PERMFILE44347

• Permit No: C1981038
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: VOLUME 9- VISUAL RESOURCES APPENDIX
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• coLORADO wES~rnREltArm,Itac.
ORCHARD VALLEY WESP MINE PORTAL AND A(xESS ROAD
VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Consistent with Colorado Westmoreland"s cumutment to environmental quality,
Land Design Partnership, Inc. was retained to examdne the potential img~acts of
the proposed development activities on the scenic quality of the area. Twv
portal sites were being considered when Land Design initiated its visual
resource data collection. The twv sites considered were: 1) East Roatcap
Creek Site, 2) Ridge Site between Stevens Gulch and East Roatcap Creek. Site
reconnaissance clearly indicated the East Roatcap Creek site would have
considerably less visual im¢~aact than the Stevens Gulch ridge site. 'ihe
potential i~cts of the twv sites were described to the Colorado Westmoreland
staff for consideration in their final site selection. The East Roatcap Creek
site was selected for the new portal. In addition to the portal site, the
following analysis took into consideration the access road to the site and the
water line and power line serving the site.
• The following visual assessment methodology is based on the Visual Resource
Management System documented and utilized by the Bureau of Land Management.
This methodology has been chosen because the portal site is located on Burea
of Land Management land and development of the site will be governed, in part
by the lease agreement with the BIM. Ultimately, the evaluation of the
contents and conclusions of this report will reside with BIM administrators
and landscape architects. Additionally, the visual quality baseline data f
the region has previously been quantified and documented by the BT1~1 in
accordance with its Visual Resource Management System.
The Consultant reviewed this baseline data with Franciscro Mendoza, BIM Staf
landscape Architect, Un~gaagre Resource Area. The review was conducted on
July 21st in the field where the accuracy of the visual quality
classifications could be observed and considered effectively. Following are
the BIM Visual Resource Management (VRM) classifications identified by Mr.
Mendoza for the area surrounding the Orchard Valley Mine and the proposed
portal .
Scenic Quality - CLASS "B"
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Visual Sensitivity Level - hDDERATE
visual Zones - BACKQ20UDID AND SELDCM SEEN
Visual Resource Management Classes:
• CLASS III -Seen Areas
CLASS IV -Seldom Seen Areas