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0 1 er a ve ere arr e r ar <br />One alternative was considered and not carried forward by BLM in this EA. This alternative <br />consists of a 30-acre parcel north of Sale Barn Canyon and immediately west of the current pit <br />area. The total surface disturbance of this alternative, including existing disturbance, would be <br />approximately 78 acres. The actual life of this alternative would depend on the amount of <br />overburden and volume of gravel in the area. It is expected, based on the estimated geology and <br />current development rates, that operations in this area could continue for approximately ten <br />years. The permit renewal would be for a period of ten years. All other aspects of the gravel <br />extraction operation are the same as described in the Proposed Action above. <br />Although this 30-acre parcel is within an area designated as a Mineral Emphasis Area in the <br />Grandview Management Plan, BL M has recognized that developing this alternative would result <br />in relatively greater impacts than the Proposed Action. Development into this area would require <br />the relocation of recreational trails, increase area impacts to wildlife and is logistically not the <br />most efficient location for development of the mineral resource. Final reclamation would <br />recontour the pit walls and floor. Sale Barn Canyon and the adjacent buffer zones would remain <br />in place, resulting in an atypical topography for the area. In addition, Native American <br />consultations have revealed a desire on the part of the modem Pueblo Tribes for the BLM to <br />preserve the remaining cultural resources on Grandview Ridge related to their ancestral use of <br />this area and the physical remains of their ancestors contained in these sites together with their <br />setting which they deem is an important element in their significance. <br />This alternative was not carried forward because the Proposed Action will meet the need to <br />provide minerals, but presents fewer conflict with other resources. The BLM recognizes that <br />there are resource management issues, involving minerals, wildlife, archaeology, and urban <br />growth developing in the Grandview Area. It is anticipated that a future review of the <br />Grandview Ridge Plan will be initiated in the near future. Changes to the Plan would reconsider <br />how to balance management of public resources in light of growing public demands for <br />recreation, construction materials, utilities, and transportation routes, as well as, evaluate the <br />needs for mineral materials and protection of natural resources. Consideration of these issues <br />and how they affect public resources may result in amending or changing the post-management <br />goals for the Minerals Emphasis area. <br />la r a e ev e <br />The Proposed Action is subject to and has been reviewed for conformance with the following <br />plan (43 CFR 1610.5, BLM 1617.3): <br />Name of Plan: a a s a el a r e a a e a la <br />r ve e e er <br />ra v e e r a e a r e a a e a la <br />r ve 1 <br />U <br />Grandview Gravel Pit Expansion Environmental Assessment