2008-02-22_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2008086 (39)

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CHAPTERFOUR Environmental Consequences and Mitigation The North Fruita Desert SRMA south of the Book Cliffs is in an undesignated Visual Resource Management (VRM) category. This area is used for recreation, and there may be some project facilities visible from different locations in the SRMA. That portion of the Grand Junction Field Office planning area in the Book Cliffs is designated as VRM Class III. The objective of this class is to partially retain the existing character of the landscape. Three visual simulations were prepared from a Key Observation Point (KOP) along SH 139 (Figure 4-1, Photo Simulation Map). This point was selected as it is a relatively high point along SH 139 to view the mine area (Figure 4-3, Photo Simulation -Looking at Mine Site), and also provides a view of the proposed railroad crossing of SH 139 (Figure 4-2, Photo Simulation - Looking South). The third view, Figure 4-4, Photo Simulation -Looking North, is a simulation of the CR X to East Salt Creek railroad alignment as it crosses SH 139. Mine and Facilities Mine facilities would introduce man-made structures into the landscape that would draw attention to their size, lines, and forms that contrast with the surrounding natural appearing landscape. These structures include a unit train loadout, a coal preparation plant, package sewage treatment plant, sediment pond, office, shop, warehouse, conveyors, water tank, ventilation fan, raw coal stockpile, and a coal waste disposal area as described in the Proposed Action description in Chapter 2. Figure 4-3 is a simulation of the mine facilities. From this KOP, the loadout silos would be visible, as would the waste rock pile up against the base of the Book Cliffs. The actual mine portals and benches are not visible due to their distance from the KOP and their orientation along the Book Cliffs. Other mine features may be visible for varying periods of time from other locations along SH 139. The sediment pond may draw attention due to the clearing of vegetation and the large geometric shape of the pond. The loop track would create some visual impacts due to the 90-foot cuts necessary to maintain the required grade. The coal waste disposal area and coal stockpiles would draw attention due to the clearing of vegetation and the large piles of coal and coal waste. The facilities associated with the proposed mine would be constructed on benches, which would be carved out of the existing terrain. This would create distinct contrasts with the natural topography of the area.. Siting facilities on benches would draw attention to the facilities due to the contrast of the benches with surrounding topography. These facilities would be over 2 miles away from SH 139 at the closest point and would be oriented so they would not be directly exposed to SH 139. The mine and benches are located on cliff faces oriented away from some of the higher use recreation areas at the north end of CR 18 (campground and trailhead), and would not be visible from those locations Access and maintenance roads would require the removal of vegetation and changes in the existing topography by cutting and filling of soil. After construction, the color of the exposed soil would contrast with the surrounding vegetation and be highly visible. Roads create a linear contrast in the landscape due to the contrasting soil color, changes in vegetation patterns, and changes in the natural topography, which combine to create a visible change in the landscape. 4-28 DBMS 583