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<br />ENVIRONMENI'AL ffiNSF.o:1ENCES <br /> <br />This section is the focus of the Revised DEIS and discusses t e environmental <br />impacts resulting from implementation of each of the three alter tives analyzed. <br /> <br />physical Environment <br /> <br />1. Geology <br /> <br />In Alternative Two about half of the Forest serv~e land has a <br />relatively high potential for natural and construction-induc slope failures <br />which can damage facilities and cause excessive sedimentati n. Debris flows <br />can occur in numerous areas resulting from landslides cause by increases in <br />groundwater. Ski trails will allow debris flows to incr se their travel <br />distances due to tree removal. Debris flows may reach ~ivate developed <br />lands; the risk is not great but is difficult to quantify Realigned U.S. <br />Higl'May 160 will be further from debris flow starting l!iones, but runout l!iones <br />will be longer due to tree removal and channelil!iation. Sn avalanches are <br />not expected to be a major problem to contend with. <br /> <br />Environmental consequences resulting from Alternative <br />as Alternative Two because IOOst unstable slopes are on the <br />Pass and no developnent would occur in the back bowls. Ou <br />could trigger an avalanche. <br /> <br />ree are the same <br />est side of Windy <br />of bounds skiers <br /> <br />2. ~ <br /> <br />Ski trails, roads and lift lines constitute the majo soil disturbance <br />resulting from developnent of Alternative Two. Soil erosi n will be greatly <br />reduced if proper reclamation practices are E'lTIployed, and reduction of <br />overall soil productivity will be very limited. Of the pr dicted 244 tons of <br />erosion per year only a small amount (ten percent) is expected to reach <br />stream channels. <br /> <br />Developnent of Alternative Three will result in imilar impacts as <br />Alternative Two except there would be no soils disturban e or sedimentation <br />in the East Fork drainage. Annual soil loss would arroun to 228 tons with <br />ten percent entering streams as sediment. <br /> <br />3. Minerals and Energy Sources <br /> <br />Minimal demand for mineral and energy resource devel <br />of the Forest land is included in an oil and gas lease <br />developed. Alternatives Two and Three would somewhat <br />energy developt\ent, but would not prevent such developnen <br /> <br />ent exists. Part <br />hich has not been <br />inhibit mineral or <br />from occurring. <br /> <br />4. Visual Resources <br /> <br />The U.S. Highway 160 overlook and the view fr the highway are <br />considered the IOOSt important viewpoints for evaluating tfe impacts on visual <br />resources. Generally, the visual impacts for bott alternatives are <br />categorized as low. Moderate visual impacts are designa ed for the terrain <br /> <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />vi <br />