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<br />Animas - LaPlata Project Draft Environmental Statement <br />Work Plan <br /> <br />I. Lead Agency. Department of Natural Resourcp~ <br />Mr. Harris Sherman, Director <br />839-3311 <br /> <br />II. Major IssUes. The following issues are likely to have <br />a significant bearing on the State's response to this <br />DES. Reviewing agencies should attempt to address these <br />issues explicitly or at least be aware of them when <br />making comments more narrowly focused on their respective <br />areas of expertise and responsibility. <br /> <br />1. Social and Economic. A large part of the population <br />growth resulting from this project (3730 people) are <br />expected to reside in the Durango area. This influx <br />of persons during and after construction would increase <br />demands on housing, education, health care and public <br />utilities. will the proposed mitigating measures <br />adequately handle these problems for all people involved <br />(including the indian reservation). <br /> <br />;;; <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />2. Cultural Resources. The construction and operation of <br />this project would disturb a number of archaelogical <br />sites both directly and indirectly. Approximately <br />279 out of the 484 sites would be affected. Are the <br />mitigation measures sufficient to negate these impacts? <br /> <br />3. Water Quality. The salinity in the Colorado River at <br />Imperial Dam will increase approximately 17.9 mg/l or <br />1.7 percent based on the 100-year average. will this <br />project lead to other major projects such as desalini- <br />zation? <br /> <br />4. Wildlife. The project would e1i~inate about 4,746 acres <br />and change approximately 26,170 acres of existing wild- <br />life habitat within project area boundaries. Acquisition <br />of approximately 2,500 acres of land will be purchased <br />and developed concurrently with construction of the <br />project to offset these losses. Will this additional <br />land satisfy the major adverse impacts of this project? <br /> <br />5. Industrial Development. Over 80,000 acre-feet of water <br />has been delegated to municipal and industrial use. <br />Approximately 30,000 acre-feet will be available for <br />industrial development including coal mining, electric <br />power generation, coal gasification and possibly a coal <br />slurry pipeline. What is the potential impact of this <br />future industrial development? <br />