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Housing Vacancy Rates for Delta County have decreased from 14.23 in 1980 to 7.09 in 1988, the <br /> • last year available for this data. Vacancy rates of less than 10 percent can be indicative of a <br /> housing shortage. It should be kept in mind that the rates do not indicate either physical condition <br /> or whether the units are available year around or seasonally. <br /> The unemployment rates for Delta County in the middle 1980's were around 10 percent. The rate <br /> for 1991 has been around 5.4 percent. This rate indicates that local workers would be available to <br /> fill new jobs. <br /> A socioeconomic survey of Delta County residents was conducted in.1981 concerning their <br /> perceptions and ideas about energy-related growth; these concerns may still be true. In general, <br /> respondents felt that clean air and scenery should not be sacrificed.to meet the country's energy <br /> needs. Most agreed that the costs of growth related to energy production should not be borne by <br /> the residents and that increased job opportunities were seen as a positive benefit resulting from <br /> energy development. Some saw increased crime as a possible adverse effect of energy <br /> development. <br /> K. oil <br /> The proposed lease is in a steep and highly dissected area that drains in a southerly direction into <br /> the North Fork of the Gunnison River (North Fork). Elevation ranges from approximately 8,200 to <br /> 9,100 feet with hillslope aspects being predominantly southeast and southwest. Soils are deep <br /> and well drained, and their stony surface layer helps to prevent erosion. Toxic, corrosive or highly <br /> saline materials are not known to occur in the subsurface materials or interburden. <br /> The soils along the higher elevation are Fughes-Curecanti stony loams, on 10 to 40% slopes. <br /> • These soils are formed in glacial outwash, landslide deposits, and old alluvial fans. The Fughes soil <br /> is deep and well drained, having a high available water capacity and slow permeability. Surface <br /> runoff is medium to rapid. The hazard of erosion from wind is slight and from water is high. The <br /> Curecanti soil is also deep and well drained but both the available water capacity and permeability <br /> are moderate. The hazard of erosion, on Curecanti soils, from wind is slight and from water is <br /> moderate to high. The limitations of these soils is shrink-swell potential, stoniness, and slope. <br /> Slips and slides are common, especially in disturbed areas. <br /> The tract does not contain an alluvial valley floor. <br /> IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> The impacts to air quality, climate, vegetation, soils, visual resources and land use were found to be <br /> negligible, and therefore were not analyzed further. <br /> A. Alternative One - Proposed Action <br /> Minerals <br /> Subsidence could occur due to the extraction of coal and pillars on retreat in the application area. <br /> The most likely showing on the surface would be gradual lowering of the surface without any <br /> surface disturbances such as tension cracks, although surface fractures could occur. In addition, <br /> as a result of the requirement for the quarterly monitoring of the area for subsidence and the <br /> greater thickness of overburden, it is not anticipated that subsidence will be evidenced. <br /> 10 Subsidence fractures could allow the escape of methane gas to the surface and could increase the <br /> hazard of underground and surface fires. Although this is not likely due to the low liberation of <br /> methane, the potential of causing surface impacts is present. <br /> Page 10 <br />