Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />Assessment for the North Fork Area (BLM 2007b). Soils in the project area are identified as <br />meeting the objectives of Standard 1. Table 7 summarizes the soil units where surface- <br />disturbing activities would occur. <br />Table 7: Dominant Soils in the Proposed Area of Disturbance <br /> <br />• <br />Soil Unit Sloe Erosion Potential Run Off <br />Herm-Fughes-Kolob family Complex / 25%-60% Moderate to Severe Very High <br />Fu hes Loam <br />Herm-Fu hes Complex 5%-25% Moderate Very High <br />Shawa-Sandia Family-Kolob Family 5%-40% Low to Moderate Very High <br />Complex <br />Shawa-Sandia Family-Kolob Family Moderate to Very High to Very <br />Complex 40%-65% Severe High <br />Godding-Kolob Family-Delson 3%-25% Slight to Moderate Very High <br />Complex / Delson Stone Loam <br />Godding-Kolob Family-Delson 20%-65% Severe Very High <br />Complex / Delson Very Stone Loam <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: <br />Proposed Action - The nature and degree of impacts would be essentially the same as <br />described in previous EAs (BLM 2003, 2007a, 2005). To summarize, until the disturbed sites <br />are reclaimed in the fall of 2012 (except the 2010-1 monitoring well) there would be a potential <br />increase in the erosion and sedimentation into nearby streams due to exposed, disturbed ground. <br />With implementation of mitigation measures outlined in Appendix A, Conditions for Use and <br />Protection of Non-mineral Resources, as well as protection of habitat for Threatened greenback <br />cutthroat trout, aquatic habitats, water quality, and other mitigation measures included as part of <br />the proposed action, impacts are expected to be low and localized. <br />Cumulative Impacts - Changes to soils related cumulative impacts within the Terror <br />Creek watershed, resulting from the proposed action, are expected to be undetectable. <br />No Action Alternative - There would be no impacts to soil resources from coal <br />exploration activities. <br />Finding on the Public Land Health Standard for upland soils: Due to the small area <br />of potential disturbance, the short-term nature of potential impacts, and reclamation of disturbed <br />areas, the CEL area would continue to meet Public Land Health Standard 1. <br />VEGETATION (includes a finding on Standard 3) <br />Affected Environment: Vegetation is predominately Gambels oak, mountain shrubs, <br />and juniper woodland. Some dispersed Douglas firs are found along the creek above 7,000 feet <br />in elevation. In the gentler sloping areas where moisture can accumulate, pockets of aspen are <br />also found at this elevation or above. A more complete description is contained in the 2005 <br />Spruce Stomp EA. The 2006-2007 North Fork Land Health Assessment Area (BLM 2007b) <br />determined that the vegetation communities in this area were meeting public land health <br />standards. <br />DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2010- 0017 EA <br />Page 19 of 43 <br />May 2010