Buckhorn Access Project S-1 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement Summary National Forests

Buckhorn Access Project 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

Summary 

INTRODUCTION 

Crown Resources Corporation submitted an amended Plan of Operations (Crown 

Resources, 2005) to the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests in March 2005 for 

permission to construct or reconstruct access roads, build a pipeline and a treated water 

infiltration area, construct fence, drill wells and construct utilities on National Forest 

System lands to facilitate their plan to mine an ore body on their private lands that are 

surrounded by Federal lands (National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management 

lands). Some of the surrounding Federal lands are unpatented mining claims, where 

here include lode and placer claims and mill sites. The proponent intends to mine their 

private lands under the authority of Washington State laws. The project activities for 

which the Forest Service has discretion to make a decision are located approximately 3 - 

8 air miles east of Chesaw, Washington, in Sections 23-26 and 36, Township 40 North, 

Range 30 East; Sections 7–9, 16-19, 21, 25-28 and 31-32, Township 40 North, Range 

31 East; Sections 1, 2 and 11, Township 39 North, Range 30 East; and Sections 2-5, 

Township 39 North, Range 31 East, Willamette Meridian (see vicinity map, Figure S-1, 

next page). The ownership status of lands within the project area is presented in the 

map following the vicinity map (Figure S-2). 

Background

The Buckhorn Access Project is proposed to give Crown/Kinross (the Proponent) access 

to their private lands within the Buckhorn Block of the Okanogan and Wenatchee 

National Forests, and provide for facilities on their unpatented claims on National Forest 

System lands. The mineral deposit and the enclosing lands were originally studied as 

part of the 1997 Crown Jewel Mine project, when they were under Federal land 

ownership. The Forest Service and Washington State Department of Ecology prepared 

an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as joint lead agencies. The 1997 Record of 

Decision for the final EIS approved an open pit mine, and related activities on National 

Forest System and Bureau of Land Management lands. Because of subsequent voiding 

or reversal of Washington State permits by the State appellant board, Crown Resources 

submitted a new Plan of Operations for an underground mine in June 2003, and the 

Forest Service and Washington State Department of Ecology announced a notice of 

intent to file a supplemental EIS in September 2003. Subsequently, in December 2004, 

the lands under which the ore body is located were transferred to Crown Resources 

Corporation ownership through patenting under the 1872 Mining Law, as amended 

(1872 Mining Law). Now private, these patented lands remain surrounded by a large 

block of Crown/Kinross’ unpatented mining claims on National Forest System and BLM 

managed lands. These private lands include the mine itself and most of the mine 

facilities. 

Once the mine site became private land, Forest Service decision space was narrowed to 

only those activities that still would actually occur on National Forest System lands and 

rights of way; Crown Resources submitted an amended Plan of Operations covering 

only those activities in March 2005. The Forests withdrew their notice of intent to file a 
Map by J.Rainford Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F.

^_

#*

#*

Buster Mtn.#*

Buckhorn Mtn.

Graphite Mtn.

Project Vicinity Map

μ

^_The Town of Chesaw

#* Mountain Peaks

Tonasket RD Boundary

Buckhorn Mountain Access Road Analysis Area

Buckhorn Mine 2004 Patented Land

Ore Haul Route Alternative Locations

Common to all Alternatives

Alternative Route

Country Roads

^_

^_

^_

!

!

^_

Omak

Oroville

Tonasket

§ ̈¦97

§ ̈¦20

Tonasket Ranger District

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Buckhorn Access Project

0 0.5 1 2 3 4

Miles

1 inch equals 2.41 miles Scale = 1:152,835

Chesaw

Chesaw

Alternative Route C

Alternative Route B and B1

Alternative Route D

Route Common to all Alternatives

CR 9480

CR 4895

CR 9495

Figure S-1: Vicinity Map

S-2
^_

04 05

11

03

11

12

10

27

01

09

03

15

11

14

20

10

02

26 27

21

34

17

13

33 34

23

28

15

13

08

12

35

22

36

25

17 16

22

10

24 23

09

24

20

12

14

32

35

13

26

15

29

16

33

14

08

24

02

06

18

25

31

19

30

22

18

07

21

07

01

19

02

21

28

01 02 03 05 04 06

10

03

23

11

04

36

16

30

14

09

25

29

09

01

15

22

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06

19

29

07

M

30 yers Creek

Marias Creek

Nicholson

Creek

Milard Creek

Gold Creek

Cedar Creek

Ethel Creek

Jackson

Creek

Bolster Creek

Lime

Creek

Gafvery Creek

Bat Canyon

Harvey Creek

North Fork Gold Creek

Buster Mtn.

Buckhorn Mtn.

Porphyry Peak

Graphite Mtn.

Strawberry Mtn.

Coogan Creek

Westphal Gulch

West Fork Cedar Creek

Thorp Creek

Little Jackson Creek

Bear Trap Canyon

Mary Ann Creek

North Fork Beaver Creek

Land Ownership

Buckhorn Mountain Access Road Analysis Area

Section lines

^_ Town of Chesaw

Bureau of Land Management

Private

Washington State DNR

U.S. Forest Service

Streams

Mountain Peaks

Ore Haul Route Alternative Locations

Common to all Alternatives

Alternative Route

County Roads

Buckhorn Mine 2004 Patented Land

®

C A N A D A

Washington

British Columbia

Chesaw

Buckhorn Access Project

0 0.5 1 2 3 4

Miles

1 inch equals 1.56 miles Absolute Scale = 1:98,896

CR 9480

CR 9495

CR-4895

Alternative Route C

Alternative Route B and B1

Alternative Route D

Figure S-2: Ownership Map

S - 3

Tonasket Ranger District

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests

Map by JRainford
Buckhorn Access Project S-4 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

supplemental EIS. The Forests initiated new scoping on those activities over which the 

Forest Service still had decision authority in March 2005. The State of Washington, 

Department of Ecology (DOE), released a final supplemental EIS in 2006 for the entire 

mine project and Forest personnel continued to work closely with DOE and the 

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife in designing mitigation and analyzing 

the activities on National Forest System lands and cumulative effects with activities 

occurring on State and private lands. The project will eventually require more than 40 

permits or authorizations from other Federal, State and local agencies to proceed as 

described in Washington State DOE’s final supplemental EIS (2006). After releasing a 

preliminary Environmental Assessment for the project in December 2005, the Forest 

Supervisor made the decision in July 2006 to publish a draft Environmental Impact 

Statement (DEIS), and released a DEIS in August 2006. Kinross Gold Corporation 

acquired Crown Resources Corporation on August 31, 2006. The proponent is referred 

to as Crown/Kinross throughout this document. 

PURPOSE AND NEED 

The purpose and need for the project is to respond to Crown/Kinross’ request for access to 

their private lands and unpatented mining claims, and to utilize their unpatented mining 

claims for mining related facilities reasonably incident to mining activities taking place on 

private lands as required by law, while minimizing impacts to National Forest System lands 

and considering impacts to residents living along National Forest rights-of-way. The 1872 

Mining Law and the Forest Service’s Surface Management regulations at 36 CFR 228, 

Subpart A, and the amended Forest Plan as described above, require that mining claimants 

be given reasonable access to their unpatented mining claims1

. The patented lands mining 

claim group (including recently patented claims) is an inholding surrounded by National 

Forest System and Bureau of Land Management lands, and the mining claimant has no 

other reasonable access. The Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act of 1980 

(ANILCA), provides for access to non-federally owned land adequate to secure the owner 

reasonable use and enjoyment thereof within National Forest System lands and lands 

managed by the Secretary of the Interior under the Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act of 1976. Several amendments to the LRMP may be needed to fulfill this need because 

reasonable access may not be able to be granted without allowing access through deer 

winter range or exceeding road density standards in the LRMP or increasing sediment 

already above the LRMP standard. In addition, the patenting of the Buckhorn Mountain 

area left Management Area 14-19 in three small parcels, which makes manageability of the 

area difficult. 

PROPOSED ACTION 

The Forest Supervisor for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests proposes to 

approve Crown’s Plan of Operations to reconstruct 5.25 miles of the Forest Roads 3550 

and 3550-125; construct 1.5 miles of new access road off the end of Forest Road 3550-

125 to the lower portal of the mine; and to build a fence, a pipe line, a treated water 

infiltration area and access roads, monitoring wells, and underground utility conduits 

(power line, data line, telephone line) on National Forest System lands and rights-ofway. The Proponent would be permitted to utilize these roads daily to haul ore and 

supplies to and from the private land inholding, once construction is complete. Trucks, 

 

1 The infiltration gallery and pipeline, many water monitoring sites and their associated access roads, as well as the 

upper part of the ore and supply haul routes are on Crown/Kinross unpatented mining claims.
Buckhorn Access Project S-5 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

averaging approximately 55 round trips per day (50 ore trucks and 5 supply trucks), 

would haul along the route, although average daily trips would increase just before and 

after spring breakup, when hauling is not feasible or permitted. Employee access, 24 

hours/day, would be allowed on the haul route and Forest Roads 3575-120, 3575, 3575-

100, and 3575-150. Only the haul route, Forest Roads 3575-120 and 3575-140 to the 

water tower, access roads to the infiltration gallery and pipeline (3575-120, 3575-125, 

3575-127, and 3575-142), and to monitoring wells and surface water monitoring sites 

may be snowplowed. In addition, the following structures would be constructed to 

compensate for impacts to wildlife and range operations: 

• a corral in lower Marias Creek, 

• a well servicing three cattle troughs in mid-Marias Creek 

• a water augmentation line from the infiltration gallery pipeline to the Roosevelt Adit 

and to a new water trough in upper Marias Creek 

• water guzzlers in the headwaters of Ethel and South Fork Bolster Creeks 

During initial construction, about 8 months in length, the Pontiac Ridge/Cow Camp 

access route, Forest Road 3575-120, and Forest Road 3575-140 would be used by the 

Proponent. After approximately 3 months for construction/ reconstruction of the Marias 

Creek haul road, most construction traffic would switch to that route. 

The proposed action would require amendments to four Forest Plan standards and 

guidelines, two relating to road density, one relating to designation of an open route 

through deer winter range, and one relating to sediment. Road density standards would 

be exceeded in MA14-18 and 14-19, and the Marias Creek road would be designated as 

an open route where it passes through deer winter range in MA-14 and MA-26. 

Sediment in Marias Creek currently exceeds the Forest Plan standard for 20% fines, and 

this project would introduce additional sediment into the creek. In addition, the three 

small parcels left of MA14-19 after land patenting would be combined with their adjacent 

management areas. This alternative is presented as Alternative B in the FEIS. 

