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proposed for the Stevens Gulch Allotment Planagement plar. (Ah1RJ could <br />increase soil erosion in those treatc~ent areas. <br />• Some increase in vegetation and wildlife habitat, and decrease in <br />.soil erosion rates could occur if ongoing recla~;,ation ~•ras successful. <br />Road kills and harassment of +,~ildlir'e from traffic on the Stevens <br />Gulch road and Higho-:ay 133 +:ould be reduced. Ho+•+ever, unemployment in <br />the area could result in increased poaching of +•rildlife. <br />The potential for destruction of unknerrn archeological and his- <br />torical sites +•rould be decreased, <br />Truck traffic along the Stevens Gulch road and Highway 133 +rould be <br />reduced by 22,000 trips per year in 1980 and 1985. The probability of <br />accidents cn these roads +:~ould also be reduced. Seventy less unit <br />_ trains per year a;ould leave the valley, reducing congestion on the <br />De m~er and Rio Grande ~;restern main line and on eastern slope cities. <br />As a result of this alternative, unemployment in Delta County v;ould <br />increase as the 1c0 people no•.~ e-ployed at the Orchard Palley i!ine are <br />laid off as coal reserves are depleted. It is probable that zany of <br />those laid off +,~ould be able to find employment ~;ith other mines de- <br />veloping in the area. <br />uire Cor•vevor Richt-of-!dav 7c Be Quilt <br />• The impacts of this alternative ~,vere described as part or" the <br />proposed action in the C!•!I EAP, completed in 1977. Brier"ly, those <br />impacts are: <br />1. Improvement in air quality and visibility as heavy truck use <br />along Stevens Gulch road and Highway 133 decreases; <br />2. The erosion susceptibility and sedimentation on 10 to 11 acres <br />would increase and could accelerate if rehabilitation and <br />reclamation of the area is not successrul; <br />3. Reduction of wildlife use on some winter range, destruction of <br />migration routes due to conveyor construction, and the loss of <br />25 acres of habitat, depending on the length of the facility; <br />4. Loss of 10 to 11 acres of mountain shrub and pinyon-juniper <br />vetetative type; <br />5. Significantly reduce truck traffic along the Stevens Gulch road <br />and HiGho-ray .133, decreasing road kills and the potential for <br />accidents•along the route (at a production rate of 700,000 tons <br />per year over 100 truck trips ti,~ould be made daily); and <br />(~ <br />