2011-09-29_PERMIT FILE - M2009056

Home Browse Search

Fairplay — Destiny Placer Mine EA - Socioeconomic and Environmental Justice Report that during the operational life of a disamenity original homeowners realize a net loss in property value. However, they also report that "if after the adjustment is complete the facility is regarded as innocuous, prices will rebound and the total change in social welfare will be zero. In this case, however, a substantial transfer of welfare may have occurred from buyers to sellers" (Kiel and McClain, 1993). Therefore from a net public benefits perspective, there is likely to be no change in social welfare over the long run. This is likely to be the case of the Destiny Mine. Initial losses in property value would be re- gained after operation concludes, and it may be the case the reclamation efforts leave the site more visually and aesthetically valuable than under its current state. This could even result in upward pressure on nearby residential property values in the long -run. However, evidence suggests that in the near -term property values would be negatively impacted by the mining operation. The degree to which is unknown. There are no studies that accurately depict the state of affairs at this specific site, therefore, citing a benefits transfer from other studies would be unreliable. Currently the site is open to recreation use and accessible by nearby residents. The proposed mining site consists of 4.84 acres out of an 80 acre BLM parcel zoned for mining. The proposed mining site would be closed to public access which could generate some negative externalities. Those externalities include those discussed above such as, loss of access, scenic quality, noise, dust and increased commercial traffic. Through proper management many of these effects are mitigatable. As discussed above, mining has a long history in Park County. Substantial evidence of past and present mining operations exists around the proposed site. In addition to remnants from mining operations, residential developers have left rock piles and holes disturbing the immediate landscape. There are currently five homes adjacent to the proposed site; however, it appears that only one is occupied. Residents of these homes would be most affected by mining activities. Concealing the mining operation by landscaping with native grasses and trees would reduce the visual effects to nearby property owners. Additionally, building a trail around the mine to other open areas would allow for continued multiple use access by residents. This would help mitigate any negative impacts to social values occurring from closing the site to recreational use. Commercial traffic would enter through the south access road and would not affect roadways for the homes adjacent to the mining site. There is a home located near the south access road that would experience increased truck traffic, but the operator has agreed to move the entrance to the access road away from their driveway to mitigate traffic conflicts. The air quality analysis estimates the impacts to air quality resulting from the proposed action. It is anticipated that long -term and moderately adverse impacts would occur to immediate homeowners, long term and minor impacts to Park County, and long -term but negligible impacts to Colorado, relative to the existing conditions. It is likely that realized socioeconomic effects from changes in air quality would occur within close proximity to the mining site. At the time of this analysis, occupancy rates of nearby homes are low; however, any adverse impacts realized by existing homeowners would increase the socioeconomic costs associated with this alternative. Such costs could include further reduction in property values and increased risk for health problems; however, there is no reliable data that allows for a quantitative analysis of those costs. Given that the nearby residential neighborhood is sparsely populated, adverse impacts would be minor in relation to the entire study area; however, those impacts could be very 12