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';' f I 1 ~~nding of No Significant '.'''..}. .'-<- '-',-;', Impact ,". \ Dolores Project Road Upgrading Dolores Project, Colorado The proposed action would not constitute a Federal action having significant environmental impacts. Impacts would be minor and mostly temporary. Planned mitigation measures would adequately alleviate adverse effects, Project impacts are summarized below: 1. Short term impacts on air quality would occur in the form of dust raised from road grading equipment during construction. Periodic watering of the roads would keep the dust down to acceptable levels. 2. Minor siltation of the Dolores River would occur during curve straightening and bank stabilization activities along the Lone Dome Road. Compliance with the Clean Water Act would ensure that this temporary impact would be minimized. 3. Approximately 53 acres of roadside vegetation (grasses and forbs) would be lost due to the project. Other vegetation losses due to construction would be restored after construction by reseeding the disturbed roadsides. 4. Impacts on terrestrial wildlife would include the loss of some small mammals tha.t presently inhabit the roadside area that would be destroyed, and possible increase in big game losses due to increased traffic in the improved roads. The designed speed on the improved roads would be limited to 40 mph and 30 mph on county and Forest Service roads respectively, and winter access to vehicles would be limited to further protect wintering big game. 5. The bald eagle is the only Federally listed endangered species that occurs in the project area. Preferred habitat for this species typically occurs at lower elevations. The U.S. Fish and wildlife Service has rendered a non-jeopardy opinion dated June 9, 1980. 6. Impacts or cultural resources would be insignificant or adequately mitigated. The Colorado SHPO and Forest Service agreed (letters dated March 1 and April 16, 1982) there would be "No Effect" to the Glade Road sites, since improvements would be made within the previously disturbed road and ditch limits. A "No Adverse !'ffect by Reason of Recovery" finding has been proposed by Reclamation and accepted by the SHPO and the Forest Service for the Ormiston Point and Lone Dome Road improvements, and a "No Effect" determination for Williams Draw Road (letters dated July 1 and July 28, 1982) has been accepted by the SHPO and the Fores t Service. The transmittal of the environmental assessment to entities for review resulted in comments from four Federal agencies and two State agencies. There were no issues raised that were not readily resolved. Responses to the comments follow the environmental assessment.