Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS 3.1 – Introduction 3.1-1 3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences 3.1 Introduction This chapter describes the affected environment and environmental consequences on the affected environment from the Proposed Action and the alternatives. The baseline information used to describe the affected environment was obtained from published and unpublished materials; interviews with local, state, and federal agencies; and from field and laboratory studies conducted in the study area. The affected environment for individual resources was delineated based on the area of potential direct and indirect environmental impacts for the proposed NOA and SOA projects. For resources such as soils and vegetation, the study area was determined to be the physical location and immediate vicinity of the areas of proposed expanded and new disturbance associated with the proposed NOA and SOA projects. For other resources such as water quality, air quality, wildlife, social and economic values, and the transport of hazardous materials, the affected environment was more extensive (e.g., airshed, local communities, etc.). The environmental consequences analysis in this chapter includes both the direct and indirect impacts of the Proposed Action and the alternatives, as well as potential cumulative project impacts when considered with other non-related actions affecting the same resources. The analysis of potential direct and indirect impacts from the Proposed Action assumed the implementation of design features and ACEPMs (Section 2.4.3, Design Features and Applicant-committed Environmental Protection Measures for the Proposed North and South Operations Area Projects). Additionally, proposed monitoring and mitigation measures developed in response to anticipated impacts are recommended by the BLM for individual resources, as discussed at the end of each resource section. This chapter also identifies the residual adverse impacts that would remain after implementation of mitigation measures. The analyses of cumulative effects disclose the impacts from the Proposed Action and alternatives when considered cumulatively with the impacts of past and present actions and RFFAs impacting the same resources. The spatial extent of the CESA varies by resource discipline and was determined based the location, extent, and type of resource impact. The temporal extent of potential cumulative effects includes the time period wherein the impacts of past and present actions and RFFAs overlap with time period wherein project impacts would occur (including construction, operation, and reclamation phases). The cumulative effects analysis for each resource addresses the potential cumulative effects within each resource-specific CESA. This chapter is organized by environmental resource. Sections 3.2 through 3.20 describe the existing conditions and potential environmental impacts associated with each resource. The short-term use of the environment relative to the long-term productivity of resources is discussed in Section 3.21. Unless otherwise noted on a resource-specific basis, short-term is defined as the 25-year construction and operational life of the Proposed Action and also includes the initial years of the reclamation period. For the Reconfiguration Alternative and WRM Alternative, short-term is defined as the 15-year construction and operational life including the initial years of the reclamation period. Long-term impacts are defined as impacts that would include the remainder of reclamation and continue post-reclamation (i.e., beyond 25 years for the Proposed Action; beyond 15 years for the Reconfiguration and WRM alternatives). The NOA- and SOA-specific timelines are presented in Section 2.4, Proposed Action, Section 2.5.1, Reconfiguration Alternative, and Section 2.5.2, WRM Alternative. The irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources is described in Section 3.22. Energy requirements of the proposed NOA and SOA projects, including the production of GHG emissions is presented in Section 3.23. 2015 Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS 3.1 – Introduction 3.1-2 To comply with NEPA, and in accordance with the BLM NEPA Handbook (H-1790-1) (2008a) and with further guidance provided in IM No. NV-2009-030, the BLM is required to address specific elements of the human environment that are subject to requirements specified in statute, regulation, or Executive Order (EO) (i.e., supplemental authorities). Table 3.1-1 lists those resources regulated by supplemental authorities that could be potentially impacted by the proposed NOA and SOA projects. Table 3.1-2 lists the potentially impacted resources that are not governed by supplemental authorities. These tables also indicate which of the potentially impacted resources are not analyzed in detail in this EIS and the rationale for their elimination from detailed analysis. Table 3.1-1 Resources Regulated by Supplemental Authorities and Rationale for Analysis in the EIS Resources Subject to Supplemental Not Present/Not Present/May Authority1 Present2 Affected be Affected3 EIS Section/Rationale/Authority Air Quality X Section 3.14. Clean Air Act, as amended (42 USC 7401 et seq.); Section 176 (c) CAA – General Conformity. Area of Critical X Would not be affected. Resource not Environmental present in or near the proposed NOA Concern and SOA projects. Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 USC 1701 et seq.). Cultural/Historical X Section 3.12. National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 USC 470). Environmental Justice X Section 3.18. E.O. 12898 “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-Income Populations” 2/11/94. Farmlands Prime or X Would not be affected. Resource not Unique present in or near the proposed NOA and SOA projects. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 USC 1201 et seq.). Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 USC 4202 et seq.). Noxious Weeds/ X Section 3.6. E.O. 13112 Invasive Invasive Non-native Species 2/3/99. Species Native American X Section 3.13. American Indian Religious Concerns Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (42 USC 1996). Floodplains X Would not be affected. Resource not present in or near the proposed NOA and SOA projects. E.O. 11988, as amended “Floodplain Management” 5/24/77. Riparian/Wetlands X Sections 3.3 and 3.5. E.O. 11990 “Protection of Wetlands” 5/24/77. 2015 Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS 3.1 – Introduction 3.1-3 Table 3.1-1 Resources Regulated by Supplemental Authorities and Rationale for Analysis in the EIS Resources Subject to Supplemental Not Present/Not Present/May Authority1 Present2 Affected be Affected3 EIS Section/Rationale/Authority Federally Listed X Section 3.8. Endangered Species Threatened, Act of 1973, as amended (16 USC Endangered Species 1531). including Bald and Golden Eagles Migratory Birds X Section 3.7. E.O. 13186 “Migratory Birds”; Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC 703-711). Waste – X Section 3.20. Resource Hazardous/Solid Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 USC 6901 et seq.); Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 190, as amended (42 USC 9615). Water Quality X Section 3.3. Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 USC 300f et seq.); Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 USC 1251 et seq.). Wild and Scenic Rivers X Would not be affected. Resource not present in or near the proposed NOA and SOA projects. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as amended (16 USC 1271). Wilderness X Impacts to the Jarbidge Wilderness are analyzed in Section 3.14 as the only impacts to wilderness values may occur from air quality impacts. FLPMA 1976 (43 USC 1701 et seq.); Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 USC 1131 et seq.). Wild Horses and X Section 3.10. Wild Free-Roaming Burros Horse and Burro Act of 1971 (16 USC 1331-1340). Forests and X Would not be affected. Resource not Rangelands (Healthy present in or near the proposed NOA Forests Restoration and SOA projects. Healthy Forests Act only) Restoration Act of 2003 (P.L. 108- 148). 2015 Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS 3.1 – Introduction 3.1-4 Table 3.1-1 Resources Regulated by Supplemental Authorities and Rationale for Analysis in the EIS Resources Subject to Supplemental Not Present/Not Present/May Authority1 Present2 Affected be Affected3 EIS Section/Rationale/Authority Lands with Wilderness X Would not be affected. Resource not Characteristics present in or near the proposed NOA and SOA projects. An update was made to the wilderness characteristics inventories for Intensive Inventory unit NV-040-024- 1 in 2011, units NV-040-026-1, NV- 040-035-1, NV-040-035-2, NV-040- 036-1, NV-040-036-2, NV-040-037-2 in 2012, and unit NV-040-023-1 in 2013 by the Ely District Wilderness Planner and the units in which the project occurs were found to not possess wilderness character. FLPMA 1976 (43 USC 1701 et seq.); Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 USC 1131 et seq.). Human Health and X Section 3.20. The transportation and Safety storage of hazardous materials, and the storage of blasting agents and explosives would be performed in accordance with NDEP, MSHA, BATF, Department of Homeland Security, CERCLA, SARA, NDOT, and USDOT regulations (where applicable). 1 See H-1790-1 (January 2008) Appendix 1 Supplemental Authorities to be Considered (BLM 2008a). 2 Supplemental authorities determined to be not present or present/not affected need not be carried forward for analysis or discussed further in this EIS.