DECISION FRAMEWORK 

The Forest Supervisor for the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests must decide 

whether or not to approve the Proponent’s Plan of Operations as submitted, or approve 

a Plan of Operation and road use permit for another route or with additional mitigation 

measures and monitoring items. Additionally, the Forest Supervisor must decide 

whether to grant a special use permits to the Ferry County PUD and other providers for 

utility access. The Forest Supervisor will consider both the impacts as a result of project 

activities on National Forest System lands and rights-of-way, and cumulative impacts off 

of National Forest System lands, particularly to home owners along National Forest 

System rights-of-way, in choosing the preferred alternative. The Forest Supervisor must 

also decide whether or not to amend the Okanogan National Forest Land and Resource 

Management Plan to implement the project. Table S-1 below indicates the potential 

permits, associated with the Buckhorn Access Project (other permits are required on 

State and private lands for the Buckhorn Mountain Project to implement the project 

analyzed in the State of Washington Department of Ecology, FSEIS, 2006): 
Buckhorn Access Project S-6 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Table S-1: Potential Permits Required for the Buckhorn Access Project

Permit Issued to Permitting Agency 

Plan of Operations Crown/Kinross Forest Service 

Road Use Permit Crown/Kinross Forest Service 

Powerline Special Use Permit Ferry County PUD Forest Service 

Telephone/Dataline Special Use 

Permit2

Verizon Northwest Forest Service 

Nationwide Clean Water Act 

404 Permit (wetlands) 

Crown/Kinross Corps of Engineers 

Stormwater Permit Crown/Kinross Environmental Protection 

Agency 

National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) 

402 Permit 

(infiltration/augmentation) 

Crown/Kinross Washington State 

Department of Ecology 

Hydraulic Project Approval Crown/Kinross Washington State 

Department of Fish and 

Wildlife 

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND CONSULTATION 

Scoping

On March 29, 2005 a scoping package was mailed to the list of individuals who had 

been known to have commented during the 2003 scoping process. Some individuals 

were missed in that mailing and an additional mailing was done in April 2005, including 

residents on rural postal routes and post office box holders in the vicinity of the project, 

and all individuals were notified that the scoping period was being extended by 15 days. 

Over 100 letters were received in response to the 2005 scoping effort. 

A preliminary Environmental Assessment was sent to the public and agencies on 

December 8, 2005 for a 30-day comment period. 116 timely letters, and several 

untimely letters were received. The Interdisciplinary Team spent several days in 

January 2006 considering all comments and documenting responses. Additional time 

was spent clarifying, editing and supplementing the analysis prior to publication of the 

draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Forest Service decided to convert the EA to 

an Environmental Impact Statement because enough questions had been raised both 

internally and externally about possible significant impacts that an EIS was appropriate. 

Scoping was reinitiated with the filing of the Notice of Intent to file an EIS in the Federal 

Register in July 2006; 14 additional letters were received during the additional scoping 

period, resulting in two new issues, although only one was determined to be a key issue. 

A draft Environmental Impact Statement was published in August 2006 for a 45-day 

comment period. Forty-two letters, and several untimely letters, were received in 

response to the DEIS. Because a few individuals and organizations were missed during 

the mailing of the DEIS, those individuals were also given a separate 45-day comment 

period on the DEIS, and one letter was received. All comments received on the 

preliminary EA and DEIS are summarized and responded to in Appendix F of this FEIS. 

 

2

 May not be necessary if Crown/Kinross decides to use satellite technology 
Buckhorn Access Project S-7 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Consultation and Coordination

Separate government to government consultation was conducted with the Yakama 

Indian Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation. 

Consultation was initiated in September, 2003, and has continued throughout 

development of this Environmental Impact Statement. The Colville Tribes have reserved 

rights for hunting, fishing and gathering in the project area. Consultation with the 

Confederated Tribes was completed in January, 2007. The Yakama Indian Nation 

expressed no concerns regarding the project. Numerous meetings occurred and 

correspondence exchanged to explain the project and its effects, and consult with the 

Colville Tribal Council and its sub-committees and personnel. Documentation of all 

correspondence and meetings can be found in the project record. 

Consultation has been completed with the State Historic Preservation Officer and a 

concurrence letter dated October 14, 2005 was received for those activities requiring 

consultation. Consultation has been re-initiated as a result of a new heritage find near 

the junction of the Toroda and Marias Creek roads, and final concurrence letter was 

received dated December 18, 2006. 

Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was initiated in September 2004 

prior to the land patenting. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurred with the Forests 

determination that the project would not adversely affect any threatened or endangered 

species. Additional consultation was conducted in January, 2006 and UWFWS again 

concurred with the determinations in a letter dated February 16, 2006. 

This project has been closely coordinated with the State of Washington, Department of 

Ecology. Forest Service interdisciplinary team (IDT) members have been involved in the 

development and review of much of the State’s analysis and the Forest Service has 

sought reviews by the DOE during the development of this EIS. Mitigation development 

was also coordinated with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

The Forest Service also coordinated with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding 

impacts and mitigation to wetlands on NFS lands and the U. S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) regarding completion of the EIS. Coordination with EPA consisted of 

meetings, letters and other correspondence, telephone conversations and a field trip. 

Issues

Issues were identified during the public scoping process that raised concerns about the 

proposed action. These key issues were utilized to develop alternatives or additional 

mitigation and monitoring not included in the proposed action. The issues identified 

below as a result of public scoping are considered important enough to analyze in detail. 

Each issue also identifies how the issue will be measured during the analysis process. 

1. Construction of the boundary fence on National Forest System lands will remove 

more land than was patented from use by wildlife, recreationists, Tribal members, 

and the grazing permittee. 

Measured by: 

• Acres closed on NFS lands, 

• Miles of boundary fence on NFS lands, and 
Buckhorn Access Project S-8 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

• Qualitative discussion of impact of boundary fence on wildlife, recreationists, 

Tribal members and grazing permittee. 

2. Cows will get inside the mine boundary fence or could be injured or killed on 

access roads, increasing range permitee expenses. 

Measured by: 

• Qualitative discussion of the potential for cows to get inside fence and 

potential for increased permittee expenses, 

• Miles of road fenced along access roads, 

• Miles of fence constructed, and 

• Estimated numbers of cows killed or injured annually. 

3. Construction, reconstruction and haul along the proposed haul routes will cause 

sedimentation and toxic substances to enter and degrade riparian areas and 

wetlands, decreasing water quality, and adversely impacting fish, amphibians, 

and plants that use these areas. 

Measured by: 

• Miles of upaved haul road on National Forest System lands 

• Tons of sediment increased in streams, 

• Miles of construction within riparian habitat conservation areas, 

• Acres of construction in riparian habitat, 

• Acres of construction in wetlands, seeps, springs and ponds, 

• Acres of construction within wetland riparian habitat conservation areas, 

• Water temperature increases, 

• Number of threatened, endangered, or sensitive plants destroyed, 

• Estimated annual tons/gallons of toxic supplies hauled over National Forest 

System lands, and 

• Qualitative discussion regarding potential for toxic substances to enter 

streams, riparian areas, aquatic species and wetlands. 

4. Construction, reconstruction, haul, and employee traffic on proposed haul routes 

will cause air quality degradation from dust, exhaust and other toxic substances 

that will impact vegetation, tourism, recreational activities, viewpoints, aesthetic 

enjoyment of the area, and the quality of life, health, safety and solitude for 

residents. 

Measured by: 

• Tons of total suspended particulates (TSP) produced, 

• Tons of PM10 size particulate matter produced, 

• Qualitative discussion of effects of dust on vegetation, 

• Number of potential viewpoints where dust is likely to be seen, 

• Number of residences along each potential haul route, 

• Cumulative number of residences along potential haul route to junction of 

Forest Road 3575 and Okanogan County Road 9495, 

• Qualitative discussion regarding impact on residential quality of life, health, 

safety and solitude, 

• Number of dispersed sites along potential haul routes, 

• Qualitative discussion regarding impact on recreation, 

• Changes in visibility in Class I airsheds, and 

• Miles of proposed road pavement on ore haul route. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-9 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

5. Heavy mine traffic will increase noise from trucks and use of compression 

brakes, which will impact tourism, recreational activities, aesthetic enjoyment of 

the area, the potential wilderness, and the quality of life and solitude for 

residents. Noise from the new road on the open south facing slopes of Marias 

Creek will carry for long distances and potentially impact property owners along 

Pontiac Ridge road and Millard Creek. Noise adjacent to the Jackson Creek 

Inventoried Roadless Area could affect its potential for wilderness designation. 

Measured by: 

• Qualitative discussion on potential noise effects on Coogan and NicholsonMarias Ridge unroaded areas, 

• Number of residences along potential haul routes, 

• Number of dispersed sites along potential haul routes, 

• Noise levels at 50’, 100’, 200’ and 500’ from haul routes, 

• Acres with noticeable noise effects on Jackson Creek inventoried roadless 

area, 

• Qualitative discussion of effect on future potential wilderness designation of 

Jackson Creek inventoried roadless area, and 

• Qualitative discussion regarding impacts on residential quality of life and 

solitude from noise. 

6. Project activities will disturb wildlife, including threatened, endangered and 

sensitive species, through human presence, noise, and increased road density, 

and will create a semi-impermeable barrier to movement from the ore truck route. 

Measured by: 

• Acres of impacted lands within set distances of haul, supply and employee 

routes during construction and during operations for species sensitive to 

disturbance (distance varies by species), 

• Road density by management area, 

• Miles of road in deer winter range, 

• Miles of road in deer summer range, and 

• Qualitative discussion of impacts from barrier along haul routes. 

7. Traffic to and from the mine will spread noxious weeds onto National Forest 

System lands or from National Forest System lands to other ownerships. The 

company’s proposal to use herbicides to treat noxious weeds has the potential to 

affect non-target species. 

 Measured by: 

• Acres of soil disturbance, 

• Acres of existing noxious weeds along haul routes, 

• Potential for use of herbicides under existing decisions, and cumulative effects 

analysis of effect on non-target species, and 

• Qualitative discussion of potential for weed spread onto NFS lands across NFS 

lands and from NFS lands to private lands. 

8. The proposed action will have cumulative impacts with the mine and borrow site, 

which will have significant effects on the environment, and will have cumulative 

impacts with other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-10 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

 Measured by: 

• Decreases in area stream flows at average annual precipitation for cumulative 

activities 

• Qualitative assessment of effects on seeps, springs, ponds and wetlands from 

cumulative activities 

• Potential for introduction of noxious weeds from borrow site, and 

• Impacts on Toroda Creek stream flows from water use for dust abatement 

• Cumulative number of residences along potential haul route to junction of Forest 

Road 3575 and Okanogan County Road 9495. 

9. Use of dust suppression or snow removal chemicals and/or water may cause 

impacts to streams, wetlands and riparian areas. 

 

Measured by: 

• Potential for chemicals to reach streams, wetlands, RHCAs and riparian habitat, 

• Qualitative discussion of the effects of magnesium and sodium chloride on 

vegetation, 

• Potential increases of chlorides in streams, and 

• Comparison of increases in chlorides to surface water quality criteria and 

threshold for impacts to fish. 

10. Increasing daily haul trips before and after spring break up will greatly increase 

impacts of homeowners along routes. 

 Measured by: 

• Increased number of daily trips by alternative before and after spring breakup, 

• Number of homeowners along each route, and 

• Passage rates of ore haul trucks before and after spring breakup. 

11. Road construction, reconstruction, haul, employee traffic, and mining will 

adversely affect members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation 

and may impact cultural resources of concern to Tribal members, and their 

reserved rights reserved by Executive Order, to hunt, fish and gather on the 

former north half of the Colville Reservation. 

Measured by: 

• Number of historic properties affected; 

• Qualitative discussion of big game expected to be lost due to project activities, 

• Qualitative discussion of fish expected to be lost due to project activities, 

• Qualitative discussion of potential to impact cultural plants, and 

• Indian allotments within 2 miles of haul, employee and supply routes.

12. Mine traffic has the potential to disturb residents during non-haul hours along 

Forest Service rights-of-way. 

Measured by: 

• Hours of expected truck traffic outside of 6AM to 6PM, 

• Hours of operation along haul, employee and supply routes, 

• Number of vehicles expected to operate outside of 6AM to 6PM, and 

• Miles of proposed road pavement on ore haul route. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-11 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

13. The water infiltration gallery on National Forest System lands will impact water 

quality and quantity in seeps, springs, ponds, wetlands, aquifers, residential wells 

and creeks/the infiltration gallery does not belong on National Forest System 

lands. 

