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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT <br /> Past, present, and reasonably foreseeable disturbance to cultural resources in the CIAA have been and <br /> would be the result of mining activities, utility infrastructure, road development, archaeological <br /> excavation, livestock grazing, private development, and likely vandalism and artifact collection. Private <br /> development and vandalism/artifact collection are not quantifiable. <br /> Section 106 of the NHPA requires consideration of the effects of federal actions to historic properties. If <br /> historic properties(i.e., NRHP-eligible cultural resources)cannot be avoided bythe Proposed Action,these <br /> sites would be subject to a resolution of adverse effects, which may include mitigation such as data <br /> recovery. Consultation with consulting parties is ongoing; however, OSMRE and BLM made a <br /> determination of no historic properties affected under the NHPA. Any future actions requiring federal <br /> approval that could adversely affect historic properties would be defined as future undertakings and are <br /> not expected. If historic properties are not avoided, the Project would contribute to cumulative impacts <br /> to historic properties in combination with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future activities in <br /> the CIA. <br /> Effects of Alternative B—No Action <br /> Direct and Indirect Effects <br /> Under the No Action Alternative, the LBA would not be offered for competitive lease sale by BLM, there <br /> would be no mining plan modification to be considered and approved by OSMRE and federal coal reserves <br /> in the LBA and new private reserves would not be recovered. There would be no impacts to the cultural <br /> resources listed in Table 3-6 under the No Action Alternative. <br /> Cumulative Actions and Effects <br /> Cumulative impacts under the No Action Alternative would be the same as under the Proposed Action but <br /> would be limited to the current lease and permit areas. <br /> 3.4.4 Resource Issue—Noise <br /> What would be the effects of the alternatives on noise levels at residences in the Vista de Oro subdivision, <br /> as well as at residences along the truck haul route? <br /> 3.4.4.1 Affected Environment <br /> Noise <br /> The Proposed Action and existing King II Mine surface facilities are located at the confluence of two <br /> narrowly incised drainages nearly 7 miles from the nearest town of Hesperus.The closest residences are <br /> located along County Road 120 (BLM and OSMRE 2017, Map A-7), and in the Vista de Oro subdivision, <br /> located approximately 1.5 miles southwest of the mine surface facilities(BLM and OSMRE 2017, Map A-7). <br /> Measurable characteristics of noise are measured as intensity in decibels (dB),frequency (the number of <br /> cycles per second or Hertz), spectral content (intensity versus frequency over the entire time varying <br /> noise), duration (continuous or impulsive), number of noise events over a given time period, and pattern <br /> of occurrence. Stationary noise sources associated with GCCE mining operations have been identified as <br /> the mine ventilation fan and coal processing equipment.Off-site noise sources include the coal haul trucks <br /> with noise generating components such as the engine,transmission, and tires. <br /> Dunn Ranch Area Coal Lease by Application COC-78825 and Mine Plan Modification EA 3-20 <br />