Reading Room

Draft Environmental Impact Statement Panels F & G – December 2005

Executive Summary -- The J.R. Simplot Company (Simplot), Smoky Canyon Mine has proposed an extension of its current open-pit phosphate mining operations south into two federal phosphate leases. The executive summary is a 22-page document that introduces the seven sections of the complete Draft Environment Impact Statement of 692 pages plus the Executive Summary and Appendixes. The main document is divided into 7 chapters: Ch. 1 - Purpose and Need, Ch. 2 -Proposed Action, Ch. 3 - Affected Environment, Ch. 4 - Environment Consequences, Ch. 5 - Cumulative Effects, Ch. 6 - Consultation and Coordination and Ch. 7 - References, Acronyms and Glossary.
(Full Exec Summary in HTML)
Exec Summary in PDF (96K)

1- Introduction / Purpose – This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Pocatello Field Office, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF), in response to the mine and reclamation plan submitted by the J.R. Simplot Company (Simplot) in April 2003.
Chapter 1 in PDF – 21 pages – 6.3 MB
Chapter 1 in PDF no graphics - 92K

2- Proposed Actions and Alternatives - This chapter describes Simplot's existing operations at the Smoky Canyon Mine, Simplot's Proposed Action, and the Alternatives to the Proposed Action. The proposed mining operations would consist of several open pits in Panels F and G, topsoil stockpiles, mine equipment parking areas, access and haul roads, a power line extension, pit backfills, external overburden disposal areas, and runoff/sediment control facilities. Mining activities would include environmental protection practices to reasonably reduce environmental impacts.
Chapter 2 in PDF – 89 pages – 15.2 MB
Chapter 2 in PDF no graphics - 394K

3- Affected Environment - This chapter includes more than 226 pages and is divided into three parts. Part One PDF includes geology, air, water and part of the soil impacts. Part B examines vegetation, wetlands, wildlife and fisheries. Part C examines grazing, recreation, roadless areas, aesthetics, cultural, native American, social, economic and environmental justice.
Chapter 3 in PDF - 232 pages - 21.5 MB
Chapter 3 in PDF no graphics - 1490K

4 - Environment Consequences - This chapter is divided into two parts and relates the direct and indirect impacts in each environment area, mitigations, unavoidable adverse impacts, productivity and irretrievable commitment of resources. Part A examines areas of geology, air, water, soils, vegetation and part of wetlands; Part B examines areas of wildlife, fisheries, grazing, recreation, roadless areas, aesthetics, cultural, native American, social, economic and environment justice.
Chapter 4 in PDF - 226 pages - 10.2 MB
Chapter 4 in PDF no graphics - 1040K

5 - Cumulative Effects - This chapter examines cumulative effects. Cumulative effects are those environmental impacts that result when the incremental impacts of the Proposed Action or Alternatives are added to those of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions.
Chapter 5 in PDF - 53 pages - 2.2 MB
Chapter 5 in PDF no graphics - 241K

6 - Consultation and Coordination - This chapter summarizes public participation, criteria for evaluating public input, preparers and reviewers, and mailing lists.
Chapter 6 in PDF - 25 pages - 90K

7 - Reference and Glossary - This chapter provides a list of references, index, acronyms, and glossary of terms.
Chapter 7 in PDF - 52 pages - 180K

Complete DEIS in PDF - 852 pages - 55 MB (high bandwidth recommended)