WSP10769

• File Number: 8220.105
• Description: Colorado River-Water Projects-Navajo
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/2001
• Author: BOR
• Title: Revised Draft Environmental Assessment for the Jicarilla Apache Nation Water Subcontract-aka USBR/PNM Water Contract Renewal and Extension
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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6.7.5.3 Income

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Income levels in the region would decline under the no action alternative. The Jicarijla Apache Nation
would not realize the income from supplying water to PNM under the Subcontract. The loss of any major
employer, such as SJGS, could have significant negative impacts on local income levels.

6.7.5.4 Taxes

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Local and state governments would face a significant loss of revenue ifSJGS and SJCC were to halt
operations. PNM and SJCC were the top two taxpayers in San Juan County in 1999; BHP was the seventh
highest taxpayer (San Juan County Assessor's Office 2000). The loss of revenue would have a
devastating impact on San Juan County and significant impacts on the State of New Mexico and the
federal government.

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6.7.5.5 Infrastructure

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The unemployment caused by implementation of the no action alternative would likely cause increased
demands on local government agencies such as unemployment support services, government welfare
programs, mental health facilities, and domestic violence and drug and alcohol treatment programs. Also,
since fewer people would be likely to be able to afford private medical care, there would be more stress
placed on subsidized government health programs.

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Primary and secondary education systems would experience declining enrollments if closing SJGS and
the mines was to cause a large movement of workers to move out of the county. However, displaced
workers from the mines and SJGS who would remain in the county may also seek retraining at either
vocational-technical institutions or at community colleges in the area, causing enrollments at these
institutions to rise.

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6.7.6 Mitigation Measures for the Proposed Action Alternative

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No significant impacts of the proposed action alternative on the socioeconomic environment were
identified since the proposed action would act to continue the current status of employment, income. and
social services. Consequently. no mitigation measures are proposed.

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6.8 Land Use

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The major use of land surrounding SJGS and the La Plata and San Juan mines is coal mining. The
historic and designated postmining use of lands currently being mined is livestock grazing. Following
successful reclamation, the land will be returned to that use. Other uses include wildlife habitat and
recreation.

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6.8.1 Recreation

The only recreational activity determined to take place on the San Juan River in the area under
consideration is sport fishing for catfish. In addition, there is scattered recreational water use by canoeists
and rafters in the area. Fishermen have been known to utilize the existing weir and the turbulent waters
below it for fishing. Limited fishing is also available to PNM employees at the SJGS storage reservoir.

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