Draft environmental impact statement : Oil-Dri Corporation of Nevada, Reno clay plant project EIS

202 Pages·2001·49.3 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Carson City Field Office

BLM LIBRARY
umitju oiates Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Carson City Field Office
Carson City, Nevada May 2001
DRAFT
Environmental Impact Statement
Reno Clay Plant Project
Oil-Dri Corporation of Nevada
243
.N3
R466
2001
C.2
BLM LIBRARY
BLDG 50, ST-150A
DENVER FEDERAL CENTER
P.O. BOX 25047
DENVER, COLORADO 80225
MISSIONSTATEMENT
TheBureauofLandManagementisresponsibleforthestewardshipofourpubliclands. Itiscommittedtomanage,protect,and
improvetheselandsinamannertoservetheneedsoftheAmericanpeopleforalltimes. Managementisbasedupontheprinciplesof
multipleuseandsustainedyieldofournation'sresourceswithinaframeworkofenvironmentalresponsibilityandscientifictechnology.
Theseresourcesincluderecreation,rangelands,timber,minerals,watershed,fishandwildlife,wilderness,airandscenic,scientific
andculturalvalues.
BLM/CC/PL-01/012+1702
United States Department ofthe Interior
BUREAUOFLANDMANAGEMENT
CarsonCityFieldOffice
5665MorganMillRd.
CarsonCity,NV89701
[phone]
www.nv.blm.gov/Carson
May 2, 2001
InReplyReferTo:
3809 (NV030)
N30-99-001P
DearReader:
EnclosedforyourreviewandcommentistheDraftEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)forOil-
Dri Corporation’s Reno Clay PlantProjectprepared by the Bureau ofLand Management (BLM)
CarsonCityFieldOffice. CooperatingagenciesforthisEISaretheBureauofIndianAffairs,Reno-
Sparks Indian Colony, and Washoe County.
The DraftEIS isbasedonthe planofoperations submittedto the BLMunder43 Code ofFederal
Regulations 3809. ThisDraftEIS analyzesthe direct, indirect,andcumulative impactsassociated
withtheproposeddevelopmentoftwoopenpits, constructionofhaulandaccessroads,temporary
stockpiling ofoverburden and growth medium, partial backfilling ofopen pits, construction and
operation ofan oreprocessing facility, haulage ofproduct, andreclamationofdisturbed areas.
TheBLMisinterestedinyourreviewandcommentontheadequacyandaccuracyofthisdocument.
Publiccommentswillbeacceptedduringa60-daycommentperiod.Inaddition,apublicopenhouse
toacceptcomments andanswerquestions is scheduledforMay 30, 2001 from 5 pmto 7pmatthe
BLMNevadaState Office, 1340 FinancialBoulevard,Reno,Nevada. Writtencommentsmustbe
postmarkedby July 10, 2001, and shouldbe sentto:
Bureau ofLandManagement
Carson City Field Office
Attn: TerriKnutson,EIS ProjectManager
5665Morgan MillRoad
CarsonCity,NV89701
Comments may also be sent electronically to [email protected] fax at(775) 885-6147.
AFinalEISwillbepreparedthatwillconsiderthecommentsreceivedduringthe60-daycomment
period. Formore information, please contactTerriKnutson at(775) 885-6156.
Sincerely
John Singlaub
Manager,
Carson City Field Office
; '
W
^? 'ri^;‘^Si)tp#f -isf|K,
i®?)'®
f--' i#*vf
' <» «s* '*'«>
,
'.'i
v->!*
',',
' %Ay.y^S:' : ’ \/\ A ' :
r',' .'*H. " ,<..-i- .( / . . ' .^.i'>,....;•r;'('I.•.'.•j}f/'-HJS,'|Wvv;j^r;n..**»i».»».•'....'.V..,v‘:F'..r'.*.'.-;^^V. :yff'^.f;- -US'’..^..?s^' w-^,•»••-'ll'*
‘fX''fX.\''\;^^'I,I^,X^ ... - ,1,,,; .r-iv^,-. -' ', '
;P"S; ’'V®;. p,'' '’Pf^ PV >'n.--•.‘#:|f^p5.» '••^^ffiBaff
'
'IpVp:
:•;-, 'xf ''^v; ';' ‘
l^i^.',p.’''• '.-;,..••''••) ': h'1>:y'f1./.1‘[j.-''f.."'('.'f./.•-
:;.
