Laserfiche WebLink
CHAPTER3 <br />AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br />¦ Geologic Reservoir Feasibility <br />¦ Oil and Gas Development <br />¦ Coal and Coal-bed Methane <br />¦ Mineral Deposits/Construction Material <br />No geological impacts would be expected to occur from implementation of the non-structural <br />components of both Refined Alternatives 4 and 6. As such, this issue was eliminated from further <br />analysis. <br />3.8.2.1.2 Significance Criteria <br />The determination of potential impacts and their significance considered the following: <br />? Facilities proximity to an active seismic area <br />? Significant risk potential of reservoir induced seismicity (RIS) <br />? Significant risk potential of harmful erosion and sedimentation <br />? Significant risk potential of catastrophic slope failures <br />? Geologic conditions not suitable for a reservoir to sustain water for the purposes of the project <br />? Current oil and gas mineral development affecting the intended integrity of the project <br />? Restriction of recovery of mineral resources which could not be recovered by any other means <br />? Current coal and coal-bed methane development affecting the intended integrity of the project <br />3.8.2.2 Soils <br />3.8.2.2.1 Methodology <br />The Soil Survey of La Plata County Area, Colorado (Soil Conservation Service 1982), the Soil Survey of <br />= Montezuma County, Colorado (Soil Conservation Service 1982), and the Soil Survey of San Juan <br />County, New Mexico (Soil Conservation Service 1982) were used to identify potentially affected soil <br />resources. Applicable soil survey maps, map unit descriptions, and supporting tabular information were <br />summarized, based on the extent of physical environmental impact that would result from the <br />construction and operation of Ridges Basin Reservoir, the inlet conduit, Durango Pumping Plant, and <br />NNMP. Impacts associated with the inundation of the reservoir site, nearby excavation and transport of <br />borrow materials, pipeline excavation and backfilling, pumping plant construction, and land conversion <br />under the non-structural component, were quantitatively assessed from current project plans as overlain <br />on soil survey map units. <br />These potential end use locations (shown on Map 2-1 in Chapter 2) were compared to the same locations <br />on soil survey maps prepared for the Soil Survey of La Plata County Area, Colorado (Soil Conservation <br />Service 1982). Soil map units and the corresponding soils were then identified as potentially affected by II <br />development of the particular end uses identified under the scenario. I' <br />' a (Lswr (A --CPAGE l?- 9Co i l) <br />Weerninuche Construction Authority 3-123 3.8 GEOLOGY AND SOILS I;I <br />P.O. Box A - To-v aoc. CO 81334 III?II?