4:45 Federal studies to determine the extent of that impact could take months, but Aspen Public Radio spoke with experts to get a sense of what they might find as part of our series "Digging Deep: What Does RMI Mean For Glenwood Springs?" An in-depth gauge of any potential harm would come in the form of an Environmental Impact Statement – a lengthy study conducted by the Bureau of Land Management used to determine whether the mining company should get a green light to expand digging. The agency said such a study would take "at least a year," but experts who have seen other similar mines – and conducted preliminary studies on this one – can postulate as to what an expanded mine could mean for the natural world.