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<br />02/081 98 FRI 10:-12 F.1S JI1J ~~288i <br />.~ <br />t3ENDER50N =ooo PROJE <br />DECISION NOTICE <br />and <br />FlNDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT <br />Surface Overland Conveyor <br />C1Ima: Marybdenum Company <br />Swchur Rangef District <br />USDA Forest Service <br />Grand County, Coloraaa <br />DECISION AND RATIONALE FOR DECISION: As Deputy Regional Forester for the Rceky Mountain <br />Region, R is my decision to issue an t:asemem which albws cenatrucllan, operation and maintenance of a <br />oarnentlortal surtace conveyor across National Forest System lands as depicted in Aftemative B2. TTtis <br />decision considers the Dalanortp of economic, stxia4 Biolagital and physeal factors (public interest) and <br />is provided for under 36 CFR 251.53((). This dedsion s made under 1M authortty of the Federal land <br />Policy and Management Act of 1976, 90 Stet 2716 pt3,UnRed States Code, 1781-1771). <br />The rotal aces of land disturbed, administered by the Forest Service for AIlemative B2. is 27. The <br />altamative seleued provides for the are haulage needs a}the Climax Molybdenum Company; provides for <br />the mitlgatldn of impacted wetlands (0.38 aces an National Forest System lands; 0.98 an Climax <br />property), in compliance with the US Fltvitonrtrental Protection Ayancy and the Army Carps of Engineers' <br />segtdetiens; provroes for the economic srobi0ry of Grand County; protects the air quafdy in the Wdi2ms <br />Font. valley; minimizes noise impaem to people in the area; protects biological resources and implements <br />US01 Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDA Forest 9ervxe wd01IM protection measures; and minimizes Ne <br />impacts to visual Quality along Forest Development Roads 13B and 1s2, in comparison to the other <br />el0ematNea. <br />8ackaround: Since the mid 1970's, the Climax Matybdenum eartpany (Clmax) has operated the <br />Henderson Mine and MIII ro produce molybaenum. fie operattans are located on private land within ate <br />boundary of the Arapaho National Forest The :,nderground mine is situated on lire east side of the <br />Continental Divide in Clear Creek County, Colcrado. The mill Is lonled on the west side at the <br />Continental Divide in trend County, Colorado. <br />Ore has been and continues ro be transported from Cte underground mine to the mill by an electric <br />pawerad train whicn is sote{y dedicated to the Henderson operation. The train travels approximately 10 <br />miles (52,800 feet) under the Continental Divide via a turntel and continues for another 4 Mies (28,400 <br />feeq on the surface to the mill fad8ty. The surface condor covers approximately 125 aa+es. <br />The eleeCie train has exceeded its expee;ted service IMe and Cihrratt Ands the system too costly and <br />dlfRCUrc to ropeir and maintain. The Zo-year old Rest o} 1400-volt OC ftbney, 55•ton lacomotivea has <br />nega0vefy affected the reliable operation of bath the mine and the mIR. Cfnnax engineers datenninad the <br />mast elAdeM and emltamicai rapfaeemerd to the existing eleehit: train would be the oonshtletlon of a <br />surface conventional conveyor system. Such a conveyor system would irrvolve constructlon across a <br />paroel of land adminbtered by Cre Arapaho National forest A connveyor requ(res a larger fuming radius <br />than a train and Therefore cannot be lopted wholty wifllin the existing easement (A train can rum a <br />curve on a 850-toot radius; a 40-indt wide t:ottveyor toms a curve on 4,50u-foot radius.) The wAace <br />tvnveyorwould cross National Forest System lands tar apptmdmatety 6,200 teat <br />PUBLIC INYOLYEMENT AND SLOPING: Pubnc invelvernant on the surfaw conveyor project began with <br />an ankle presented in the local newspapers in March 1997, VVlters the Environmental Assessment (F11) <br />process began, no0firaden letters were serrt by the Sulphur Ranger District to persons on thdr'Interested <br />parties' mailing list Numerous briefing meatirr9s and tours of the FlendNion site were conducted from <br />lantnry 1897 through Derzmber 1997, Attendees at Cteee meeengs included otlter Ipderal agencies with <br />jurisdictlon: the Army Corps of Engineers, and Me US EnvCanmental Protection Agency; state and local <br />agencies inetuding the Cdarado Division of VVildple and the Grand Caunly Canm+issioners and their staff, <br />Spersal interest groups mdudirtg Cie Colorado Ernhanmental Coalition, Cte Friends of the Eagles Nest <br />vtnldemass and the Colosado Mountain Club were also canvassed. Over 1130 prtvala citizens received <br />oorraspondenx related ro this project Filly four imerested peepk at0ended the Open House, hosted by <br />fr~oo5 <br />ufatR.mts.a•f.}iesogerarmv'Ai.a.n.lavare.~firrryll~ie' pcae.67ir• r <br />