Measured by: 

• Acres of disturbance from water infiltration gallery and related facilities, 

• Potential impacts to flows to springs, seeps, ponds and wetlands as a result 

of water infiltration, 

• Potential increases in chlorides in streams and aquifers, and 

• Qualitative discussion on potential for impacts on aquifers, residential wells 

and creeks from water infiltration on National Forest System lands. 

14. New road construction is unnecessary and will increase already high road 

densities and cause higher maintenance costs. 

Measured by: 

• Miles of new road construction by alternative, 

• Open road density by alternative, and 

• Maintenance costs by alternative 

CHANGES BETWEEN DRAFT AND FINAL EIS 

The major changes between draft and final EIS relate to cumulative effects between the 

Buckhorn Access Project and the State of Washington, Department of Ecology’s final 

supplemental EIS for the Buckhorn Mountain (Mining) Project. The Forest Service DEIS 

relied on information in WADOEs DSEIS because that was the most current finalized 

information available. Changes in the Forest Service FEIS primarily relate to water 

quantity and quality, their indirect effects to aquatic life and wetlands, and the adaptive 

management strategy. Outfalls have been identified on maps and figures have been 

provided showing water treatment and management in relation to outfalls. Additionally 

an error in the chloride calculations has been corrected, and sand used for winter 

traction has been added to sediment estimates. Disturbance acres have been updated 

based on more recent information from the Proponent, and partial reclamation of the 

Marias Creek road (Forest Road 3550 and 3550-125) to its original usable surface has 

been included in Alternative B1 in response to issues raised internally and externally 

relating to road maintenance costs. More information is provided regarding the 

archaeological site found near the Toroda and Marias road junction. Appendix F has 

been added for Response to Comments on the preliminary EA and DEIS3

. 

 

ALTERNATIVES

Alternatives were developed and analyzed to address environmental and social 

issues, to respond to public and agency concerns and input, and to satisfy regulations 

of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Scoping, as discussed in Chapter I, 

was used to identify concerns and potential issues. Key issues were identified in an 

interdisciplinary process by the Interdisciplinary Team using information gathered 

during public and internal scoping, site specific knowledge of the analysis area, 

resource expertise, and professional judgment. 

 

3

 Required by NEPA Implementing Regulations. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-12 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

The key issues were used to formulate the alternatives by emphasizing resolution of 

one or more issues within an alternative. Management requirements, mitigation 

measures, and monitoring requirements were incorporated into the development of the 

alternatives. The objective of developing and reviewing the alternatives is to provide 

the agency decision-maker and the public with a reasonable range of alternatives for 

consideration. 

Alternative A – No Action Alternative

Under this alternative, new approvals for the use of National Forest System lands 

would not be granted. The No Action Alternative would preclude the installation of an 

infiltration gallery; the reconstruction, construction, and new use of roads; the 

installation of a new monitoring well; and the installation of utility lines on National 

Forest System land. Complete reclamation of previous exploration and development 

activities would commence at the first available opportunity, as approved in previous 

NEPA documents. 

There would be no additional physical disturbance to National Forest System lands 

except what has been previously approved as part of environmental documents 

prepared for exploration and pre-development activities. 

Reclamation on National Forest System lands under existing NEPA decisions for 

exploration and pre-development activities would consist of plugging and capping 

existing monitoring wells and piezometers, re-contouring access roads to monitoring 

wells, re-vegetation with grasses, shrubs, and/or trees of previously disturbed sites, 

removing weirs and water level recording equipment from existing surface water 

monitoring sites, and the monitoring of reclamation activities. 

This alternative is required under the National Environmental Policy Act, and provides 

a baseline for comparison of effects. The Proponent, however, is entitled to 

reasonable access to their private lands and unpatented mining claims under ANILCA 

and the 1872 Mining Law, as amended. 

Forest Plan Amendments Included in Action Alternatives

Due to the structure of mineral laws and regulations, the Forest Service’s Minerals 

Management Programs are largely responsive in nature. A major part of these 

programs is responding to applications and proposals submitted from outside the 

agency. Forest Service responsibility for such mineral exploration and mining 

proposals lies mainly in providing reasonable surface protection and reclamation 

requirements within specified time frames and in assuring compliance of the same. 

Management implications for the Forest Service require that mineral exploration and 

development be facilitated while accommodating the needs and conservation of other 

resources to the fullest extent possible. 

To provide the proponent with reasonable access to their private lands under ANILCA 

and unpatented mining claims under the 1872 Mining Law, if approved, the Forest 

Service would include amendments to the Okanogan National Forest Land and 

Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). These amendments are part of this NEPA 

document. The Forest Plan did not attempt to accommodate potential large mining 
Buckhorn Access Project S-13 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

operations when developing Management Area Standards and Guidelines because of 

the difficultly in predicting actual locations or kinds of developments. It was expected 

that such operations would not be able to meet standards and guidelines developed 

principally for vegetation management projects (see page 4-21 of the Forest Plan). If 

an action alternative is selected, this decision would include non-significant 

amendments of the Forest Plan. 

To implement this project, non-significant, site-specific amendments involving one 

Forest Plan Forest-wide standard and guideline, and three Forest Plan management 

area standards and guidelines are required under some alternatives. Most of 

Management Area (MA) 14 -19 was transferred to private ownership in the December 

2004 patenting, leaving three small isolated areas behind. Under all action 

alternatives, MA 14-19 would be dissolved and combined with the two adjacent 

Management Areas due to the small area remaining in the Management Area after 

patenting. 

Management Area 14-18 (Alternative B) would exceed Forest Plan Standard and 

Guideline MA 14-17A; limiting open road densities to two miles open to motorized use 

per square mile. The current road density in this Management Area is 3.8 miles per 

square mile. After proposed road construction, road density would increase to 4.2 

miles per square mile in Alternative B. Although Management Areas 26-15 and 26-16 

currently do not meet Forest Plan standards, project activities would not affect road 

densities in these management areas (except as described below) so no amendment 

is required. 

Management Area 14-18 (Alternatives B and B1) would not meet Forest Plan Standard 

and Guideline MA 14 -17B; prohibiting motorized access in deer winter range, 

December 1st through March 31st, except for designated through routes. Portions of 

the Marias Creek haul route, Forest Road (FR) 3550-125, which is not currently 

designated as a through route, would be designated as a through route for project ore 

and supply haul and employee access during the winter for the life of the project. 

Closing the mining operation down for four months a year was not considered to 

provide reasonable access. 

Snowplowing would be permitted in Management Area 14-18 under all alternatives 

along the designated ore and supply haul route, and FR 3575-143 to provide access to 

the water tower. These roads would not be open to the public from December 1st to 

March 31st. 

Marias and Nicholson Creeks presently exceed Fisheries Forest-wide Standard and 

Guideline 3-3. “Fines in spawning areas (pool tail-outs and glides) should be 

maintained at less than 20 percent as the area weighted average.” Fines in lower 

Marias Creek on National Forest System lands presently average 32 percent (Reach 

3) and average 21 percent in Nicholson Creek (average of two reaches). In looking at 

the data for 79 individual pools, 80% of the pools in Marias Creek were below 20% 

embedded and thus met the guideline. About 40% of the remaining pools were more 

than 80% embedded which indicates these serve as sediment catchment pools. 

Though generally not considered good sites for spawning, such pools provide hiding 

and rearing habitat and thermal refuge for fish. Nicholson Creek is similar. All 

alternatives would slightly increase fines in Marias and Nicholson Creeks. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-14 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Because of the small size of MA 14-19 remaining, approximately 68 acres, after 

patenting, 66 acres of this Management Area would be combined with MA 26-15. Both 

Management Areas are Deer Winter Range emphasis. Standards and Guidelines for 

MA-26 are more restrictive of management activities so a higher level of protection to 

deer would be afforded under this combination. 2 acres of MA 14-19 would be 

combined with MA 25-18. A lower level of protection to deer would be afforded under 

this combination but the amount of area involved is not significant. 

Some long-term effects would occur with the construction/reconstruction of the mine 

access roads, which would remain at the end of project activities. Forest Road 3550-

125 would again be closed December 1st to March 31st in MA 14-18 at the end of ore 

haul. 

The amendments would be non-significant as defined in 36 CFR, Part 219, 219.10, 

because the amendments would not result in any substantial changes in overall 

outputs or effects predicted in the Forest Plan. These amendments are non-significant 

amendments to the Forest Plan for the following reasons: 

• Timing: The timing factor examines at what point over the course of the Forest 

Plan period the Plan is amended. Both the age of the underlying document and 

the duration of the amendment are relevant considerations. The Forest Service 

Handbook indicates that the later the time period, the less significant the change is 

likely to be. The Okanogan Forest Plan was approved in 1989, 17 years ago, and 

is currently being revised and a new Forest Plan should be signed in 2007. 

o The new Plan would incorporate new science regarding the location and 

management of deer winter range and would likely provide direction that 

supersedes the current deer management standards and guidelines. 

o The new Plan would incorporate new science regarding the management of 

fish habitat and would likely provide direction that supercedes the current 

management standards and guidelines and is similar to INFISH. 

o Use of Forest Road (FR) 3550-125, including new construction in Section 

31, during the winter range closure period of December 1st to March 31st

would be for a period of less than 10 years (Alternatives). 

o Snowplowing in Management Areas 14-18 and 14-19 would only be 

allowed on the designated ore and supply haul route, and Forest Road 

3575-143 to provide access to the water tower. These roads would not be 

open to the public from December 1st to March 31st. 

o Alternative B1 would close roads in Bear Trap Canyon in Management 

Areas 14-18, 25-18 and 26-16 reducing project road density in all three 

Management Areas, so no amendment to Standard and Guideline MA 14-

17A is needed in this alternative. 

o The fencing of much of lower Marias Creek off from cattle use, and the 

construction of hardened cattle crossing/watering areas in Marias Creek 

should decrease sediment delivery from trampling of stream banks by 

cattle. 

o Hydrologic modeling using the WEPP model and additional analysis outside 

the model indicates that there should be little change in stream 
Buckhorn Access Project S-15 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

sedimentation in these drainages due to the numerous erosion prevention 

measures incorporated as part of road construction/reconstruction for the 

mine haul route. 

• Location and Size: Two of the three amendments only apply to MA’s 14-18 and 

14-19, an area of less than 1.2 square miles, 750 acres. The road totals about 1.5 

miles in length within these MA’s. The third amendment is to correct a technicality 

that is in the Forest Plan. The objectives of providing areas for fish reproduction 

are met. In looking at the data for 79 individual pools, 80% of the pools in Marias 

Creek were below 20% embedded and thus met the guideline. 

o The 1872 Mining Law and the amended Forest Plan, require that mining 

claimants be given reasonable access to mining claims. The newly 

patented lands are an inholding surrounded by National Forest System and 

Bureau of Land Management lands, and the mining claimant has no other 

reasonable access. The Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act 

of 1980 (ANILCA) also provides for access to non-federally owned land 

adequate to secure the owner reasonable use and enjoyment thereof under 

the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. 

o The snowplowing amendment only applies to about 6 acres of land in these 

two Management Areas. 

o This does not change management direction for the rest of the 1.7 million 

acre Okanogan National Forest. 

