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From 1970 to 2000, estimated mining employment as a share of total employment went <br />from 1.5 to 0.8 percent in Park County. Over this period estimated mining income as a <br />share of TPI increased from 0.1 to 4.2 percent (US Department of Commerce 2000b). In <br />the year 2006, average annual mining wages in the county were $38,056 which was more <br />than 20 percent higher than the average wage for all private and public sector ($29,984) <br />(US Department of Commerce, 2006c). Data presented in Table 1 shows that the Mining <br />and Mining services sector made up 0.4 percent of employment and 1.4 percent of labor <br />income in Park County in 2006 (IMPLAN 2008). <br />Amenity and Social Values <br />The value of resource goods traded in markets can be obtained from information on the <br />quantity sold and market price of sand, gravel or gold however; markets do not exist for <br />some resources, such as recreational opportunities and environmental services affected by <br />actions under this EA. Discussing their value is important, since without estimates, these <br />resources may be implicitly undervalued and decisions regarding their use may not <br />accurately reflect their true value to the area. Because these recreational and other values <br />are not traded in markets, they can be characterized as non - market or amenity values. <br />Recreational opportunities within the project area include activities such as ATV use, <br />dispersed camping, wildlife viewing, and hiking (Recreation section — pg 30 of EA). <br />Other public scoping comments indicated amenity and social value exists for wildlife, <br />public safety and air, soil and water quality. In addition, other comments noted value in <br />area mining and expressed a community need for material provided by the mine Area <br />residents have expressed concern regarding -the potential effects to these values on <br />scenery, air quality, noise, and consequently their property values from an active mining <br />claim adjacent to their homes. This range of values indicates where shared values exist <br />and where values may conflict. The information will enable agency staff to address <br />concerns and ensure that actions either address their values or explain why they will not <br />or cannot (USDA 2009). <br />Environmental Justice <br />Fairplay — Destiny Placer Mine EA - Socioeconomic and Environmental Justice Report <br />Executive Order 12898 requires Federal agencies to "identify and address the <br />disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its <br />programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low- income populations." <br />According to the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Environmental Justice <br />Guidelines for NEPA (1997) "minority populations should be identified where either: (a) <br />the minority population of the affected area exceeds 50 percent or (b) the minority <br />population percentage of the affected area is meaningfully greater than the minority <br />population percentage in the general population or other appropriate unit of geographic <br />analysis.....a minority population also exists if there is more than one minority group <br />present and the minority percentage, as calculated by aggregating all minority persons, <br />meets one of the above stated thresholds. "Thus, the ethnic and racial composition of <br />Colorado, Park County, and the CCD surrounding the potential mining activity (Figure 2) <br />are of interest. The shares of 2000 population by race and ethnicity are displayed in <br />Table 2 below. In the year 2000, the share of population described as white was greater <br />than the state in Park County and Fairplay CCD. In Fairplay CCD the shares of Asians, <br />2 Race and ethnicity shares do not add to 100 percent because Hispanics can be of any race. <br />8 <br />