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<br /> Pikeview Quarry Environmental Assessment Page 43 <br /> <br />~ 4 Environmental Consequences <br />' <br /> 4.1 Introduction <br />' This section of the Environmental Assessment describes the environmental <br /> consequences, including both adverse and beneficial impacts, associated with the <br /> development, operation and reclamation of the proposed action and the alternatives <br />described in Chapter 2. The environmental consequences associated with Alternative A - <br /> No Action, Alternative B -the Proposed Action, and Alternative C -Enhanced <br /> Reclamation without Layback have been grouped under individual resource categories. <br /> The proposed Layback would result in both positive and negative impacts, in the <br /> short and long-term. Significant long-term benefits from the proposed Layback include <br /> reduction of [he slope grade on private land and the reshaping of contours to more closely <br /> simulate natural topographic conditions; substantial reduction of the erosion processes <br /> and increased slope stability; improvement of air quality in the surrounding area; and <br />significant aesthetic improvements in the reclaimed portion of the existing mine. In the <br /> short-term, the proposed Layback would result in, negative aesthetic impacts during <br />' mining until vegetation is reestablished. There would be negative impacts from truck <br />traffic, dust, and other nuisance factors associated with the extension of the mining period <br /> by 4 to 7 yeazs. The proposed Layback would also tend to increase storm runoff flows <br />' from the site. Negative effects of the proposed Layback include the loss of the natural <br />plant community on National Forest System lands and the associated aesthetic impacts. <br /> The plant community on National Forest System lands may eventually achieve a level of <br />' maturity and diversity similar to that currently observed. However, it is not possible to <br />accurately forecast the time necessary for the full recovery of the plant community. <br /> Although field investigation indicated the absence of Mexican spotted owl in the National <br /> Forest System lands affected by the proposed project, this area has been designated as <br /> critical habitat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br /> Service has not yet rendered a biological opinion about the impact of the proposed project <br /> on this species or its habitat, the final decision regarding the proposed Layback at <br />' Pikeview Quarry will be contingent upon the U.S. Fish and Wildlife decision and <br /> requirements. <br /> <br /> 4.2 Cumulative Impacts <br />Under NEPA and the regulations for implementation of the NEPA, actions that <br />could significantly affect the environment must be analyzed in terms of their overall <br />context and intensity. The duration of an impact is an important factor in determining its <br />' context and intensity. Short-term effects are typically associated with construction and <br />development activities of limited and predictable duration. Long-term effects may also <br />' Hydrosphere Resource Consultants, 1002 Walnut S[reet Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80302 <br />1 <br />