• Goals/Objectives/Outputs: The change would not alter the long-term relationships 

between the levels of goods and services projected by the Forest Plan. 

o The General Mining Law of 1872, as amended, established the statutory 

right of U.S. Citizens to explore for and/or develop mineral resources and 

encouraged such activity consistent with the Mining and Mineral Policy Act 

and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The regulations for 

implementing these laws require responsible federal agencies to include 

adequate provisions to minimize, to the extent practicable, and comply with 

other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

o Due to the structure of mineral laws and regulations, the Forest Service’s 

Minerals Management Program is largely responsive in nature. A major 

part of the minerals management program will be responding to 

applications and proposals submitted from outside the agency. Forest 

Service responsibility for such proposals lies mainly in providing reasonable 

surface protection and reclamation requirements within specified time 

frames and in assuring compliance of the same. The basic objective will be 

to facilitate minerals exploration and development on National Forest 

System land while accommodating the needs and conservation of other 

resources to the fullest extent possible. This is acknowledged in the Forest 

Plan on page 4-21. 

o The goals of INFISH are being met by the project because adverse impacts 

to inland native fish are being avoided. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-16 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

• Management Prescription:

 

o The designating of Forest Road (FR) 3550-125 and the new haul route to 

the Lower Portal as designated through routes, for the period of December 

1st to March 31st, does not change any management prescriptions. It meets 

the structure of mineral laws and regulations and the Forest Service’s 

Minerals Management Program. 

o The adding of MA 14-19 to MA 26-15 and MA 25-18 would change 

management prescriptions. In the case of MA 26-15, standards and 

guidelines would be more restrictive for timber harvesting and grazing use, 

but a higher level of protection would be provided for deer. The two acres 

added to MA 25-18 are considered incidental. 

Alternative B – Proposed Action

This alternative is Crown/Kinross’s proposal for use of National Forest System lands to 

mine the minerals deposit on patented lands and transport ore to an existing mill 

outside of Republic, Washington. This alternative uses Forest Road 3550 (Marias 

Creek) and 3550-125, along with new construction of a road to the lower portals on 

private lands. This alternative is based on the Amended Plan of Operations for the 

Proposed Buckhorn Mt. Project on Lands Administered by the US Forest Service 

(Crown Resources, 2005) submitted on March 15, 2005 and subsequent clarifications 

of this plan. This amendment was necessary due to changes in the land status 

because of the issuance of patents for the Buckhorn Mountain ore deposit. A map of 

this alternative is included as Figure S-3, Alternative B, at the back of this summary. 

Details relating to this alternative are provided in Table S-2, which follows the 

description of alternatives. 

Alternative B1 – Modified Proposed Action

Modifications to the Proponent’s proposal were made to respond to as many public 

and agency issues as possible, while still using the Marias Creek ore and supply haul 

route. Issues addressed with this alternative are: 

• Paving and washing of the first 0.5 miles of the Marias Creek road would provide 

for safety by allowing track-on to occur on the Forest Service road and reduce 

dust. 

• Paving of the first 0.5 miles of the Marias Creek road would reduce the amount of 

dust suppression chemicals that would need to be used potentially reducing 

chemical impacts to streams, wetlands, and riparian areas; most of this section of 

road is directly adjacent to Marias Creek.

• The speed limit would be 25 mph, as opposed to 30 mph in Alternative B, 

decreasing accidents with other vehicles and wildlife and dust.

• Road reclamation of the new road between the 3575-120 road and the patented land 

would be more extensive. Road reclamation of the portion of road across National 

Forest System land and right-of-ways from the end of the pavement to Forest Road 

3575-120 would return this road to its present 17 – 18’ usable surface at the end of 

the project. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-17 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

• Road closures in MA 14-18 would eliminate the need to amend the Okanogan 

National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan road density standard in 

MA 14-18.

• Empty ore trucks would not be allowed to operate outside of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

to minimize impacts to residents and wildlife.

• Access from December 1 to March 31 for water monitoring would only be permitted 

by snowmobile to minimize impacts to wildlife, unless on a road already plowed for 

other mine activities.

• Restricting supply trucks to between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on National Forest 

roads, except infrequent, unplanned supply traffic necessary to provide immediately 

needed supplies, would decrease impacts to tourism, aesthetic enjoyment of the 

area, the quality of life and solitude for residents, recreational activities, and wildlife. 

The main differences between this alternative and the Proponent’s proposal has to do 

with road reclamation of the new road between FR 3575-120 and the patented land; 

reclamation of Forest Roads 3550 and 3550-125 back to its present width at the end of 

ore haul; paving the lower 0.5 miles of the haul route from Toroda Creek Road to 150’ 

past the first crossing of Marias Creek; ore and supply haul trucks, either loaded or 

unloaded, would only be allowed on Forest Roads between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., 

except infrequent, unplanned supply deliveries; reducing the speed limit on Forest roads 

to 25 mph; and allowing only snowmobile access for water monitoring December 1 to 

March 31 on roads not approved for snowplowing. 

A map of this alternative is included as Figure S-4, Alternative B1, at the back of this 

summary. Details relating to this alternative are provided in Table S-2, which follows 

the description of alternatives. 

Alternative C

This alternative was designed to use a different ore, supply, and employee access 

route than the Marias Creek route to address issues that arose relating to the Marias 

Creek route. Many of the same issues relating to the Marias Creek route simply 

transfer to the Nicholson Creek route, but a different land base and set of residents 

would be affected. Because of the greater number of residents living along the Forest 

Service right-of-ways in this alternative, additional mitigation measures were added to 

reduce impacts to those residents. 

The main differences between this alternative and the Proponent’s proposal include: 

• The ore and supply haul route would be the Nicholson Creek route which responds 

to the dust and noise issues raised by residents on the Pontiac Ridge Road and 

Marias Creek, and sedimentation issues associated with Marias Creek. 

• Road reclamation standards for the new road between FR 3575-120 and the lower 

portal. 

• Paving the lower portions of the haul route from Toroda Creek Road to 50’ past the 

cattle guard after private land (2.4 miles paved) to minimize the effects of dust on 

residents, minimize the use of dust suppressants, and avoid track-out onto County 

Roads. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-18 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

• 25 mph speed limit. 

• Ore haul trucks, either loaded or unloaded, would only be allowed to haul between 

6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on National Forest System roads, Monday – Saturday to 

minimize impacts to residents outside normal working hours and on Sundays. 

• Supply haul trucks would be restricted to a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. schedule, 

Monday – Friday, except for infrequent unplanned, unforeseen supply shortages to 

minimize impacts to residents outside normal working hours. 

• Access from December 1 to March 31 for water monitoring would only be permitted 

by snowmobile to minimize impacts to wildlife, unless on a road already snow 

plowed for other mine activities.

• There is a lower need for land disturbing mitigation due to impacts to the Cedar 

grazing allotment. Where the cattle congregate in the north pasture is mostly away 

from the haul route, so less mitigation would be needed than Alternatives B and 

B1 to reduce the interaction between haul vehicles and cattle; and 

• Amendments to the Okanogan Forest Plan for travel through deer winter range and 

road density in MA 14-18 are not needed. Forest Road 3575 is presently a 

designated open road through deer winter range. 

A map of this alternative is included as Figure S-5, Alternative C, at the back of this 

summary. Details relating to this alternative are provided in Table S-2, which follows 

the description of alternatives. 

Alternative D 

This alternative was designed to result in the least impacts to National Forest System 

lands, particularly relating to sedimentation, air quality, water quality, recreational 

impacts, wildlife, and road maintenance impacts. Because more residents live along 

Forest Service rights-of-way in this alternative than in Alternatives B and B1, paving of 

the road past most of these residences was incorporated into the alternative to reduce 

air quality impacts to these residents and supply and ore haul days were restricted to 

Monday through Friday. 

The main differences between this alternative and the Proponent’s proposal are: 

• The ore and supply haul route would be from OCR 4895 (Pontiac Ridge Road) up 

FR 3575-120, minimizing disturbance on National Forest System land. 

• Road reclamation of the new road between the 3575-120 road and the patented 

land. 

• Paving the lower portion of the haul and supply route from OCR 4895 to Section 

36, DNR land (1.3 miles paved). 

• 25 mph speed limit. 

• Ore haul trucks, either loaded or unloaded, would only be allowed to haul between 

6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on National Forest roads, Monday – Friday. 

• Supply haul trucks would be restricted to a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. schedule, 

Monday – Friday, except for infrequent unplanned, unforeseen supply shortages. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-19 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

• Access to water monitoring sites during snowbound months would only be 

permitted by snow machine to minimize impacts to wildlife, unless on a road 

already plowed open for other mine operations. Several surface water monitoring 

stations are located in closed areas in deer winter range in the Ethel Creek 

drainage and along Forest Road 3575-100.

• A lower need for range mitigation since very little of the Cedar allotment on 

National Forest System land would be affected by this alternative. 

• Amendments to the Okanogan Forest Plan for travel through deer winter range and 

road density in deer winter range in Management Area 14-18 and stream fines in 

Marias and Nicholson Creeks are not needed. 

A map of this alternative is included as Figure S-6, Alternative D, at the back of this 

summary. Details relating to this alternative are provided in Table S-2 below. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-20 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Table S-2: Comparison of Components by Alternative 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Ore Haul 

Route 

Not Applicable Marias Creek (3550, 

3550-125, new road to 

mine site). 8.4 miles total 

length (OCR to patented 

land) 1.5 miles 

construction on National 

Forest (N.F.) land or N. F 

ROW, 5.2 miles 

reconstruction on N. F. 

System land or N.F. 

ROW. 

Marias Creek (3550, 

3550-125, new road to 

mine site). 8.4 miles total 

length (OCR to patented 

land) 1.5 miles 

construction on N.F. 

System land or N.F.ROW, 

5.2 miles reconstruction 

on N.F. System land or 

National Forest ROW. 

Nicholson Creek (3575, 

3575-150, 3575-100, 

3575-120, new road to 

mine site; 13.3 miles total 

length (OCR to patented 

land site); 0.6 miles of 

construction on N.F. land 

or ROW; 12.4 miles of 

reconstruction on N.F. 

land or ROW. 

Cow Camp to Pontiac 

Ridge Road (3575-

120), new road to 

mine site; 4.1 miles 

total length OCR to 

patented land site; 0.6 

miles of construction 

on N.F. land or ROW; 

2.1 miles of 

reconstruction on N.F. 

land or ROW. 

Ore 

Trucks/Day 

0 50 – 70 round trips/day, 

mostly Monday to Friday 

with possible reduced 

haul on Saturdays and 

Sundays depending on 

mill supply needs; About 

25 additional trucks per 

day before and after 

Spring break-up on 

County Roads for up to 3 

weeks. 

50 – 70 round trips/day, 

mostly Monday to Friday 

with possible reduced 

haul on Saturdays and 

Sundays depending on 

mill supply needs; About 

25 additional trucks per 

day before and after 

Spring break-up on 

County Roads for up to 3 

weeks. 

Averages 60 round 

trips/day; most haul 

Monday to Friday with 

possible reduced haul on 

Saturdays. No Sunday 

haul. About 30 additional 

trucks per day before and 

after Spring break-up on 

County Roads for up to 3 

weeks. 

Averages 70 round 

trips/day Monday to 

Friday. No haul on 

Saturdays and 

Sundays. About 35 

additional trucks per 

day before and after 

Spring break-up on 

County Roads for up 

to 3 weeks. 

Supply Haul 

Route During 

Ore Haul 

Route 

Construction 

Not Applicable Hwy 97 to OCR 9480 to 

OCR 4895 to FR 3575-

120 & 3575-140. Average 

10 – 20 trucks/day. Snow 

removal as necessary. 

Most haul Monday – 

Saturday. 

Hwy 97 to OCR 9480 to 

OCR 4895 to FR 3575-

120 & 3575-140. Average 

10 – 20 trucks/day. Snow 

removal as necessary. 

Most haul Monday – 

Saturday. 

Hwy 97 to OCR 9480 to 

OCR 4895 to FR 3575-

120 & 3575-140. Average 

10 – 20 trucks/day. Snow 

removal as necessary. 

Most haul Monday – 

Saturday. 