P'-"’ ' v'V
. '' . .p. ' "'' ' '
I
.,
'
'/l^...^ij.!...,'
U Afc ^
'.V' f!;.v
t.jK^'?®:;i/;L:..,-:a5.i8«
_, ’''llws!*'\V. 1/'M,*’\t, i', ^‘'^<"-)5'>'' .’“I y„y.,
\ ’'a;'’’vi§?‘V.1%'y,:\f'ii>^ t\ '>•• ‘'"g®'^*ki'mASalimw
a ! ja^ :vi‘a
Wg
o&
‘ 'PrrP^ -^-^f * P«fe'
•»v(7v,.\'.r.wSvr',>' A;/.i.'/.'^iV •»;
DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF NEVADA
RENO CLAY PLANT PROJECT EIS
LEADAGENCY: U.S. Departmentofthe Interior
Bureau ofLand Management
Carson City Field Office
COOPERATING AGENCIES: Washoe County
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
U.S. Departmentofthe Interior-
Bureau ofIndian Affairs
PROJECT LOCATION: Washoe County, Nevada
COMMENTS ON THIS DRAFTEIS
SHOULD BE DIRECTEDTO: Ms.Terri Knutson
EIS ProjectManager
Carson City Field Office
5665 Morgan Mill Road
Carson City, NV 89701
[phone]
DATE DRAFT EIS FILEDWITH EPA: May 11,2001
DATE BYWHICH COMMENTS MUST
BE POSTMARKEDTO BLM: July 10, 2001
ABSTRACT
This Draft EIS analyzes the potential impacts associated with a proposal by Oil-Dri
Corporation of Nevada to construct and operate an open-pit clay mine and ore
processing facilityapproximately 10 miles north ofReno, Nevada. The Proposed Action
includes construction oftwo open-pits; construction ofhaul and access roads; temporary
stockpiling of overburden and growth medium; partial backfilling of open-pits;
construction and operation of an ore processing facility; haulage of product to market
areas; and reclamation of disturbed areas. Alternatives to the Proposed Action are
analyzed in the EIS. The Agency Preferred Alternative is Alternative A - Chickadee
DriveAccess Route.
ResponsibleOfficialforEIS
John Singlaub
Carson City Field Office Manager
BureauofLand Management
' '
iS '(I
'
" y"
:''/./'rv; :; :; <,."^^ ' r:-X\yy:yi
;V ;-'' ;;;/ ;" '; ''' .
/,
:
V
' .'* 1'';''' ^ kV.Vv''^'^®'- *%'V' 3"^ -i.--3M,-
Vf' '" i:i _-i. ".t ' y-- V>;'.I.,, ' '\4 \
TableofContents I
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
RENO CLAY PLANT PROEJCT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT/SIGNATURE PAGE
LETTERTOREADER
SUMMARY S-1
CHAPTER1: INTRODUCTION 1-1
Purposeand Need 1-1
AuthorizingActions 1-1
RelationshiptoBLMand Non-BLM Policies, Plans, and Programs 1-2
PublicScoping 1-5
CHAPTER2: DESCRIPTIONOFPROPOSEDACTIONANDALTERNATIVES 2-1
Introduction 2-1
ProjectHistoryand ExistingOperations 2-1
ProposedAction 2-2
ProjectAlternatives 2-27
CHAPTER3:AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 3-1
Introduction 3-1
Geology, Minerals, and Paleontology 3-2
AirResources 3-9
Aesthetics(Visual Resourcesand Noise) 3-16
WaterResources 3-31
Soil 3-38
Vegetation Resources 3-43
RangeResources 3-43
Wildlife Resources 3-44
SpecialStatusSpecies 3-49
Land UseandAccess 3-50
Recreation 3-52
Cultural Resources 3-56
NativeAmerican ReligiousConcerns/Indian TrustResponsibilities 3-59
Socialand EconomicResources 3-60
EnvironmentalJustice 3-66
CHAPTER4:CONSEQUENCESOFPROPOSEDACTIONANDALTERNATIVES
Introduction 4-1
Geology, Minerals, and Paleontology 4-1
AirResources 4-3
Aesthetics(Visual Resourcesand Noise) 4-6
WaterResources 4-23
Soil 4-26
Vegetation Resources 4-27
DraftEIS
91
II TableofContents
TABLEOFCONTENTS(continued)
Page
Range Resources 4-29
WildlifeResources 4-30
SpecialStatusSpecies 4-31
Land UseandAccess 4-32
Recreation 4-34
Cultural Resources 4-36
NativeAmerican ReligiousConcerns/IndianTrustResponsibilities 4-37
Socialand EconomicResources 4-39
EnvironmentalJustice 4-41
Cumulative Effects 4-43
CHAPTER5: CONSULTATION,COORDINATION, PREPARATION 5-1
PublicParticipationSummary 5-1
