Laserfiche WebLink
Bureau of Land Management Finding of No Significant Impact <br /> Royal Gorge Field Office DOI-BLM-CO-F020-2018-0083 EA <br /> Finding of No Significant Impact <br /> (FONSI) <br /> DOI-BLM-CO-F020-2018-0083 EA <br /> Based on review of the EA and the supporting documents,I have determined that the project is <br /> not a major federal action and will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human <br /> environment, individually or cumulatively with other actions in the general area.No <br /> environmental effects from any alternative assessed or evaluated meet the definition of <br /> significance in context or intensity, as defined by 43 CFR 1508.27. Therefore,an environmental <br /> impact statement is not required. This finding is based on the context and intensity of the project <br /> as described below: <br /> RATIONALE: <br /> Context: <br /> The action involves a proposed Mining Law operation on an unpatented placer mining claim <br /> (CMC 252689)approximately 2-miles southwest of Hartsel, CO.The proposed action consists of <br /> a 2.0-acre barite placer operation using a medium-sized backhoe and/or skid loader to excavate <br /> barite crystals from several 6 x 4 foot prospecting pits with wall heights no more than 4-feet <br /> high.The operator intends to allow people to extract barite crystals from the designated <br /> prospecting pits using hand tools for a general fee,as well as sell mined materials in a local rock <br /> shop in Hartsel,CO. <br /> Currently, the operator has a complete Notice with BLM to conduct exploration on the site with <br /> similar equipment, scope of disturbance and footprint that has been proposed in the Plan of <br /> Operations. The operator intends to start producing and selling the minerals,therefore he has <br /> filed a Plan of Operations in accordance with 43 CFR 3809.11(a). <br /> The proposed action is localized in nature,having no significant effect. <br /> Intensity: <br /> I have considered the potential intensity/severity of the impacts anticipated from the Mining Plan <br /> of Operations Blue Bee Diggins Claim decision relative to each of the ten areas suggested for <br /> consideration by the CEQ.With regard to each: <br /> Impacts that may be beneficial and adverse: <br /> Terrestrial Wildlife and Migratory Birds:Negligible impacts will occur to terrestrial wildlife and <br /> migratory birds within the analysis area, as the proposed action has a small footprint(2.0 acres), <br /> FONSIA <br />