Laserfiche WebLink
• 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 Forkl. 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 Ioams, on 10 to 40°,6 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 cultural resources, air quality, climate, vegetation, soils, visual resources and land use were <br />found to be negligible, and therefore were not analyzed further. <br />A. Alternative One - Proposed Action <br />Minerals <br />Subsidence could occur due to the eMraction 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 />• Subsidence fractures could allow the escape of methane pas 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 />