GENERAL39079

• Permit No: M1977211
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 6/25/2001
• From: US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE .......................................................................................................... i
1. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION ............................................................ I
I.I HISTORY AND BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ I
t 1.2 NEPAREQUIREMENTS .............................................................. .......................................................2
1.3 THE PROPOSED ACTION ............................................................. .......................................................
1.4 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................... ....................................................... 3
' I.5 FOREST MANAGEMENT POLICIES ...............................................
1.6 SCOPE OF TFnS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ......................... .......................................................3
....................................................... 6
1.6. l Traffic and Transportation .............................................. ....................................................... 7
1.6.2 Visual/mpacts ................................................................. .......................................................7
1.6.3 Noise ................................................................................ .......................................................7
' /. 6.4 Air Qualitv ....................................................................... ....................................................... 7
1.7 LIST OF PERMITS AND APPROVALS ............................................ ....................................................... 8
t 2 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................... 9
2.1 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED ........................ ....................................................... 9
2.2 ALTERNATIVE A: NO ACTION .................................................... ..................................................... 10
' 2.3 ALTERNATIVE B: THE PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................................................... 10
2.4 ALTERNATIVE C: ENHANCED RECLAMATION WITHOUT LAYBACR ................................................. 24
3 AFFECTED ENVHtONMENT .......................................................................................................25
t 3.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 25
3.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................... 25
3.1.1 Geology .................................................................................................................................15
3.1.1 Topography and Soils ........................................................................................................... 16
3.2.3 Hvdrology ............................................................................................................................. 18
3.2.4 Wa[er Quality ........................................................................................................................ 30
3.1.5 Air Oualitv ............................................................................................................................ 3!
' 3.1.6 Noise ..................................................................................................................................... 31
3.2.7 Tra~c ................................................................................................................................... 33
3.3 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRDNMENT ........................................................................................................... 35
3.3. l Agua[ic Biology .................................................................................................................... 35
' 3.3.2 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 35
3.3.3 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................. 36
3.3.4 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 37
3.3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................................................... 38
3.4 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................... 39
3.4. / Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................... 39
3.4.2 Recreation ............................................................................................................................. 39
' 3.4.3 Socioeconomic ...................................................................................................................... 39
3.4.4 Visval Resources ................................................................................................................... 41
' 4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ...................................................................................... 43
4. I INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 43
4.2 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ................................................................................................................... 43
4.3 SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVES .........................................................................................................
4.3. l Alterna[ive A: No Action ....................................................................................................... 44
44
4.3.1 Alternative B.' The Proposed Action ..................................................................................... 44
4.3.3 Alterna[ive C: Enhanced Reclama[ion without Layback ...................................................... 45
4.4 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................... 45
' 4.4. l Ceology and Soi[s ................................................................................................................. 45
4.4.1.1 Altemative A: No Action ................................................................................................................ 45
4.4.1.2 Altemative B: The Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 45
4.4.1.3 ~ Altemative C: Enhanced Reclamation without LaybacA ................................................................. 47
4.4.1 Hvdrology ............................................................................................................................. 47
4.4.2.1 Altemative A: No Ac[ion ............................................................................................................... . 47
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