WSP01656 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1. Soi ls found in hi.gh altitude glacially sc lUred basins and valleys, These are very cold soils above timberlir ~ on steep slopes, ridges and glacial benches. These soils lre shallow to mod- erately deep and are associated with a h, Jh degree of rock outcrop. Soil development is weak to nOIexistant in these very young soils. These soils are highly sen~itive to erosion and are slow to recover from disturbances. 2. Soils found in areas characterized by co] Luvial processes. These are soils on steep side slopes. These soils are generally shallow to moderately deep devellJping in residuum and colluvial material. Development is weak t,) moderate and the soils are cold and moist. Dominant vegetation Ls mixed conifer. When vegeta- tive cover is removed, these soiLs are succeptable to moderate to high erosion. 3. Soil) found in areas of alluvial deposits. These are alluvial soils in the drainage bottoms. They are generally deep, well drained and somewhat coarse textu~ed. Development is moderate and the soils are cold and moist. They occur mainly along Oh-Be-Joyful Creek on fairly gentle slopes. Vegetation is mixed conifer and high ele~vation riparian. J. AIR RESOURCE F~om an air quality standpoint, the Oh-Be-Joyful Wilderness Study ArEa is nearly pristine. High levels of suspended particulates found nearby in the Slate and East River valleys do not extend into Oh-Be- Joyful due to topography and airflow patterns. Ambient air quality monitoring data collected south of the area in Coal Creek and Alkali Basin indicates that the general area has air quality significantly better than ambient air quality standards. The Clean Air Act (Sections 160-169) provides for protection of pristine areas such as Oh-Be-Joyful, through Prevention of Significant Deteri ra- tion (PSO) requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) s charged with administering the PSD regulations in Colorado (in the absence of approved enabling State legislation). One such requireme. t is for a PSD permit for all major emitting facilities, as dE~fined by the Act, that would affect the area's air quality. Current~y there are no existing or planned facilities in t:he general area that meet the definition of major emitting facilitiE's. The EPA has d(~termined that the proposed Mt. Emmons Project (Al-lA):, Inc) will not meet the criteria to be classified as a Ilmajor emit:ting source", and will not be required to obtain ~ PSO permit. 40