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Groundwater consumed by the pilot project will incrementally contribute to the cumulative adverse alterations of downstream endangered fish habitat, although the project, by itself, will not jeopardize the continued existence of any listed fish. Mitigation (conservation measures) will be employed to compensate for any impact resulting from the pilot project. Proposed Action (Preferred Alternative) WRC's proposal involves construction and operation of a commercial-scale nahcolite solution mine to produce sodium bicarbonate at a maximum rate of 125,000 tpy over a 30-year period. The proposal involves phased-approach development, with initial production of 50,000 tpy, increasing in the second or third year of operation to 125,000 tpy. The Proposed Action would involve: expansion of the approved pilot project well field and plant site, including paving of the access road into the plant site (all affecting up to 215 additional acres), construction of additional evaporation ponds (affecting up to 22 additional acres), construction of a natural gas pipeline into the plant site (involving 17 acres), and addition of a warehouse/rail loading facility at Lacy Station in Rifle, Colorado. The only potentially significant impacts associated with this alternative would be to local groundwater quantity and quality. There would be a 3.2 percent reduction in average daily flow from Yellow Creek. This would be mitigated through a state required water augmentation plan. The area of the base of the lower aquifer in contact with saline minerals would increase by approximately 20 percent within the lease tracts. The resources described as being affected under the No Action Alternative, in most cases, would be impacted to a greater degree under this alternative because of the longer (30-year) project life. In addition, mined out cavities .- and potential subsidence could complicate future oil and gas drilling within the sodium well field. Potential surface subsidence of less than 1 foot would also occur. However, none of these impacts would be significant if the identified mitigation measures ace employed (Appendix A). 50,000 TPY Alternative This alternative would involve construction and operation of a 30-year solution mine producing 50,000 tpy of sodium bicarbonate. It would essentially be an expansion of the 2-year pilot project to a 30-year commercial facility. It would involve similar, but less expansion than described under the Proposed Action, except the access road would not be paved and the Lacy Station warehouse/rail loading facility would not be built. Approximately 90 acres of additional land would be associated with expansion of the well field. Additional evaporation ponds would be required, affecting approximately 10 acres. The only potentially significant impacts associated with this alternative would be to local groundwater quantity and quality. There would be a 2.0 percent reduction in average daily flow from Yellow Creek. This would be 2