Bighorn Basin resource management plan revision project : supplement to the Bighorn Basin draft resource management plan and draft environmental impact statement : chapters 1-6, appendices, glossary, and maps

2013·5.4 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Wyoming State Office

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Bighorn Basin Resource Management Plan
Revision Project

Supplement to the Bighorn Basin
Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
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Chapters 1 - 6,
Appendices, Glossary, and Maps
July 2013
The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of public
lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation,
livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving
natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
BLM/WY/PL-13/024+1610

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Bighorn Basin Resource Management Plan
Revision Project

Supplement to the Bighorn Basin
Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Chapters 1 - 6,
Appendices, Glossary, and Maps

U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Cody Field Office, Wyoming
and
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Worland Field Office, Wyoming

July 2013

Abstract
Supplement to the Bighorn Basin Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Lead Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
Type of Action: Administrative
Jurisdiction: Portions of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie counties, Wyoming
Abstract: The Bighorn Basin Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) were released for public review and comment in April 2011 (76 Federal Register [FR]
22721, April 22, 2011). In July 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rocky Mountain Regional
Interdisciplinary Team identified the need to prepare a Supplement to the Bighorn Basin Draft RMP and
Draft EIS (the Supplement) to consider incorporation of proposed management actions in designated
greater sage-grouse Key and Core Habitat Areas and to thoroughly consider the conservation measures
identified in the Greater Sage-grouse National Technical Team (NTT) Report on National Greater Sage-
Grouse Conservation Measures (Sage-grouse NTT 2011), as referenced in BLM IM No 2012-044 (BLM
National Greater Sage-Grouse Land Use Planning Strategy). The Supplement describes and analyzes two
additional alternatives (E and F) to address these issues.
The Supplement and the Draft RMP and Draft EIS are combined efforts to revise RMPs for the BLM Cody
Field Office and BLM Worland Field Office (the Planning Area). The Planning Area is located in north-
central Wyoming, and comprises approximately 5.6 million acres of land in Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park,
and Washakie counties. Within the Planning Area, the BLM administers approximately 3.2 million acres
of surface land and 4.2 million acres of federal mineral estate.
The Draft RMP and Draft EIS analyzed alternatives A through D, representing complete land use plans
for managing the Planning Area. For the new alternatives analyzed in the Supplement, management
under Alternative E is the same as under Alternative B, except it designates Key Habitat Areas for
greater sage-grouse as the Greater Sage-Grouse Key Habitat Areas ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental
Concern); management under Alternative F is the same as under Alternative D, except it designates Core
Habitat Areas for greater sage-grouse as the Greater Sage-Grouse Core Habitat Areas ACEC. The BLM is
analyzing ACEC designations for greater sage-grouse priority habitat because this resource was found to
meet the relevance and importance criteria that require its consideration as an ACEC.
The Supplement only includes new information and rationale needed to support the incorporation of
alternatives E and F into the planning process and references the Draft RMP and Draft EIS for context
needed to understand the management and impacts discussed. The environmental consequences of
alternatives E and F are described in comparison to those of alternatives A through D in the Draft RMP
and Draft EIS.
Following receipt and consideration of public comments on the Supplement, the BLM will select the
Proposed RMP and prepare a Final EIS that integrates content from the Supplement and the Bighorn
Basin Draft RMP and Draft EIS. When completed, the Records of Decision for the RMP will provide
comprehensive, long-range decisions for (1) managing resources in the BLM Cody and Worland Field
Offices and (2) identifying allowable uses on the BLM-administered surface land and mineral estate.
Comments are accepted for 90 days following the date the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the Notice of Availability for this Supplement to the Draft RMP and Draft EIS in the Federal
Register. Comments should be submitted via email to [email protected]. Alternatively,
comments can mailed to: Bighorn Basin RMP and EIS, Bureau of Land Management Worland Field
Office, P.O. Box 119, 101 South 23rd Street, Worland, Wyoming 82401.
Supplement to the Bighorn Basin Draft RMP and Draft EIS
Abstract
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Supplement to the Bighorn Basin Draft RMP and Draft EIS