2009-09-02_REVISION - M1998022 (4)

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commitment of resources because rock is not a renewable product. After all desired materials have been handpicked and transported off site, it is estimated that at least five feet of rock will remain on the talus slope. Intensity 1) Both beneficial and adverse effects have been considered in my decision. Over the long-term, the existing steep hillside will be gradually reclaimed to a more stable slope, lowering the risk of exposure to life and property that is present under current conditions. Approximately 50 homes are located within visual and auditory range of the project area. Sounds from heavy equipment being used on the hill would be heard on an intermittent basis (2-3 days a week) for up to one-third of the year. Removing surface rocks would also result in a long-term color contrast in the talus slope. These impacts are why I decided to add hours of operation and rock staining requirements. Hours of operation will help preserve quiet hours in the evenings and weekends valued by full and part-time residents. Staining will help blend freshly exposed rock surfaces with the surrounding darker rock within a couple weeks of application. Some wildlife is likely to leave the area to avoid noise and disturbance; however, they are expected to return after the harvesting concludes each year. These impacts are considered short-term in nature and will not impair long-term productivity and as thus, they are not considered to be of significant intensity. 2) The limited amount of truck traffic associated with this activity will not exceed traffic levels from the past 10 years and will pose no more threat to residents than existing visitor and residential traffic currently does on a daily basis. Incidental dust may be generated from rocks and equipment moving around on the talus slope located on NFS lands and our design criteria includes watering to minimize dust as needed. More potential for dust originates on private land where bare soil is exposed (staging area and private access road) which is outside the control of the Forest Service. We recommend Gunnison County consider this impact and appropriate dust abatement procedures when evaluating the land use application from the Gallegos Corporation. Rock harvesting is not anticipated to cause disproportionate adverse human health or environmental effects to air quality. 3) The project area can be seen from a 0.5 mile stretch of the Crystal River, of which 20 miles is considered eligible for wild and scenic rivers status as a recreation river. Scenery is one of the outstandingly remarkable values (ORV) identified for this segment of river. Rock staining will preserve scenic quality in the river view corridor and result in no long-term impact to the scenery ORV or effect to the eligibility, potential classification, or potential suitability of the area. Noise and incidental dust generated by the operation would not be detectable in the nearby Maroon Bells-Snowmass or Raggeds Wilderness areas. The project does not require any road access through the adjacent Gallo Hill roadless area. There will be no impacts on research natural areas or designated parklands or prime farmlands since these do not exist within the affected area. 4) The effects on the quality of the human environment are not highly controversial, because there is no substantial dispute as to the size, nature or effects of the proposed action among scientists. 5) The environmental effects analysis (EA, Chapter 3) demonstrates that the effects are not uncertain and do not involve unique or unknown risk. 6) This site-specific action does not establish a precedent for future actions, which may have significant effects; nor does it represent a decision in principle about a future action. Decision Notice and FONSI for Conger Rock Harvesting 4