PERMFILE66721 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

V. IMPACTS 5.1 DIRECT ADVERSE IMPACTS 5.1.1 The Colowyo Mine Site Direct adverse impacts include the potential destruction of sites at the mine site by construction and expansion of access roads and by the strip mining. It is assumed that the two prehistoric sites and two historic sites located at the mine site will eventually be directly affected by those activities. 5.1.2 The Railroad Routes The grading and filling activities involved in construction of the railroad will destroy or cover sites and also constitute direct adverse impacts. It is assumed that all prehistoric and historic sites located within the railroad rights of way will suffer direct adverse impacts. Twenty-six prehistoric and 7 historic sites are located in the Route A right of way. Along Route B, 9 prehistoric and 6 historic sites are • located within the right of way. Route C will directly affect between 20 and 22 prehistoric sites and 4 historic sites, the exact number depend- ing on how the route will connect with the loading spur. Vibration resulting from operation of the railroad can also cause direct adverse impacts, particularly with respect to sites containing rock art. Vibration from Empire Energy Mine trucks using a neaiby.road has been cited as one of the possible reasons for the almost complete destruc- tion of the rock art at SME289. It is assumed that the same type of adverse impact will occur at SMF435, which is located about 300 meters outside the right of way of Routes A and B in Milk Rock Canyon. A number of figures, including horsemen, bears, and antelope or deer, are drawn on the friable sandstone walls of the shelter. Spalling of the walls, and the consequent destruction of the pictographs, can be considered a certainty if the railroad is built through Milk Creek Canyon. If blasting is done in the vicinity during construction of the railroad, a similar adverse effect will result. •