9 but with more desert grassland. Elevations
range from about 7,100 to 7,600 feet, with the lowest areas in the southeast corner of the section.
There are two unpaved roads in this section, and same as section 9, they are closed to the public.
There are also no residences or human development in this section, thus the number of viewers is
low. The Forest Service visual inventory in Section 10 gives the area a VQO for modification
(figure 67) (USFS, 1991).
Section 16 is mostly desert grassland with some open piñon -juniper woodland and savannah. The
elevation range is much flatter, only about 7,100 to 7,300 feet. There are two unpaved roads in
this section. This is State land, as compared to Forest Service land in the other two sections, so
the roads are open to the public. There are no residences in the section, but there is one residence
on Lee Ranch 1 mile west of the section boundary. The only development is a power line that
runs through the section. There is still a low number of viewers to this section. Since this is State
land, there is no Forest Service visual inventory for this section. Extrapolating the VMS
principles onto this section, and making a determination, the VQO for this area would also be for
modification.
Figure 66. Aerial image of permit area (ESRI, 2010)
364 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest