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<br />The proposed project would also generate substantial earnings during the <br />• operations phase, a large portion of which would be spent in the local economy for <br />housing, food, and goods and services. It is estimated that project payroll would <br />amount to over $6.0 million annually over the operational life of the project, with <br />employees earning an estimated average of $44,000 per year plus benefits. Creation <br />of higher paying jobs would result in a numerous positive impacts on the local <br />economies and the residents of Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties. <br />Induced economic benefits would occur as a result of the expenditure of project- <br />related earnings within the local communities on housing, gasoline, food, and <br />numerous other goods and services. In general, by increasing sales of these goods <br />and services, the Yankee Gulch Project would induce creation of new businesses, <br />additional hiring of workers in existing businesses, and associated payment of <br />earnings by those businesses. It is assumed that most of these new jobs and earnings <br />would accrue to Meeker, Rangely, Rifle, and Parachute. Currently, the communities <br />of Parachute and Battlement Mesa have very limited commercial business activity. <br />Residents of those communities must drive to Rifle, Glenwood Springs, or Grand <br />Junction to purchase a wide variety of goods and services. As a result, Battlement <br />Mesa is actively encouraging the establishment of new commercial businesses to <br />serve its community. With the addition of increased spending activity associated <br />with employees at the Parachute Site, it is possible that the proposed project could <br />stimulate or induce new business ventures in Battlement Mesa and Parachute, <br />• which would be an added benefit to those communities. <br />Economic benefits would occur as a result of project-related purchases of assorted <br />equipment and supplies, such as pipe, gravel, and concrete. Some of these <br />purchases would be from businesses within Garfield and possibly Rio Blanco <br />Counties, while other purchases would be from businesses outside the area in cities <br />such as Grand Junction. Indirect economic benefits would include increased hiring <br />and associated payment of earnings to people working for companies doing <br />businesses with American Soda. <br />8.13.3 Community Facilities and Services <br />Construction Phase <br />The construction of the proposed project would be carried out over 1 to 2 years. <br />Non-local construction workers would temporarily increase the populations of local <br />communities to some extent. Although the precise number of non-local <br />construction workers is unknown at this time, workers would be distributed among <br />the various communities and are not expected to significantly increase the demand <br />for local services such as law enforcement, fire protection, or medical treatment. <br />Since the vast majority of non-local construction workers are not expected to bring <br />their families with them, no increase in demand on public schools is expected. <br />• <br />American Soda, L.L.P. 8_38 <br />Commercial Mine Plan <br />August 1R, 1998 <br />