IMPACTS TO THE SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

The socioeconomic impact section includes analyses of impacts to the local
study area population, its
economic base, housing conditions, government structure and public finance,
public facilities and
services, sociocultural conditions, and Native American tribes. Much of the
socioeconomic analysis
was prepared by Denver Research Institute (DRI). Their work followed publication
in 1983 by
Research and Planning Consultants (Exxon' s consultant) of the "Forecast
of Future Conditions."
That was a detailed, computer-based socioeconomic impact analysis of the
proposal. To make DRI's,
work comparable with the "Forecast of Future Conditions," dollar
amounts are stated in 1982
dollars. Many of the tables used in the following section were taken from
DRI ' s "Final
Socioeconomic Impact Analysis of Exxon's Proposed Crandon Project" and
shortened to show only
representative years of the project schedule. More detailed explanations
of the methods and
assumptions are contained in the Final Socioeconomic Impact Analysis.

The socioeconomic study area (Fig. 2-13) is the area expected to be significantly
impacted by
mine-related activity. In addition, the townships of Ainsworth, Schoepke,
Monico and Laona, for
example, which are outside the study area, would be impacted, but not as
significantly. The type of
impacts expected for these townships could come from one or more of the following
sources:

1.  Conversion of seasonal cottages to permanent use by mine workers.

2.  Development of single family dwellings or mobile home parks along U.S.
Highway 8, State
    Highway 55, and county trunk highways. Public ownership would limit development
potential.

3. Increased traffic through the region between Antigo and Rhinelander and
the project site. Man
    inmigrants would be expected to live closer to cities with shopping areas,
businesses, and schoo

4. Increased school district costs in Elcho School District (impacting Schoepke,
Ainsworth, and
    other Townships), resulting from an increased population of school children.
These costs could
    mitigated by the Mining Impact Fund.

5. Increased need for public services such as fire, police, and snow plowing
to the extent private
    development would occur.

6. Increased assessed evaluation in school districts and townships to the
extent that private
    development would occur.

7.  Elevated business activity.

All of these impacts, as well as others, could be experienced in these townships,
but they are not
predicted to cause significant or unmanageable impacts or marketly stress
the existing infrastruct
of the predominantly rural character of the area. Through zoning and other
local controls, townshi
could have a substantial influence on encouraging or discouraging some impacts.

Uncertainty in Socioeconomic Assessment
Socioeconomic baseline projections and future impact forecasts are subject
to a series of
uncertainties. Some of them have a compounding effect, with one uncertain
forecast dependent o
the outcome of other preceding uncertain forecasts. Specific statements as
to exactly what would
happen in what year in what place should be evaluated with caution, considering
the uncertainties
which are found throughout the predictions.

Assumptions must be made, therefore, about some of the factors of uncertainty
and their outcom,
In other cases, the outcome would depend on which way a decision may be made
by various state.,l
agencies, by Exxon, by local governmental officials (some of whom are yet
to be elected), and by
various families concerning where they will live, shop, and where their breadwinners
would work.



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