Hwy 97 to OCR 9480 

to OCR 4895 to FR 

3575-120 & 3575-140. 

Average 10 – 20 

trucks/day. Snow 

removal as necessary. 

Most haul Mon.– Sat. 

Supply Haul 

Route During 

Operations 

Not Applicable Marias Creek (3550, 

3550-125, new road to 

lower portal); Hwy 20 to 

OCR 9495 to FR 3550. 

Marias Creek (3550, 

3550-125, new road to 

lower portal); Hwy 20 to 

OCR 9495 to FR 3550. 

Nicholson Creek (3575, 

3575-150, 3575-100, 

3575-120, new road to 

lower portal); Hwy 20 to 

OCR 9495 to FR 3575. 

Pontiac Ridge to 

3575-120, new road to 

lower portal; Hwy 97 

to OCR 9480 to OCR 

4895 to FR 3575-120. 

Employee 

Transportation 

Route 

Not Applicable Any route during snow 

free months. Only FR 

3550 route plowed in 

winter. If requested by 

the Proponent, the Forest 

Service would consider 

allowing the 3575-120 

road to be plowed open in 

the winter for employee 

access. 

Any route during snow 

free months. Only FR 

3550 route plowed in 

winter. If requested by 

the Proponent, the Forest 

Service would consider 

allowing the 3575-120 

road to be plowed open in 

the winter for employee 

access. 

Any route during snow 

free months. Only ore 

haul route plowed in 

winter. FR 3550-125 & 

130 closed 12-1 to 3- 31 

If requested, the F.S. 

would consider allowing 

the 3575-120 road to be 

plowed open in the winter 

for employee access. 

Any route during snow 

free months. FR 

3550-125 & 130 

closed December 1 to 

March 31st (not to be 

plowed). Only ore 

haul route plowed in 

winter. Other access 

roads may not be 

plowed in winter. 

Operating 

Schedule Ore 

Haul 

Not Applicable Loaded trucks 6:00 a.m. 

to 6:00 p.m. only, 7 

days/week. Unloaded ore 

trucks may be traveling 

outside 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 

p.m. schedule. 

Loaded and unloaded 

trucks – 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 

p.m. only; 7 days/week. 

No ore haul trucks may be 

on N.F. roads outside 

these hours. 

Loaded and unloaded 

trucks – 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 

p.m. only, 6 days/week 

(Mon. - Sat.). No ore haul 

trucks on N.F. roads 

outside these hours. 

 

Loaded and unloaded 

trucks – 6:00 a.m. to 

6:00 p.m. only; 5 

days/week (Mon. – 

Fri.). No ore haul 

trucks on NFS. roads 

outside these hours. 

Operating 

Schedule 

Supply Haul 

Not Applicable Supplies mostly 6:00 a.m. 

to 6:00 p.m., 7 days a 

week. Some trucks 

outside these hours. 

Supplies only 6:00 a.m. to 

6:00 p.m., 7 days a week. 

Only infrequent, 

unplanned supply traffic 

outside these hours. 

Supplies 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 

p.m.; Monday – Friday. 

Only infrequent, 

unplanned supply traffic 

outside these hours. 

Supplies 6:00 a.m. to 

6:00 p.m.; Monday – 

Friday. Only 

infrequent, unplanned 

supply traffic outside 

these hours. 

Employee 

Schedule 

Not Applicable Employee start times 

mostly 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. 

/p.m. 

Employee start times 

mostly 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. 

/p.m. 

Employee start times 

mostly 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. 

/p.m. 

Employee start times 

mostly 6:00 – 8:00 

a.m. /p.m. 

Water Supply 

Access Route 

Not Applicable FR 3575-120 going south 

from new Marias Creek 

access route and then 

3575-140 to FR 3575-

143. Route snowplowed 

in winter 

FR 3575-120 going south 

from new Marias Creek 

access route and then 

3575-140 to FR 3575-

143. Route snowplowed 

in winter 

FR 3575-120 going south 

from new access route 

and then 3575-140 to FR 

3575-143. Route 

snowplowed in winter 

FR 3575-120 and then 

3575-140 to FR 3575-

143. Route 

snowplowed in winter 
Buckhorn Access Project S-21 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Project Fence Not Applicable 3-strand, wildlife 

permeable, barbed wire 

fence. Enclose 74 ac. 

NFS, 1.7 miles long; 

posted “No Trespassing” 

signs. Gated where cross 

roads. No public access 

inside fence. 

3-strand, wildlife 

permeable, barbed wire 

fence. Enclose 74 ac. 

NFS, 1.7 miles long; 

posted “No Trespassing” 

signs. Gated where cross 

roads. No public access 

inside fence. 

3-strand, wildlife 

permeable, barbed wire 

fence. Enclose 74 ac. 

NFS, 1.7 miles long; 

posted “No Trespassing” 

signs. Gated where cross 

roads. No public access 

inside fence. 

3-strand, wildlife 

permeable, barbed 

wire fence. Enclose 

74 ac. NFS, 1.7 miles 

long; posted “No 

Trespassing” signs. 

Gated where cross 

roads. No public 

access inside fence. 

Infiltration 

Area and 

Supply 

Pipeline 

Not Applicable Near junction 3575-120 

and 125 roads; pipeline 

about 4,640’ to dosing 

tank. Road along route. 

Near junction 3575-120 

and 125 roads; pipeline 

about 4,640’ to dosing 

tank. Road along route. 

Near junction 3575-120 

and 125 roads; pipeline 

about 4,640’ to dosing 

tank. Road along route. 

Near junction 3575-

120 and 125 roads; 

pipeline about 4,640’ 

to dosing tank. Road 

along route. 

Dust 

Suppression 

Not Applicable Magnesium chloride and 

water used. 

Magnesium chloride, 

water; pave from OCR 

9845 to 150’ past first 

Marias Creek crossing 

(0.5 miles paved) 

Magnesium chloride, 

water; pave from OCR 

9845 to cattle guard past 

end private land (2.4 

miles paved) 

Magnesium chloride, 

water; pave from 

south boundary 

Section 36 to OCR 

4895 (1.3 miles 

paved) 

Snow 

Removal 

Not Applicable Blading and sand. No 

blading of snow below 

road within 100’ of creeks. 

Snowplowing to 

monitoring sites possible. 

Blading and sand. No 

blading of snow below 

road within 100’ of creeks. 

No snowplowing to 

monitoring sites where not 

already snowplowed. 

 

Blading and sand. No 

blading of snow below 

road within 100’ of creeks. 

No snowplowing to 

monitoring sites where not 

already snowplowed. 

Blading and sand. No 

piling of snow within 

50’ of creeks. No 

snowplowing to 

monitoring sites where 

not already 

snowplowed. 

Utilities Not Applicable Electricity - buried in road 

prism of ore haul route. 

 Telephone - From 

existing line at Cow Camp 

up FR 3575-120 and new 

road to patented land. 

Electricity - buried in road 

prism of ore haul route. 

Telephone – From 

existing line at Cow Camp 

up FR 3575-120 and new 

road to patented land. 

Electricity - buried in road 

prism of FR 3575, 3575-

100, 3575-120, and in 

new road to lower portal. 

Not all in ore haul route. 

Telephone – From 

existing line at Cow Camp 

up FR 3575-120 and new 

road to patented land. 

Electricity - buried in 

road prism of ore haul 

route. 

Telephone – From 

existing line at Cow 

Camp or new line 

buried with power line 

on ore haul route. 

Road 

Closures 

during 

Construction 

and 

Operations 

Not Applicable All newly constructed 

roads and FR 3550-125 

past the 3550-130 

junction. The 

reconstructed road up to 

the 3550-130 junction and 

the reconstructed FR 

3575-120 junction with the 

new road would remain 

open to public use. 

Forest Roads inside the 

project fence closed to the 

public. 

All newly constructed 

roads and FR 3550-125 

past the 3550-130 

junction. The 

reconstructed road up to 

the 3550-130 junction and 

the reconstructed FR 

3575-120 junction with the 

new road would remain 

open to public use. 

Forest Roads inside the 

project fence closed to the 

public 

All newly constructed 

roads. Forest roads 

inside project fenced 

closed to public 

All newly constructed 

roads. Forest roads 

inside project fenced 

closed to public. 

Surface Water 

Monitoring 

Sites 

Existing NEPA 

documents 

Surface water monitoring 

sites at 12 locations on 

N.F. land on Buckhorn Mt. 

(SW-1, -2, -5, -7, -9, -10, 

-11, -14, GW-2, and 2 – 3 

new sites in Marias 

Creek, Additional new 

sites may be determined 

by WADOE during 

permitting. 

Surface water monitoring 

sites at 12 locations on 

N.F. land on Buckhorn Mt. 

(SW-1, -2, -5, -7, -9, -10, 

-11, -14, GW-2, and 2 – 3 

new sites in Marias 

Creek, Additional new 

sites may be determined 

by WADOE during 

permitting. 

Surface water monitoring 

sites at 12 locations on 

N.F. land on Buckhorn Mt. 

(SW-1, -2, -5, -7, -9, -10, 

-11, -14, GW-2, and 2 – 3 

new sites in Nicholson 

Creek, Additional new 

sites may be determined 

by WADOE during 

permitting. 

 Surface water 

monitoring sites at 12 

locations on N.F. land 

on Buckhorn Mt. (SW1, -2, -5, -7, -9, -10, -

11, -14, and GW-2. 

Additional new sites 

may be determined by 

WADOE during 

permitting. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-22 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Water 

Monitoring 

Wells 

Existing NEPA 

documents. 

1 new monitoring well 

(MW-13) on N.F. land, 7 

existing monitoring wells 

(MW-1, -3, -4, -7, -9-11, -

12) on N.F. land. 4 new 

piezometers at the 

Infiltration Gallery on N.F. 

land, 3 new piezometers 

on N.F. land in Myers 

Creek basin, staff gauges 

at 17 seeps/springs (all 

but 2 on N.F. land), 5 staff 

gauges, and 10 minipiezometers at Nicholson 

and Marias Creek 

headwater wetlands. 

1 new monitoring well 

(MW-13) on N.F. land, 7 

existing monitoring wells 

(MW-1, -3, -4, -7, -9-11, -

12) on N.F. land. 4 new 

piezometers at the 

Infiltration Gallery on N.F. 

land, 3 new piezometers 

on N.F. land in Myers 

Creek basin, staff gauges 

at 17 seeps/springs (all 

but 2 on N.F. land), 5 staff 

gauges, and 10 minipiezometers at Nicholson 

and Marias Creek 

headwater wetlands. 

1 new monitoring well 

(MW-13) on N.F. land, 7 

existing monitoring wells 

(MW-1, -3, -4, -7, -9-11, -

12) on N.F. land. 4 new 

piezometers at the 

Infiltration Gallery on N.F. 

land, 3 new piezometers 

on N.F. land in Myers 

Creek basin, staff gauges 

at 17 seeps/springs (all 

but 2 on N.F. land), 5 staff 

gauges, and 10 minipiezometers at Nicholson 

and Marias Creek 

headwater wetlands. 

1 new monitoring well 

(MW-13) on N.F. land, 

7 existing monitoring 

wells (MW-1, -3, -4, -7, 

-9-11, -12) on N.F. 

land. 4 new 

piezometers at the 

Infiltration Gallery on 

N.F. land, 3 new 

piezometers on N.F. 

land in Myers Creek 

basin, staff gauges at 

17 seeps/springs (all 

but 2 on N.F. land), 5 

staff gauges, and 10 

mini-piezometers at 

Nicholson and Marias 

Creek headwater 

wetlands. 

