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Pikeview (quarry -Decision Notice and FONSI 08/30/01 Alternative B -The proposed action was selected for implementation. Under Alternative B, the head wall on the westem boundary of the quarry would be cut back onto National Forest System land and reclaimed in three phases: 1)pre-production, production and initial fill operations in the National Forest System lands; 2) production and reclamation in both forest lands and in currently permitted areas; and 3) production and reclamation in private lands already permitted. Part of the reclamatioq phase would be implemented concurtently with the production phase. The purpose. and need for the proposed project would be to mitigate visual impacts that currently exist and to reduce potential slope instability hazards in the future. This alternative would also allow the quarry to remove approximately 1,900,000 tons of additional limestone3 (about 1,056,000 tons of saleable limestone for concrete and asphalt rock, and about 844,000 tons for road base) from private land that would not otherwise be accessible because of slope instability problems. The production rate would remain the same and the life of the mine would be extended to 12 years (the last two years would only include reclamation activities). The main positive environmental impacts resulting from the proposed action (Alternative B) include: reduction of the current steep slopes, erosion control, reduction of runoff from the site, long-term improvement in air quality and improvement of wildlife habitat. The project would also provide aggregate for use in EI Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs For a few extra years while resulting in significant improvement of the aesthetic character of the site. This alternative, however, would result in impacts on up to 26 acres on National Forest System lands. It is not expected that the vegetative hover and plant species diversity would achieve the existing natural conditions jn the short term but would move towazds a more natural condition over the long term. Also, this alternative will result in impacts to air quality, noise levels, and wildlife during the production and reclamation periods. The continued use of explosives to occasionally fracture exposed rock outcroppings will continue for a few added years until the layback is completed. Introduction of non-native species in the seed mix ortprivate lands and. public lands will be controlled to prevent non-native species from dominating the site. Alternative C -This alternative was not selected as the preferred alternative. Under the enhanced reclamation without layback alternative, enhanced reclamation would occur in addition to the base reclamation, and no federal lands would be affected. This alternative would not allow for the reclamation of steep slopes. Instead, topsoil would be accumulated on existing slopes to provide relative stabilization. The impacts would be similar to those under Alternative A. Enhanced reclamation would further decrease runoff due to the higher density of vegetation when compared to base reclamation, potentially improve water quality and visual impacts on private land. However, very steep slopes on the western side of the quarry would remain a visual eyesore. J M additional 7,600,000 tons ordecomposed granite would be used as backfill at the bottom oC the gtuvey.