INTRODUCTION
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ISSUES AND IMPACT TOPICS
Wizard III Quarry, Rogue River National Forest
All fill and rock could be obtained from the existing 5.7-acre U.S. Forest
Service Wizard III Quarry. The Wizard III Quarry is approximately 22 miles
(driving distance) northwest of the project area in the Rogue River National
Forest on Forest Road 6530 and 6535. The quarry has been used in the past as a
rock source for U.S. Forest Service road construction. The quarry contains
sufficient material for either of the action alternatives (K. Cook, FHWA 2002,
pers. comm.). The construction contractor would also use the quarry site for
batch mixing and as a staging area. Figure 3 shows the quarry and the excavation
area that would be required for the action alternatives.
The quarry site is dominated by mountain hemlock forest. Use of the Wizard III
Quarry would result in the removal of small stands of young ponderosa pine and
Douglas-fir tree plantings from a previously logged forest community, resulting
in a long-term, negligible, adverse effect. Expansion of the Wizard III Quarry
would have no effect on threatened and endangered species (see appendix 3).
The forest archeologist has determined that this use is exempted from
case-by-case study under the Programmatic Agreement (Northwest Forest Plan 1994,
Appendix A) with the SHPO. Due to the
nature of the proposed action, surveys would not be required (Hays, U.S. Forest
Service, pers. comm. 2002). This area has also been previously logged (see
appendix 3).
An asphalt batch plant and rock crushing unit would be located at the Wizard III
Quarry. The operation of the batch plant and rock-crushing unit require an
Oregon air discharge permit. Emissions would be regulated and controlled through
permit stipulations. Effects to air quality would be short-term, negligible, and
adverse.
Volcanic rocks, mostly andesite with small amounts of breccia, would be
excavated and crushed to smaller sizes and to aggregate at the Wizard III Quarry
site. It is estimated that 15,000-cubic yards of aggregate would be necessary
for alternative B, and an estimated 35,000-cubic yards of aggregate would be
necessary for alternative C. Approximately, 2 acres (0.8 hectare) of surface
area (previously unexcavated soils) would be affected during quarry excavation
activities. Most of the aggregate would be excavated from areas previously
mined, rendering the quarry deeper. Approximately, 1.6 acres (0.6 hectare) of
surface area (previously unexcavated soils) would be affected during quarry
excavation activities. This would constitute a negligible, long-term, adverse
effect to soils and geology at the quarry.
Use of the area would be in full compliance with the Rogue River National Forest
Land and Resource Management Plan (1990) as amended by the Record of Decision
for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning
Documents within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl and attached Standards
and Guidelines for Management of Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-Growth
Forest Related Species within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (Northwest
Forest Plan 1994). Therefore, further analysis of effects to the Wizard III
Quarry site are not included in this environmental assessment.
FIGURE 3. WIZARD III QUARRY [NPS-DSC\OCTO2\106\20133]