Site 

Reclamation 

Existing NEPA 

documents 

100% of infiltration and 

augmentation facilities, 

monitoring wells and 

remove fence, 1 lane road 

with turnouts to lower 

portal from Cow Camp 

(rip one lane closed), 

leave utilities in road but 

disconnected. Remove 

manholes and upper and 

lower sections of 

pipelines. 

100% of infiltration and 

augmentation facilities, 

monitoring wells and 

remove fence, 1 lane road 

with turnouts to lower 

portal from Cow Camp 

(re-contour to one lane 

road), leave utilities in 

road but disconnected. 

Remove manholes and 

upper and lower sections 

of pipelines. F.R. 3550 

and 3550-125 would be 

reclaimed back to their 

previous 17 – 18’ width 

with intervisible turnouts. 

100% of infiltration and 

augmentation facilities, 

monitoring wells and 

fence, 1 lane road with 

turnouts to lower portal 

from Cow Camp (recontour to one lane road), 

leave utilities in road but 

disconnected after private 

land on 3575 road. 

Remove manholes and 

upper and lower terminus 

of pipelines. 

100% of infiltration 

and augmentation 

facilities, monitoring 

wells and remove 

fence, 1 lane road with 

turnouts to lower 

portal from Cow Camp 

(re-contour to one lane 

road), leave utilities in 

road but disconnected 

at Cow Camp. 

Remove manholes 

and upper and lower 

terminus of pipelines. 

Speed Limit 35 mph 30 mph 25 mph 25 mph 25 mph 

Project Life 4 years (1 

year 

reclamation, 3 

years 

reclamation 

monitoring) 

13 - 15 years (1 year 

construction, 8 years 

operations, 1 year 

reclamation, 3 - 5 years 

reclamation monitoring). 

Water monitoring may 

continue for up to 25 – 60 

years. 

13 - 15 years (1 year 

construction, 8 years 

operations, 1 year 

reclamation, 3 - 5 years 

reclamation monitoring). 

Water monitoring may 

continue for up to 25 – 60 

years. 

13 - 15 years (1 year 

construction, 8 years 

operations, 1 year 

reclamation, 3 - 5 years 

reclamation monitoring). 

Water monitoring may 

continue for up to 25 – 60 

years. 

13 - 15 years (1 year 

construction, 8 years 

operations, 1 year 

reclamation, 3 - 5 

years reclamation 

monitoring). Water 

monitoring may 

continue for up to 25 – 

60 years. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-23 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

IDENTIFICATION OF THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE 

The Forest Service has identified Alternative B1 as the preferred alternative with the 

following modifications: decreased paving and a 30-mile per hour speed limit. Because 

the analysis shows that storm related sedimentation may actually increase from road 

paving because of the shorter time for the water to reach the roadside ditches, paving 

would only be done on approximately the first 800 feet of Forest Road 3550 (Marias 

Creek Road) to allow for any mud/dust track-out from the gravel road to occur on the 

Forest Service road prior to the more heavily used County Road 9495 (Toroda Creek 

Road) to address public safety concerns. Locating the transition from gravel to 

pavement at about 800 feet from the Toroda/Marias road junction would allow this trackout to occur at a point that is furthest away from Marias Creek to ensure adequate 

distance for vegetation to intercept sediment. Additionally, the road 

construction/reconstruction design speed for the Forest Road 3550 is 30 miles per hour, 

except on a few corners where it is 20 miles per hour, and the difference in effects to 

wildlife does not justify a 25 miles per hour speed limit for the whole length. 35 miles per 

hour is the Okanogan County speed limit on most gravel roads. These modifications are 

within the range of alternatives fully analyzed. 

COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES 

This section summarizes the impacts of the alternatives. Environmental consequences of 

each alternative are described in detail in Chapter III, Affected Environment and 

Environmental Consequences of the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The following 

table, Comparison of Alternatives with Mitigation (S-3), compares alternatives to the key 

issues and other factors important to assess by alternative. Effects are with mitigation in 

place. Issues are identified earlier in this chapter. 

When reviewing specific alternative actions in acres and volumes, please note there 

may be some minor differences. These differences are due to rounding and are not 

important to the descriptions of the actions or their effects. Noted that the effects 

described below are for National Forest System lands and right-of-ways unless 

otherwise noted. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-24 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Table S-3: Comparison of Alternatives with Mitigation in Place 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Acres National Forest 

System (NFS) land 

not available to public 

None 74 acres 74 acres 74 acres 74 acres 

Acres disturbed on 

NFS land and right-ofways (ROW) 

None 57 acres 57 acres 65 acres 26 acres 

Timber removed from 

NFS land and right-ofways (mbf) 

None 370 mbf 370 mbf 265 mbf 225 mbf 

Miles of boundary 

fence on NFS lands 

None 1.7 miles 1.7 miles 1.7 miles 1.7 miles 

Impact of boundary 

fence on wildlife 

None Short disturbance 

during 

construction, loss 

of small amount of 

habitat, and minor 

movement barrier 

to wildlife species. 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Impact of boundary 

fence on 

recreationists 

None 74-acre area would 

not be available for 

use; most use is 

related to deer, 

bear, and bird 

hunting. 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Impact of boundary 

fence on grazing 

permittee. Estimated 

annual AUMS of 

grazing lost 

None 74-acre area not 

available for use, 

AUM’s lost very 

slight, no change in 

permit numbers 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Potential for cows to 

get inside project 

boundary fence and 

potential for increased 

permittee expense 

None Slight, infrequent 

due to coordination 

between permittee 

and company; 

company to 

maintain fence and 

communicate with 

permittee 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Miles of road fenced 

from cattle access 

None Approximately 4 

miles 

Approximately 4 

miles 

No roads fenced to 

keep cattle away 

from roads. 

No roads fenced 

to keep cattle 

away from roads 

Miles of cattle fence 

construction 

None Approximately 5 

miles 

Approximately 5 

miles 

Approximately 0.8 

miles around 

Grass Lake 

No fencing 

proposed 

Estimated number of 

cows killed or injured 

annually 

None Slight, 0 - 4 each 

year depending 

upon accidental 

breach of a fence 

Same as B > B since roadway 

is not fenced and 

travel distance is 

longer. Roadway 

not fenced since 

cows do not tend 

to hang out on ore 

haul route. >D 

because D route is 

shorter with less 

potential for 

livestock to be in 

the area of 

roadway. 

Less than B, B1, 

& D because less 

road is not fenced 

and less time of 

cattle scheduled 

in area of D route. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-25 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Impact on Tribal 

members from 

boundary fence 

None No fish and likely 

no cultural plants in 

74-acre area. 

Fence passable by 

deer and other 

game species. 

Tribal members 

would not be able 

to hunt in 74-acre 

area, but can 

access areas 

directly adjacent. 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Miles of construction 

within riparian habitat 

conservation areas on 

NFS lands 

None 4.0 miles 4.0 miles 2.6 miles None 

Acres of construction 

in riparian habitat on 

NFS or right-of-ways. 

None 0.1 acres 0.1 acres 0.2 acres 0 acres 

Acres of construction 

in wetlands on NFS 

lands or right-of-way. 

None 0.1 acres 0.1 acres 0.2 acres 0 acres 

Predicted changes in 

stream temperature in 

Marias Creek 

None None None None None 

Predicted changes in 

stream temperature in 

Nicholson Creek 

None None None None None 

Potential for toxic 

materials added to the 

road surface to enter 

streams, riparian 

areas, and wetlands 

on NFS lands and 

ROW and impact 

aquatic life 

None High potential for 

salts to enter 

streams, riparian 

areas & wetlands, 

but low predicted 

impacts from 

chlorides and 

magnesium. Low 

potential for spills. 

Same as B. High potential for 

salts to enter 

streams, riparian 

areas and 

wetlands, but low 

predicted impacts 

from chlorides and 

magnesium. Low 

potential for spills. 

Very low, 1 

stream crossing 

on National Forest 

System lands and 

right-of-ways. 

Low potential for 

spills. 

Number of T.E.S. 

plants lost 

None Estimated 21 

plants lost from 

effects of chlorides. 

Same as 

Alternative B 

Estimated 5 plants 

loss from effects of 

chlorides. 

Estimated 5 

plants loss from 

effects of 

chlorides. 

Annual tons of TSP 

produced during ore 

and supply haul and 

employee access on 

NFS land 

None 678 tons 523 tons 945 tons 211 tons 

Annual tons of PM10 

produced during ore 

and supply haul and 

employee access on 

NFS land 

None 181 tons 139 tons 251 tons 56 tons 

Number of potential 

viewpoints where dust 

is likely to be seen 

from activities on NFS 

land 

None 3 locations totaling 

3⁄4 mile on Ferry 

County Road 502; 

1 location at 

junction of FR 3550 

and OCR 9845 

3 locations 

totaling 3⁄4 mile 

on Ferry County 

Road 502; 

3 locations totaling 

3⁄4 mile on Ferry 

County Road 

(FCR) 502; 

3 locations 

totaling 3⁄4 mile on 

Ferry County 

Road 502; 
Buckhorn Access Project S-26 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Effects of dust on 

vegetation 

None Less than 

Alternative C, but 

more than 

Alternatives B1 or 

D. Vegetation 

along roads is 

susceptible to 

chronic decreases 

in photosynthesis, 

growth, and plant 

nutrition. 

< Alt.B & C 

because of 

paving; however 

> Alt.D. 

Vegetation along 

roads is 

susceptible to 

chronic 

decreases in 

photosynthesis, 

growth, and plant 

nutrition. 

 

Because of the 

longer road route, 

this alt. would have 

the most impact. 

Vegetation along 

roads is 

susceptible to 

chronic decreases 

in photosynthesis, 

growth, and plant 

nutrition. 

Since this alt. has 

the least amount 

of road mileage, it 

would have the 

least impact from 

dust. Vegetation 

along roads is 

susceptible to 

chronic decreases 

in photosynthesis, 

growth, and plant 

nutrition. 

Number of residences 

along potential haul 

route on Forest 

Service roads and 

ROW (within 500’) 

None 1 residence 1 residence 9 residences 7 residences 

Cumulative number of 

residences along 

haul route to junction 

FR 3575 and OCR 

9495 (within 500’) 

None 11 residences 11 residences 9 residences 24 residences 

Impact of 

construction/ 

reconstruction on 

residential quality of 

life, health, safety, 

and solitude 

None Construction/ 

reconstruction 

would cause very 

serious noise 

impacts on 2 

residences for 

approximately 3 

months. 

Same as B Construction/ 

reconstruction 

would cause very 

serious noise 

impacts on 9 

residences for 

approximately 4 

months. 

Construction/ 

reconstruction 

would cause very 

serious noise 

impacts on 7 

residences for 

approximately 2 

months. 

Disturbance impact of 

ore and supply haul 

on residential quality 

of life, health, safety, 

and solitude 

None 2 slight impacts 

(one residence 

generally not 

occupied in winter); 

Little effect on 

safety of residents 

since access to 

residences 

generally not on 

haul route. 

Same as B 2 very serious 

impacts since 

houses within 90’ 

of road; 

3 substantial 

impacts; 

4 slight impacts 

(one residence 

generally not 

occupied in winter); 

Access road to 

residences would 

likely be safer due 

to double lane road 

and snowplowing 

in winter. 

2 substantial 

impacts 

5 slight impacts 

(one residence 

generally not 

occupied in 

winter); Access 

road to 

residences would 

likely be safer due 

to double lane 

road and 

snowplowing in 

winter 

Number of dispersed 

recreation sites along 

potential hauls routes 

None 1 destroyed; 

1 moderate 

disturbance 

(>125’); and 

3 severe 

disturbance (<125’) 

Same as B 17 sites impacted; 

16 severe 

disturbance 

(<125’); and 1 

moderate 

disturbance (>125’) 

0 sites impacted 

Potential noise effects 

on Coogan and 

Nicholson-Marias 

Ridge unroaded areas 

None Slight effect 

Coogan and 

Nicholson-Marias 

Ridge outside 

construction 

period. Noise near 

ambient 1000’ from 

road. 

