Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Land Use
Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action
○ Fences would be placed around mine shafts and ventilation holes to keep wildlife out
of these areas, and screens would be placed over ventilation openings to deter birds
and bats.
○ Power lines and associated equipment such as transformers and substations would be
built using BMPs for raptor safety.
○ Appropriate avoidance and minimization measures would be developed in
consultation with the Forest Service to address migratory bird nests discovered
during mining operations.
○ Pruned and felled trees would be scattered to provide cover, where appropriate. Also
when trees are chopped, the mulch would be spread onsite in open areas away from
personnel traffic.
• Implement BMPs for control of storm water and erosion.
Recreation
• None.
Environmental Justice and Protection of Children
• A spill prevention, control and countermeasures (SPCC) plan would be developed to train
workers and employees on handling hazardous substances, prevention of spills, cleaning
up spills, emergency or accidental releases, and the notifications and reporting
requirements.
• Access to the permit area will be controlled during mining operations to protect the
public from possible injury due to operating conditions such as heavy equipment and
truck traffic and other operations that have the potential to cause injury to untrained
personnel.
• All personnel entering the site will be checked in and allowed access to the
administration building only with a company escort.
Socioeconomics
• None.
Cultural and Historic Resources
• Implement BMPs for storm water and erosion control.
• Implement a programmatic agreement (to be developed between the draft EIS and final
EIS) that contains measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to cultural
resources.
• Implement additional facility commitments: initial blading of access roads within
proposed haul road routes, perimeter fencing of Sections 10 and 16, well pad fencing and
erosion control, and installation of a gate on Section 11 haul road.
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 57