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1 <br />' W(!! Sndoy and SYMry Abne! LMp F1sulprruNSYllr~vy <br />' 3.1.5 Ecological Exposure Pathways <br />' Ecological risk assessment, .as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is <br />a qualitative and/or quantiuitive appraisal of the actual or potential effects of the release of <br />hazardous substances on plants and animals, other than people and domesticated species. The <br />' approach used herein gener:dly conforms to the ecological assessment process defined by the <br />EPA. An ecological risk assessment provides a structured method for estimating risk to <br />ecological resources from aniy human endeavor. <br />' Ecological receptors of concern are primarily wildlife species discussed previously in Section 2.4. <br />The Division of Wildlife predicted that the primary impact to wildlife would be temporary <br />' disruption of habitat due to reining-related activities. As shown on Figure 5, primary pathways <br />of exposure of wildlife to wa:>te rock would be 1) surface water runoff to drinking water streams; <br />2) rainfall detained on-site; surd 3) vegetation grown on waste rock on site. <br />' Surface Water Runoff <br />' As discussed in Section 2.9, the mine properties aze in an grid region with net evaporation. The <br />neazest perennial streamflow is six miles away. Therefore, runoff to streams is an incomplete <br />' pathway. <br />' Rainfall Detained On-Site, or Vegetation Crrown on Waste Rock On-Site <br />' As stated in Section 2.4, the+ current lack of vegetation and visits to the properties by mine <br />personnel discourage wildlife from including the mine properties in their winter ranges. Also, <br />' as discussed in Section 2.5, a radiometric survey demonstrated that radioactive constituents (which <br />do not meet the Division's defuution of "Toxic") appeaz to be more highly concentrated in rock <br />' H\USFAMfftf~WP~A9lIlLLERFll595\WSUNSUN RPI' <br />Pagc IS <br />1 <br />