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Direct and Indirect Impacts: Alternative 1 and associated impacts would be similar to the No <br />Action Alternative. <br />Cumulative Impacts: Alternative 1 and associated cumulative impacts would be similar to the <br />No Action Alternative. <br />Mitigation/Residual Effects: Alternative 1 and associated residual impacts would be similar to <br />the No Action Alternative. <br />INVASIVE PLANTS* <br />BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES <br />Affected Environment: South Park is a montane grassland surrounded by mountains in west - central <br />Park County. The vegetation in the project area is grassland, much of it is shortgrass or midgrass. <br />Arizona fescue, mountain muhly, needleandthread, blue grama, and Parry's oatgrass are common. <br />Environmental Effects <br />Proposed Action <br />Direct and Indirect Impacts: The Mountain loam ecological site of the project area is prone to invasion <br />by a wide variety of invasive plants if severe soil surface disturbance occurs. The Proposed Action <br />would allow a mine covering slightly less than five acres to be located on the public lands. This mine <br />would consist of an open pit on approximately 1.5 acres with equipment, office, housing and material <br />storage covering much of the rest. <br />Cumulative Impacts: This BLM parcel is located in close proximity to a small urban area with <br />many varied uses including, but not limited to, motorized recreation, building developments, livestock <br />grazing, hiking and horseback riding. These activities are expected to continue and increase in the <br />future. Noxious weed infestations in the project area could potentially spread to other areas. <br />Mitigation/Residual Effects: The site should be monitored for invasive plants prior to and <br />during implementation and for at least five growing seasons after the project area has been <br />rehabilitated. All invasive plants identified by monitoring must be treated as soon as conditions for <br />effective treatment exist (ie. Proper weather and phenological stage for treatment). The proponent will <br />be responsible for monitoring and treatment of invasive plants. Periodic monitoring would be done by <br />BLM staff. <br />No Action Alternative <br />Direct and Indirect Impacts: If no action is taken, the proposal would not be discretionary <br />under the 1872 mining law. The applicant would still be able to proceed with mining on the parcel; <br />however the sale of sand and gravel would not be permitted. Overall, this would have the same effects <br />on invasive plants as the Proposed Action, but there would probably be a hill left after reclamation <br />rather than a pit. <br />27 <br />