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Moderate: The impact is readily apparent and/or would affect local or regional <br />supplies of mineral materials, <br />Major: The impact is severely adverse or exceptionally beneficial and/or would <br />affect local or regional supplies of mineral materials. <br />The geographic area of analysis for impacts to nonfederal mineral development was defined as <br />the park and the surrounding area within 50 miles of the park where other mineral materials <br />sites are located. <br />Affected Environment <br />Mineral production in Colorado is mainly used for road base and coverings, concrete and <br />asphalt, and fill material. The state of Colorado produced almost 62.5 million tons of aggregate <br />in 2002 and ranked 8`h in the nation for sand and gravel production (Colorado Geologic Survey <br />2003). Colorado sand and gravel average $4.79 per ton, while crushed rock averages $5.90 <br />per ton. The largest sand and gravel operation in the state is Lafarge Corporation. The largest <br />producers in Gunnison County are Valco Gunnison Concrete and American Concrete and <br />Gravel. These companies cover most of the demand in the county, which is between 600,000 <br />and 800,000 tons per year. There are approximately 30 smaller operations within the county. <br />The Dickerson Pit, under its current Special Use Permit, produces approximately 10,000 to <br />15,000 tons per year, approximately 2 percent of the demand within the county. The current <br />Special Use Permit will allow only 1 to 3 years more production. <br />The Dickerson Pit currently produces six products: <br />J_ <br />• '/4-inch Road Base ($7.25/ton fob Pit) -popular for gravel roads <br />3/8-inch Chips unsorted ($16.00/ton fob Pit) -road material sealed with asphalt <br />• 3!8-inch Chips sorted ($22.00lton fob Pit) -road material sealed with asphalt <br />1?/cinch Chips ($12.50/ton) -road material <br />1 '/cinch Road Base ($7.25/ton) -road base <br />Shot-rock ($25/ton) -stream containment <br />Pit run (produced without processing) <br />Competition for projects is dependent on product specifications, rapid availability, and delivered <br />price. Once a site is permitted with sufficient reserves to give flexibility to project size, a pit can <br />be competitive. <br />Impacts of Alternative A, No Action, on Nonfederal Mineral Development <br />Under Alternative A, No Action, the Dickerson Pit would not expand beyond the current limit of <br />12.4 acres. However, the pit represents only about 2 percent of the total county demand for <br />mineral materials. Therefore, the loss of this production would result in negligible to minor, long <br />term, adverse impacts to local and regional nonfederal mineral development. <br />Cumulative Impacts <br />Under Alternative A, No Action, other mineral material sites in the area would continue to <br />produce; others may cease operations and new sites may be permitted. However, based on the <br />county's new land use resolution, the permitting of new sites may be influenced in the future. <br />Also, demand for the material will likely fluctuate, but would be expected to continue, at least at <br />current levels, due to expected road construction and improvements in the area. There could <br />34 <br />