Similar to B No effect Coogan, 

slight effect 

Nicholson-Marias 

Ridge outside 

construction 

period. Noise near 

ambient 1000’ from 

road. 

None 
Buckhorn Access Project S-27 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Impact of employee 

traffic on residential 

quality of life, health, 

safety, and solitude 

(impacts by 

residences) 

None 2 residences would 

be slightly 

impacted. Little 

effect on safety of 

residents since 

access to 

residences 

generally not on 

haul route. 

Same as B 2 residences would 

be substantially 

impacted, 7 

residences would 

be slightly 

impacted. Access 

road to residences 

would likely be 

safer due to double 

lane road and 

snowplowing in 

winter. 

1 residence would 

be substantially 

impacted, 6 

residences would 

be slightly 

impacted. Access 

road would likely 

be safer due to 

double lane road 

and snowplowing 

in winter. 

Impact on recreation None Substantial since 

most of the 

recreating public 

would avoid Marias 

Creek drainage for 

the duration of 

construction and 

operations. 

Same as B Substantial since 

most of the 

recreating public 

would avoid the 

ore and supply 

haul route during 

construction and 

operations. 

Very slight since 

small amount of 

recreation use on 

National Forest 

lands along the 

ore and supply 

haul route. Most 

of route off NFS 

lands. 

Changes in visibility in 

Class 1 airsheds 

None Very slight Very slight Very slight Very slight 

Total miles of road 

from patented mine 

boundary to County 

roads 

N/A 8.4 miles 8.4 miles 13.3 miles 4.1 miles 

Miles of total road on 

NFS lands and ROWs 

N/A 6.7 miles 6.7 miles 13.0 miles 2.7 miles 

Miles of unpaved haul 

road on NFS lands 

and ROWs 

N/A 6.7 miles 6.2 miles 10.6 miles 1.4 miles 

Miles of proposed 

road pavement on ore 

haul route 

N/A 0 miles 0.5 miles 2.4 miles 1.3 miles 

Summertime 50’ 

noise levels 100’ 

(LEQ) along 200’ 

ore and supply 500’ 

haul route 

No change 60 decibels 

56 

51 

45 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Acres with noticeable 

noise effects within 

Jackson Creek 

inventoried roadless 

area (w/i 500’ of road) 

0 0 0 91 acres 0 

Gray wolf and 

wolverine assessment 

model security habitat 

47,730 acres 

(23%) of security 

habitat in Myers 

and Toroda W.S. 

35 acres of security 

habitat lost; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

240 ac. security 

habitat created; 

no change in 

percent of total 

acres affected 

20 acres of 

security habitat 

lost; no change in 

percent of total 

acres affected 

20 acres of 

security habitat 

lost; no change in 

percent of total 

acres affected 

Mule deer winter 

habitat disturbance 

index of acres 

impacted by roads. 

1,238 out of 

13,199 acres 

(9%) of deer 

winter range 

within Buckhorn 

block currently 

impacted 

2,870 additional 

acres impacted 

(4,108 acres, 31% 

of total) affected 

1,860 additional 

acres (3,098 

acres, 23% of 

total) affected. 

The area 

affected is less 

than Alt. B due to 

road closures 

1,119 additional 

acres impacted 

(2,357 acres, 18% 

of total) affected 

550 additional 

acres impacted 

(1,788 acres, 14% 

of total) affected 
Buckhorn Access Project S-28 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Late Successional 

Forest, Non-winter 

Habitat affected by 

roads and trails 

3,066 acres out 

of 32,575 total 

acres (9%) 

currently 

affected by 

roads 

14 additional acres 

affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

21 less acres 

affected due to 

road closures; no 

change in 

percent of total 

acres affected 

10 additional acres 

affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

10 additional 

acres affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

Late Successional 

Forest Non-winter 

Security Habitat 

impacted by roads 

and trails 

10,823 acres out 

of 32,757 total 

acres (33%) 

currently 

impacted 

9 additional acres 

affected; no 

percent change in 

total acres affected 

99 less acres 

affected due to 

road closures; no 

percent change 

in total acres 

affected 

3 additional acres 

affected; no 

percent change in 

total acres affected 

3 additional acres 

affected; no 

percent change in 

total acres 

affected 

Late Successional 

Forest Winter Security 

Habitat impacted by 

roads and winter trails 

9,430 acres out 

of 32,757 total 

acres (29%) 

19 additional acres 

affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

16 less acres 

affected; no 

change in 

percent of total 

acres affected 

12 additional acres 

affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

12 additional 

acres affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

Riparian Non-winter 

Habitat Influence 

Index; acres affected 

by roads and trails 

6,050 acres out 

of 18,197 acres 

total (33%) 

currently 

impacted 

2 additional acres 

affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

64 less acres 

affected; no 

change in 

percent of total 

acres affected 

No additional acres 

affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

No additional 

acres affected; no 

change in percent 

of total acres 

affected 

Road density by MA 

area (Forest Plan 

Standard) during 

project (miles per 

square mile)4: 

 MA 14-17 (2.0) 

 MA 14-18 (2.0) 

 MA 14-19 (2.0) 

 MA 25-18 (3.0) 

 MA 26-16 (1.0) 

 

1.0 

3.8 

1.7 

1.8 

1.4 

 

 

1.0 

4.2 

1.7 

1.9 

1.4 

1.0 

1.5 

1.7 

1.8 

1.1 

1.0 

3.8 

1.7 

1.9 

1.4 

Same as C 

1.0 

3.8 

1.7 

1.9 

1.4 

Miles of road in deer 

winter range (Road 

density [miles/ square 

mile (m/m2)]) 

14.3 (1.5) 15.0(1.6) 12.8 (1.4) 13.0 (1.4) 13.0 (1.4) 

Miles of road in deer 

summer range (Road 

density [m/m2]) 

58.5 (1.8) 58.9 (1.8) 58.9 (1.8) 57.6 (1.7) 57.6 (1.7) 

Impacts from creation 

of semi-permeable 

barrier along haul 

routes 

None Limits movement of 

wildlife, creates 

disturbance, and 

direct mortality. 

Effects greater 

than B1 & D. 

Effects less than 

Alt. B and C, but 

greater than Alt. 

A & D. 

Longest haul route, 

so greatest impact 

to wildlife. 

Greater impact 

than Alt. A, but 

less than Alt. B, 

B1, & C. Shortest 

haul route, so 

least impacts. 

Acres of soil 

disturbance 

None 57 acres 57 acres 65 acres 26 acres 

Acres of existing 

noxious weeds along 

haul routes 

None > 82 acres > 82 acres > 117 acres 8 acres 

Potential for weed 

spread onto NFS 

lands across NFS 

lands and from NFS 

lands to private lands 

No change 57 acres of 

disturbance, slight 

chance 

Same as B 65 acres of 

disturbance; 

Greater chance 

from more weed 

acres 

26 acres of 

disturbance; 

Least weed 

spread - fewer 

acres of weeds 

 

4

 The estimates were based on “open” travel routes, and the substantial increase in the traffic volume along the ore haul 

route where the road currently exists was not part of the model. Therefore the intensity of impacts along the ore haul 

route would be substantially greater that under the existing conditions, but this substantial difference in intensity was 

not captured in the model. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-29 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Potential for use of 

herbicides under 

existing decisions, 

and cumulative 

effects analysis of 

effect on non-target 

species 

Known noxious 

weed sites 

included in the 

District 

Integrated Weed 

Mgmt Program. 

Effects on nontarget plants 

minimal. 

Same as A, but 

increased potential 

for need for 

herbicide treatment 

from haul 

Same as A, but 

increased 

potential for 

need for 

herbicide 

treatment from 

haul 

Same as A, but 

increased potential 

for need for 

herbicide treatment 

from haul 

Same as A, but 

increased 

potential for need 

for herbicide 

treatment from 

haul 

Potential for 

introduction of 

noxious weeds from 

borrow site 

No potential Low potential; 

gravel required to 

be noxious weed 

seed free 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Sediment increases in 

year one (WEPP 

model) from road 

construction/ 

reconstruction 

None 49 tons first year in 

Marias, but 

reduced by 99% to 

less than 3 tons 

including winter 

sand 

51 tons per year 

in Marias, but 

reduced by 99% 

to less than 3 

tons including 

winter sand 

42 tons first year in 

Nicholson, but 

reduced by 95% to 

14-54 tons 

including sand 

0 

Potential for 

chemicals to reach 

streams, wetlands, 

RHCAs and riparian 

habitat 

No potential High if spill occurs High if spill 

occurs 

High if spill occurs Low if spill occurs 

Effects of magnesium 

chloride on vegetation 

None Less than 

Alternative C, but 

more than 

Alternative B1 or D 

< Alternative C, 

and less than 

Alternative B 

because of 

paving work. 

> Alternative D 

Greatest potential 

impacts from more 

roading 

Since this alt. has 

the least amount 

of roads, it would 

have the least 

potential impact 

Predicted increases of 

chlorides in streams5 N/A 147 ppm Marias 

Creek, 27 ppm 

direct/indirect and 

41-61 ppm 

cumulative in 

Nicholson Creek 

123 ppm Marias 

Cr., 27 ppm 

direct/indirect 

and 41-61 

cumulative in 

Nicholson Creek 

64 ppm 

direct/indirect 

Nicholson Cr., 77-

91 cumulative; 9 

ppm in Marias Cr. 

No increase Up. 

Myers or Millard 

Creeks, 27 ppm 

direct/indirect, 41-

61 cumulative in 

Nicholson Cr.; 9 

ppm Marias Cr. 

Impacts of increases 

in chlorides in 

streams on aquatic 

species 

No increases in 

chlorides. 

Baseline is 3 

ppm. State 

criteria is 230 

ppm 

See above; meets 

state chronic 

criteria of 230 ppm 

so no impacts on 

aquatic species. 

See above, 

meets state 

chronic criteria of 

230 ppm so no 

impacts on 

aquatic species. 

See above, meets 

state chronic 

criteria of 230 ppm 

so no impacts on 

aquatics species. 

No impact on 

Millard Creek. 

Meets State 

chronic criteria of 

230 ppm. 

Impacts on Toroda 

Creek stream flows 

from water use for 

dust abatement 

None 1 – 5% increase in 

flows during mining 

and reclamation 

during May – Sept.; 

0.1 – 1.1% 

decrease during 

Oct. – April based 

on actual use. 

Same as B Same as B Not as much 

water needed for 

dust abatement 

so less impacts 

than B 

Number of cultural 

resource properties 

present and affected 

0 5 5 5 5 

Number of eligible 

historic properties 

affected 

0 1 1 1 0 

 

5

 Using flows in WADOEs FSEIS; see Hydrology section in Chapter 3 for calculations using Golder 2006a or draft 

NPDES permit. 
Buckhorn Access Project S-30 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Potential to impact 

cultural plants 

None Less than 

Alternative C, but 

more than 

Alternative D 

Same as 

Alternative B 

Since this alt has 

the most road 

widening it would 

have the greatest 

potential 

Since this alt. has 

the least amount 

of roads, it would 

have the least 

potential 

Number of Indian 

Allotments within 2 

miles of access route 

N/A 1 Allotment 1 Allotment 1 Allotment 1 Allotment 

Big game expected to 

be lost due to project 

activities on NFS land 

No big game 

expected to be 

lost. 