Implementation 5-1
Criteriaand MethodsbyWhich PublicInputisEvaluated 5-2
ListofPreparersand Reviewers 5-3
Mailing List 5-5
CHAPTER6: REFERENCESANDGLOSSARIES 6-1
LISTOFFIGURES
FIGURE 1-1 General Location Map 1-3
FIGURE2-1 AreaMap 2-3
FIGURE2-2 Proposed MineAreas 2-7
FIGURE2-3 TypicalActiveMine PitCrossSection 2-9
FIGURE2-4 SchematicofProposedOperations 2-1
FIGURE2-5 PostReclamationTopographyand CrossSection 2-1
FIGURE2-6 TypicalReclamation MinePitCrossSection 2-21
FIGURE2-7 SouthAccessRoute 2-29
FIGURE3-1 GeneralStudyArea 3-3
FIGURE3-2 General StratigraphicSection 3-5
FIGURE3-3 GeologicMap 3-7
FIGURE3-4 PrevailingWind Direction 3-11
FIGURE3-5 KOP Location 3-19
FIGURE3-6a Visual Rendering 3-21
FIGURE3-6b Visual Rendering 3-23
FIGURE3-6c Visual Rendering 3-25
FIGURE3-6d Visual Rendering 3-27
FIGURE3-7 NoiseReceptors 3-29
FIGURE3-8 Well Location SEQuadrant 3-33
FIGURE3-9 Soil Map Units 3-39
FIGURE3-10 Vegetation CommunitiesandTransectLocations 3-45
FIGURE3-11 Land Useand Rights-of-way 3-47
FIGURE3-12 Recreation Map 3-53
Reno PlantClayProject
151
TableofContents III
TABLEOFCONTENTS(continued)
Page
FIGURE4-1a Visual Rendering 4-9
FIGURE4-1b Visual Rendering 4-1
FIGURE4-1c Visual Rendering 4-13
FIGURE4-1d Visual Rendering 4-1
FIGURE4-2a Visual Rendering 4-17
FIGURE4-2b Visual Rendering 4-19
LISTOFTABLES
TABLE 1-1 RegulatoryResponsibilities 1-5
TABLE 1-2 Scoping Summary-RenoClay PlantProjectEIS 1-6
TABLE2-1 Proposed Disturbanceinthe RenoClay PlantProjectArea 2-2
TABLE2-2 HazardousMaterials Management 2-16
TABLE2-3 Seed ListforReno Clay PlantProjectArea 2-23
TABLE 3-1 Analytical ResultsofClayMaterialforTrace Metalsand MajorElements 3-9
TABLE 3-2 RenoClayPlantProjectAreaTemperatureand Precipitation 3-10
TABLE 3-3 WashoeCounty/StateofNevadaand NationalAmbientAirQualityStandards 3-13
TABLE 3-4 PMioMonitoring Data 3-14
TABLE 3-5 Carbon Monoxide(CO) Monitoring Data 3-15
TABLE 3-6 Existing Permitted MajorSourcesofAirPollutants 3-16
TABLE 3-7 Visual Resource ManagementObjectives 3-17
TABLE 3-8 TypicalOutdoorAmbientNoiseLevels 3-18
TABLE 3-9 WashoeCounty MaximumAllowable Noise Levels 3-18
TABLE3-10 RelativeScaleofVariousNoiseSources 3-31
TABLE 3-11 PartialWellInventory NearProposed Mine Pitsand Facilities 3-35
TABLE 3-12 ChemicalAnalysisofGroundwaterSamples 3-37
TABLE 3-13 ListedWaterRights NearProposed Mine Pitsand Facilities 3-37
TABLE 3-14 Soil Map UnitsWithintheStudyArea 3-41
TABLE3-15 Soil Erosion Hazard Potential 3-42
TABLE 3-16 Range ImprovementProjectsWithinorAdjacenttotheProjectArea 3-44
TABLE 3-17 RareSpecieswith Potential HabitatWithin Reno ClayPlantProjectArea 3-50
TABLE3-18 Rights-of-WayWithinorAdjacenttothe ProjectArea 3-52
TABLE 3-19 PopulationForecasts-StateofNevadaandWashoeCounty 3-60
TABLE3-20 DemographicCharacteristics-StateofNevada andWashoeCounty 3-61
TABLE3-21 Average PerCapita Personal Income-U.S., StateofNevada, andWashoeCounty 3-61
TABLE 3-22 AverageAnnualWages byMajorIndustry-StateofNevada andWashoeCounty..... 3-62
TABLE 3-23 LaborForceStatisticsforStateofNevadaandWashoeCounty 3-63
TABLE 3-24 2000 EthnicCompositionofStudyAreaand StateofNevada Populations 3-67
TABLE3-25 Persons BelowPoverty Levelby Raceinthe StudyAreaComparedwiththe
StateofNevada (1989) 3-68
TABLE4-1 EstimatedAnnual Emissions, Based on RMOS 4-4
TABLE4-2 ModeledAmbientImpactstoSensitiveReceptors 4-5
TABLE4-3 PeakModeledAmbientImpactstoNearbyReceptors 4-5
TABLE4-4 Measured Maximum ClayProcessing Plantand MiningArea Noise Levels 4-21
TABLE4-5 Predicted Noise levelsinthe ProjectArea 4-22
TABLE4-6 EconomicImpactofPayroll 4-40
INDEX I -
Draft EIS