2013-06-03_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1977215

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significant effects on wetlands. (EA, pages 55 —57) The project areahas been inventoried at an intensive level for the presence /absence of cultural resources. As a result of these investigations, cultural resources sites are known to be in proximity of the proposed action. The proposed action will avoid known resources inventoried and evaluated as eligible or potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. (EA, pages 65 -66) 4. The degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment are likely to be highly controversial. The effects on the quality of the human environment are not likely to be highly controversial. There is no known credible scientific controversy over the impacts of the proposed action. The project site is located in a semi - remote area of the Rio Grande National Forest with a well - documented history of mining and exploration activities. (EA, pages 75 -77) 5. The degree to which the possible effects on the human environment are highly uncertain or involve unique or unknown risks. The Forest Service has considerable experience with actions like the one proposed. The analysis shows the effects are not uncertain, and do not involve unique or unknown risk. Activities approved in this decision notice are similar to activities that have taken place in this same area, historically, on National Forest System lands, (EA, Appendix A -page 105) Similar mineral exploration activities are done at many other locations throughout the United States. None is unique or involves unknown risks. 6. The degree to which the action may establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects, or represents a decision in principle about a future consideration. The action is not likely to establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects, because the action is not new, many other exploration activities have occurred in the project area. The installation of the new pipeline replaces an existing pipeline, installed for the previous mining activities. Acres that were previously disturbed for this project are 10.2 of the total of 12.0 acres on National Forest land. (EA,pagel4). Any future projects within the project area, or in the surrounding areas, that may involve additional exploration or possible future mining, will be analyzed on their own merits, under a separate environmental analysis, and be independent of this decision. 7. Whether the action is related to other actions with individually insignificant, but cumulatively significant impacts. The cumulative impacts are not significant. Past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions have been considered in the cumulative impacts analyses of the EA. The cumulative impact analysis examined other appropriate actions and determined that the effects of the proposed Bulldog Underground Exploration and Development Project DN/FON51 Page 7