Greater than in Alt. 

A, B1, and D 

Less than 

Alternative B and 

C, but greater 

than Alts. A & D. 

Greater than Alts. 

A, B, B1 and D due 

to longest haul 

route. 

Less than Alts. B, 

B1, & C due to 

shorter haul route 

Fish expected to be 

lost due to project 

activities on NFS land 

None Some, but with 

culvert 

replacements may 

just retreat to 

Toroda Creek 

Same as B Same as B None 

Lineal feet of stream 

channel within INFISH 

RHCAs potentially 

affected 

None 20,856’ (4.0 miles) 20,856’ (4.0 

miles) 

13,622’ (2.6 miles) None 

Effects on seeps, 

springs, ponds, and 

wetlands cumulative 

activities 

None Flows in seeps, springs, ponds, and wetlands in Myers Creek and above infiltration 

and augmentation sites reduced from mine dewatering but no cumulative effect 

from Buckhorn Access Project. Flows to seeps, springs, ponds, and wetlands 

below augmentation and infiltration sites may have slightly reduced or increased 

flows depending on the site and time of year. Augmentation and infiltration 

designed to mostly offset flow reductions due to mine dewatering on private lands. 

Hours of expected 

truck traffic outside 

6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

None No restrictions on 

truck traffic except 

full ore haul trucks 

6:00 a.m. to 6:00 

p.m. 

Ore and supply 

haul trucks, full 

or empty, 6:00 

a.m. to 6:00 

p.m., except 

infrequent, 

unplanned 

supply traffic 

Ore and supply 

haul trucks, full or 

empty, 6:00 a.m. to 

6:00 p.m., except 

infrequent, 

unplanned supply 

traffic. 

Ore and supply 

haul trucks, full or 

empty, 6:00 a.m. 

to 6:00 p.m., 

except infrequent, 

unplanned supply 

traffic. 

Hours of operation 

along haul, employee 

and supply routes 

None Vehicles operating 

24 – 7. Most 

impacts 5:00 a.m. 

to 9:00 p.m. 

Employee 

vehicles 

operating 24-7. 

Most trucks 6:00 

a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 

except 

infrequent, 

unplanned 

supply traffic, 7 

days a week. 

Most impacts 

5:00 a.m. to 9:00 

p.m. 

Employee vehicles 

operating 24-7. 

Trucks 6:00 a.m. – 

6:00 p.m., except 

infrequent, 

unplanned supply 

traffic. Supply haul 

Monday to Friday, 

ore haul Monday to 

Sat. No trucks on 

Sunday. Most 

impacts 5:00 a.m. 

to 9:00 p.m.

Employee 

vehicles operating 

24-7. Most trucks 

6:00 a.m. – 6:00 

p.m., except 

infrequent, 

unplanned supply 

traffic, Mon. - Fri. 

No trucks on 

Saturdays and 

Sundays. Most 

impacts 5:00 a.m. 

to 9:00 p.m. 

Number of vehicle 

trips expected to 

operate outside 6:00 

a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

None Up to 110 

passenger type 

vehicles and 18 

trucks 

Up to 110 

passenger type 

vehicles and 1 

truck. 

Up to 110 

passenger type 

vehicles and 1 

truck. 

Up to 110 

passenger type 

vehicles and 1 

truck. 

Passage rate by 

residences from ore 

haul before/during/ 

after spring breakup 

(minutes) 

0 3.6/0/3.6 3/6/0/3/6 3.1/0/3.1 2.2/0/2.2 

Acres of disturbance 

from water infiltration 

gallery and pipeline 

None 6 6 6 6 
Buckhorn Access Project S-31 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Number of daily trips 

(one way) by alt. 

during operations 

(snow free months)6

 FR 3550 

 Monday-Friday 

 Saturday 

 Sunday 

 FR 3575 

 Monday-Friday 

 Saturday 

 Sunday 

 FR 3575-120 

 Monday-Friday 

 Saturday 

 Sunday 

Decrease of 3 to 

6 trips per day 

277 

(108ht7+169pv8) 

277 (108ht+169pv) 

277 (108ht+169pv) 

few (pv) 

few (pv) 

few (pv) 

51 (pv) 

51 (pv) 

51 (pv) 

Same as B 

few (pv) 

few (pv) 

few (pv) 

296 (127ht+169pv) 

288 (119ht+169pv) 

169 (pv) 

51 (pv) 

51 (pv) 

51 (pv) 

few (pv) 

few (pv) 

few (pv) 

45 (pv) 

45 (pv) 

45 (pv) 

326(151ht+175pv) 

175 (pv) 

175 (pv) 

Increased # of daily 

trips by alt. before and 

after spring breakup, 

assuming 3 weeks of 

shut down 

None Potentially 25 

additional ore 

trucks per day 

Same as B Potentially 30 

additional ore 

trucks per day 

Potentially 35 

additional ore 

trucks per day 

Qualitative discussion 

of noise impacts to 

homeowners along 

routes during spring 

breakup. 

None 2 residences have 

slight increase in 

noise since they 

are both located 

more than 300 feet 

from the haul route. 

Same as B 2 residences have 

very serious 

impacts; 4 

residences have 

substantial 

impacts; 3 

residences have 

slight impacts. 

2 residences have 

very serious 

impacts; 5 

residences have 

slight impacts due 

to noise from 

additional trucks. 

Acres of springs, 

seeps, ponds, and 

wetlands lost from 

project activities 

None 0.1 acres (Marias 

Creek Watershed) 

0.1 acres 

(Marias Creek 

Watershed) 

0.2 acres 

(Nicholson Creek 

Watershed) 

0 

Annual road 

maintenance costs 

 $79,281 $141,508 $108,162 $184,183 $121,395 

Approximate mileage 

from mine site to the 

mill at Republic. 

N/A 47 miles 47 miles 49 miles Via Curlew – 54 

miles 

Via Wauconda 

Pass – 50 miles 

Potential for impacts 

on aquifers, 

residential wells and 

creeks from water 

infiltration on NFS 

lands 

No impacts on 

aquifers, 

residential wells, 

and creeks 

No adverse 

impacts. Infiltration 

would raise 

groundwater levels 

near infiltration site 

slightly during 

mining resulting in 

enhanced seep & 

spring areas in 

Nicholson Creek. 

Water would meet 

state water quality 

requirements set in 

NPDES permit 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

 

6

 Total employee count is less than 240 one-way trips because of variable employee daily work schedules 7

 Heavy truck 

8

 Passenger vehicle 
Buckhorn Access Project S-32 Okanogan and Wenatchee 

Final Environmental Impact Statement National Forests 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative B1 Alternative C Alternative D 

Decreases in stream 

flows from activities 

on NFS land 

 Marias Creek 

 Nicholson Creek 

 Bolster Creek 

 Ethel Creek 

 Gold Creek 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

Estimated annual 

tons/ gallons of 

supplies hauled over 

NFS roads 

• Cement/lime/fly 

ash 

• Diesel fuel 

• Antifreeze 

• Gasoline 

• Explosives 

• Propane 

• Motor oil 

• Hydraulic fluid 

• Magnesium 

chloride 

• Resins 

• Salts 

• Shotcrete additives 

• Oxidizers 

• Acids 

• Bases 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None

12,000 tons 

500,000 gallons 

1,800 gallons 

4,000 gallons 

730 tons 

130,000 gallons 

20,000 gallons 

15,000 gallons 

 

 72,000 gallons 

161 cu. ft. 

38,000 pounds 

24,000 gallons 

420 gallons 

4,300 gallons 

9,900 gallons 

Same as B Same as B Same as B 

Predicted changes to 

average annual 

baseflow at individual 

stream stations (Fig. 

II-5). Positive values 

indicate an increase 

in baseflow from the 

“No-Action” case. 

Stream9

 Station 

No-Action (gpm)10

During Mining (Yr 7)(gpm)11

Post Closure (gpm)12

 

Nicholson SW-9 

Nicholson SW-7 

Nicholson SW-1 

Marias SW-8 

Marias SW-2 

Roosevelt GW-2 

Gold SW-10 

Gold SW-4 

Bolster, N SW-11 

Bolster, N SW-12 

Bolster SW-14 

Bolster SW-13 

Ethel SW-5 

None 14 -13.5 +6.6 

 69 +9.7 +4.9 

230 +9.8 +4.9 

 31 0 -0.1 

110 -0.1 -0.3 

 31 -4.7 -1.6 

 6 -- <1 

 36 -0.1 -0.3 

 4 -- <1 

 26 -0.3 -0.6 

 16 -- -2 

 47 -3.2 -2.5 

100 -0.3 -0.8 

Same as 

Alternative B 

Same as 

Alternative B 

Same as 

Alternative B 

 

9 Stations for each stream are listed from highest to lowest elevation

10 Predicted “No- Action” modeled baseflow (Ecology FSEIS, 2006) 11 Includes augmentation flows at outfalls 001and 002. From Aquatic Resources Mitigation Plan (Golder, 2006a) 12 Without augmentation flows. From Ecology FSEIS (2006) and Golder Aquatic Resources Mitigation (2006a)
Buckhorn Access Project

} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }

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Tonasket Ranger District

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests

Map by JRainford

“This product is produced from information prepared by USDA, The Forest Service can not assure the reliability or suitability of The data and product accuracy may vary due to compilations frand interpretation,and may not meet National Map Accuracy StThis information may be updated, corrected, or otherwise modiThe USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

®

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 0.25

Miles

1 inch equals 0.57 miles Absolute Scale = 1:35,944

(Pontiac Ridge Road)

CR 4895

FSR 3575-120

(Cow Camp Road)

!

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FSR 3550

(Marias Creek Road)

Figure S-3

(may be dropped in lieu of satellite technology)

Page S-33

Outfall 004

Outfall 001

Outfall 003
Buckhorn Access Project

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04

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27

01

20

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26

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33

34

23

28

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22

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Tonasket Ranger District

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests

Map by JRainford

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0 0.5 1 1.5 2 0.25

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FSR 3550-122

FSR 3550

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CR 4895

FSR 3575-120

(Cow Camp Road)

!

ProposedCattle guards

FSR 3550

(Marias Creek Road)

Figure S-4

Page S-34

Legend for Altern

Tonasket Ranger District BoundaryBuckhorn Mine 2004 Patented LandSection lines

Ore Haul Route

New construction and Electrical RouteRe-construction and Electrical Route

kj Proposed Guzzler

Streams

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Buckhorn Access Project

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Millard Creek

Bolster Creek

South

Bolster Creek

MW-13

01

04

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03

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01

03

14

20

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26

10

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21

34

13

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CR 

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Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests

Map by JRainford

“This product is produced from information prepared by USDA, Forest Service, or from other suppliers.The Forest Service can not assure the reliability or suitability of this information for a particular purpose.The data and product accuracy may vary due to compilations from various sources, including modelingand interpretation,and may not meet National Map Accuracy Standards.This information may be updated, corrected, or otherwise modified without notification.The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

(Pontiac Ridge Road)

(may be dropped in lieu of satellite technology)

FSR 3575-120

(Cow Camp Road)

FSR 3575-120

(Cow Camp Road)

(Toroda 

FSR 3575

(Nicholson Creek Road)

Figure S-5

Page S-35

Outfall 004

Outfall 003

Outfall 001

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Map by JRainford

® “This product is produced from information prepared by USDA, Fore

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0 0.5 1 1.5 2 0.25

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(Cow Camp Road)

FSR 3575-120

(Cow Camp Road)

FSR 3575-120

Figure S-6

Page S-36

Outfall 004

Outfall 003

Outfall 001

(Pontiac Ridge Road)

CR 4895