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SECTION III <br />Affected Environment <br />Since the preferred and three alternative sites con- <br />sidered in this assessment are in the same general area, <br />their affects on the various environmental elements are <br />quite similar. The major variations that are of some <br />significance are the differences in elevation, the distance <br />from inhabited dwellings, the length of unpaved truck haul <br />roads, and the visibility from inhabited areas. Following a <br />brief review of the environmental elements that might be <br />affected by the establishment of a small limestone quarry <br />operation at any of the proposed sites, the relative impacts <br />of the preferred and alternatives 2, 3 and 4 will be addressed. <br />1. Climate and air quality <br />The climate in this section of west-central Colorado <br />is characterized by dry air masses, which are modified <br />specific air masses that move eastward across the Rocky <br />Mountains. Winter snows and summer showers or thunderstorms <br />result in fairly even seasonal distribution of precipitation <br />throughout the year averaging about 1.5" per month (See <br />Attachment #2). Short, heavy thunderstorms in July and <br />August usually follow an early summer drier period. Pre- <br />vailing winds are generally from the west throughout the <br />upper Colorado River Basin, but are markedly affected by <br />differences in elevation and by the orientation of mountain <br />ranges and valleys with respect to local air movement. <br />