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I also considered the temporal context of the proposed action. There will be immediate ' • <br />effects in the form of surface disturbance, extraction of the mineral, and an increase in the <br />amount of material deposited in the waste rock area. These immediate effects will likely <br />be present for more than five years, so l do consider them to be long-term effects. Even <br />when operations cease and the mine is closed, the waste rock pile will always be present <br />at the site. Although the waste rock pile will be reclaimed, it will remain as a permanent <br />storage facility for the waste rock. Long term monitoring and evaluation will continue as <br />conditions of the permit. The location of this waste rock pile will be known and <br />identified. Page 61 of the EA explains the standards to which the operator will reclaim <br />the waste rock area when mining operations cease. These standards can also be found in <br />40 CFR 192.12. I have also carefully considered the potential exposure to someone <br />camping on the waste rock pile for 24 hours a day for 14 days, as explained on page 60 of <br />the EA. That scenario showed that the potential radiation exposure to a human would be <br />very low. Therefore, I do not consider the long-term effects to be significant. <br />The following discussion on the intensity of impacts from the proposed action is <br />organized around the ten relevant factors described in 40 CFR 1508.27 for evaluating <br />impacts. I have considered the following in my evaluation of the intensity of effects for <br />this proposal. <br />1. Impacts both beneficial and adverse. <br />As explained in Section 8.3.2.3, the project would have some beneficial socioeconomic <br />impacts, primarily in contributing to the tax base of San Miguel County. I do recognize • <br />that there will be some temporary adverse impacts, primarily the disturbance of nearly 20 <br />acres of public land, and increased traffic and wear and tear on the highway. However, I <br />have determined that these effects are not significant. Related to the land, there are no <br />unique features of the land that will be disturbed. The landscape contains plants, animals, <br />and topographic features common to the area and I do not believe it will result in a <br />shortage of habitat. <br />There will be impacts to Highway 491 in two ways. First, the amount of truck traffic on <br />the highway will increase, which does increase the potential for vehicle to vehicle <br />accidents and accidents involving collisions with wildlife. Secondly, the additional <br />trucks hauling loads of uranium ore will cause increased wear on the road. Highway 491 <br />is a state highway and is under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Department of <br />Transportation. As such, the operator is required to comply with all Colorado <br />Department of Transportation laws and regulations for use of the highway. <br />I believe that, on balance, the expansion will have beneficial effects through increased tax <br />revenue for San Miguel County, for as long as the mine is in operation. I have carefully <br />considered this intensity factor, and my finding of No Significant Impact is not biased by <br />the beneficial socioeconomic effects of this project. The effects to the surface will be <br />temporary. When mining operations cease, Denison will be required to fully reclaim the <br />surface to BLM reclamation standards. <br />Sunday Mines Expansion -2- Dolores Public Lands Office <br />Finding of No Significant Impact January 30, 2009