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It is expected that the No Action Alternative would result in similar impacts for industry and the <br />general public. Overall, costs of gravel in LaPlata County and the surround area would increase, <br />due to increasing demand, decreasing supply, and an increase in transportation costs. This would <br />affect the number of miles of roads that can be maintained or constructed. <br />It is possible that new sources of gravel would be identified and developed as prices rise. Based <br />on the proposal and/or development of recent new pits, it is expected that new production would <br />be located on private land. Geology and existing gravel pits indicates new pits would be located <br />along the Animas River flood plain and other drainages such as the Pine River, and on the mesas <br />adjoining the Animas River. <br />The Proposed Action would continue to provide gravel from the same area of disturbance. The <br />overall availability of gravel would not be reduced. Transportation costs would not increase for <br />a portion of the county with a high density of roads. It is expected that product prices would <br />remain similar to existing prices, or increase as demand increases. <br />Mitigation <br />No further mitigation has been identified to minimize impacts to socio-economics. <br />2.4.4 Soils <br />Soils of the project area are associated with map unit 70 of the La Plata County Soil Survey (the <br />survey incorrectly notes the project area as map unit 82). Soils are formed predominately from <br />glacial outwash. They mostly have loam and fine sandy loam surface textures and very gravelly <br />or very cobbly loam of clay loam subsoils. Surface rock fragments are common in some areas. <br />These soils are mostly deep and well-drained (Soil Conservation Service 1988). <br />Environmental Consequences <br />Vegetation and litter will be cleared from the project area and topsoil will be removed and <br />stockpiled. Subsoil containing the targeted material will be removed from the project area. <br />During and after these activities, some minor soil erosion will occur but soils won't move far <br />since the slopes of the project area are so flat. <br />When mining activities are complete, rehabilitation efforts will be designed to return disturbed <br />sites to a productive condition, capable of supporting the native vegetation that previously <br />occupied the project area. Topsoil and subsoil will be returned to the disturbed sites of the <br />project area, contouring will occur and native seed will be used for revegetation. <br />Mitigation <br />See Mitigation #6. <br />15. The operator will be responsible for segregating topsoil material and backfilling of <br />topsoil in its respective original position (last out, first in) to assist in the reestablishment <br />of soil health and productivity. <br />16. All topsoil and overburden will be stock-piled on site and used for reclamation. Topsoil <br />is identified as the top six inches of the soil profile, and it will be stock-piled separately <br />Grandview Gravel Pit Expansion Environmental Assessment 30