PERMFILE46481 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Though monitoriny has varied over the years, data recorded reflects air quality better than the ambient standards of 150 ug/m3 per 24-hour period and 160 uy/m3 annual geometric mean. Under short-term, staynant meteoro- loyical conditions, usually occurring during the winter, these standards are probably exceeded in the general Paonia area due to emissions contributions from other local mininy operations, traffic, and wood and coal burning stoves and furnaces (U.S.D,O.I „ BLM, 1971). Air quality modeliny performed by Marlatt and Associates of fort Collins, Colorado, indicated that CWI emissions did not cause air quality standards to be exceeded in any part of the Valley in 1977, nor was CWI projected to cause the standards to be exceeded in 1985, based on worst case meteorologic conditions and an annual production of 1.5 million tons (Thorne Ecological Institute, 1977), Emissions pe rnrits for CWI's conveyance, crushing and screeniny, loading and dunipiny, waste rock disposal, and stockpiling facilities have been approved by the Colorado Department of Health, Air Pollution Control Division. Sub- sequent inspections of the permitted facilities have found CWI to be in com- pliance with Colorado Air Ouality Control Regulations. B. Geology, Topography, and Minerals Drawiny k8 shows the surficial geology of the transportation corridor and adjacent areas. Three alluvial deposits, Qvf-Valley-fill deposits, Qagy- younyer alluvial gravels, and Oago-older alluvial gravels, are located with- in the corridor. One bedrock unit, Mancos Shale, is also within the cor- ridor, specifically the northern end near the Orchard Valley Mine. Refer to Drawing p8 for descriptions of these geologic units. No known landslides, faults, or other significant geologic hazards exist • within the corridor. Topography The topoyraphy of the transportation corridor ranges from steep to moderate- ly steep slopes of 40-60% near the Orchard Valley Mine site to more gentle slopes of less than 10% near the train loadout area. These slopes are capa- ble of supportiny structures, given proper design and construction tech- nigJes (U.S.D.A „ Soil Conservation Service, 1981). Five small intermittent drainages tributary to Steven's Gulch and the North Fork of the Gunnison River transect the corridor in a northwest to southeast direction. Eleva- tions ranye from 6,950 ft, at the mine site to 5,750 ft. at the train load- out area. The total variance in elevation within the corridor is approxi- mately 1200 ft. Minerals No mineable minerals are known to exist within the transportation corridor, Therefore, mineral resources will not be impacted by any of the proposed alternatives. C, Soils, Hydrology, and Alluvial Valley Floors Soils The U.S. Department of Ayriculture, Soil Conservation Service, in its "Soil Survey of Paonia Area, Colorado" (1981) identified eight soil types within the transportation corridor. Brief descriptions of these soil types are provided in Appendix "G" and the soil locations are shown on Drawiny k9. 39