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-LZ- Sal[ Creek ;Lining Company ha s proposed to partially backfill cut slopes at the mine portal bench. Natural slopes in the vicinity are very steep and complete backfi111ng of the existing cut slopes would be difficult. The applicant has not provided enough analysis to suggest that the slopes will be stable in a partially backfilled situati on (See stipulation in preferred alternative sec- tion). Socioeconomics Assessment The Salt Creek Mining Co. currently employs 15 persons (7 hourly, plus cleri- cal and supervisory) for the McClane Canyon Mine. Hourly operating personnel work at the mine site, approximately 20 miles north of Loma, Co., on I-70 west of Grand Junction. According [o the Company, the number of employees will not vary from the current 15 during the projected 2-3 year life of the exploratory mining oeration. The Company reported that all employees reside in the Ftuita-Grand Junction area. Only one did not live in the area before being employed. Employees commute to work via car pool or private auto. .Since the mine, site. is actually in Garfield Co., that county will receive the .direct benefit of the increase in assessed valuation due to mine property and =z:.' '' '. equipment.':Hesa_County will benefit to a lesser degree from purchases by mine employees, as well as residential property taxes. Earlier projections of mine-induced revenues in'the_East-Central Colorado Coal Environmental State- • -went, BLM, 1978. p. 796, were $4,000,000 for Mesa County and considerably more for Garfield Co. However, these estimates were based on the expectation of a much larger operation getting underway sooner with several hundred employees. -During this exploratory phase of the McClane Canyon Mine, the public revenues generated by only 15 employees residing in Mesa Co. would be relatively minor. "` `-- Fifteen varied energy development projects are planned in the Grand Junction impact area by 1985. Population and employment are projected to grow an addi- tional 20 to 50 percent - without considerir48 the-McClane Canyon Mine. Ex- _ ~• tensive programs of capital improvements are being planned by Mesa County, af- ,.. _fected_towns and School District 51. Funding assistance is anticipated from outside sources (Oil Shale Trust Fund, Energy and Hineral Impact Funds and various grants such as FHA and EPA, etc.) as well as local sources such as an increase in the sales tax. Nevertheless, because of the extensive nature of required capital improvements, deficits in funding appear inevitable for vir- tually all governmental jurisdictions -- especially in view of uncertain Fed- eral grants. Conclusion: In and of itself, continuation of this exploratory project at [he McClane Canyon Mine will not cause any significant, adverse socioeconomic im- pact on Mesa County and other local entities. When compared to the overall growth trend in 11esa County, the immediate Smpact of McClane Canyon is neglig- IbLe. IE the exploration is successful, and an application to proceed with full-scale coal production at A1cClane Canyon is received, an extensive review of cunulative socioeconomic impacts will be required a[ that time. Full- • production plans X11 Eor an eventual ~.+ork force of 900 employees at S1cClane Canyon.