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1.0. PURPOSE AND NEED This Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates a proposal by Gunnison Gravel & Earthmoving (the operator) to expand existing operations at the mineral materials quarry owned by the Dickerson family within Curecanti National Recreation Area (the park). Pursuant to a lease agreement with the Dickerson family, the operator mines and removes decomposed granite and the materials intermixed therewith from the quarry. The quarry is located at the eastern entrance of the park, approximately 1.5 miles from the east entrance point. Figure 1.1 depicts the project location, which is referred to throughout this document as the pit, the mine, quarry, or the site. Curecanti National Recreation Area is administered by the National Park Service (NPS), and as such is a unit of the National Park System. Although the Dickerson family owns the subsurface mineral rights of the quarry, totaling 33.16 acres, the federal government owns the surface of the quarry in addition to the surrounding park lands. The NPS is required by its laws, policies, and regulations to protect the park from any actions, including mineral operations at this quarry, which may adversely impact or impair park resources and values. Accordingly, the NPS has managed the mineral operations at the quarry under an NP5 Special Use Permit since the 1980s. To date, operations at the quarry have been limited to approximately 12.4 acres. The operation is currently subject to NPS Special Use Permit #IMR-CURE-5300-001, issued October 20, 2000. On January 16, 2001, the operator received approval from the State of Colorado to expand the existing operation to utilize the full 33.16-acre mineral estate owned by the Dickerson family, subject to NPS approval and conditions. On February 17, 2003, the operator submitted a proposed Plan of Operations to the NPS, requesting NPS permission for the expansion. In response to an April 3, 2003 request from the NPS, the operator submitted additional information about the proposed expansion on May 26, 2003. The NPS accepted the plan for review on September 15, 2003, and is now analyzing the impacts of the proposed mine expansion on the park's natural, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic resources and values. This process, including this EA, is necessary to help the NPS make an informed decision about the operator's proposal, protect and prevent impairment to park resources and values, allow for a safe and enjoyable visitor experience, and determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. This EA examines two alternatives. Alternative A (No Action/Current Management) is required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and describes the status quo. Under this alternative, the NPS would not permit the proposed mine expansion. In this case, Alternative A is the environmentally preferred alternative. Alternative B is the operator's proposed Plan of Operations, subject to Current Legal and Policy Requirements (see Table 1.1) and modified by NPS terms and conditions that would mitigate the major impacts of the mining operation. Although Alternative A is the environmentally preferred alternative, it would deny the mineral reservation owner the reasonable exercise of their remaining mineral rights. Therefore, Alternative B is the NPS-preferred alternative, since it allows the exercise of the owner's mineral rights and also protects park resources and values through application of appropriate mitigation.