Coos Bay District proposed resource management plan, environmental impact statement : final / U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Coos Bay District Office.

316 Pages·1994·59.3 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Coos Bay District Office

BLMLIBRARY
U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior Final
BureauofLandManagement
CoosBayDistrictOffice
1300AirportLane
NorthBend,Oregon97459 September1994
Coos Bay District
Proposed
Resource Management Plan
Environmental Impact Statement
Volume
II
AstheNation'sprincipalconservationagency,theDepartmentoftheInteriorhasresponsibilityformostofournationallyownedpublic
landsandnaturalresources.Thisincludesfosteringthewisestuseofourlandandwaterresources,protectingourfishandwildlife,
preservingtheenvironmentalandculturalvaluesofournationalparksandhistoricalplaces,andprovidingfortheenjoymentoflifethrough
outdoorrecreation.TheDepartmentassessesourenergyandmineralresourcesandworkstoassurethattheirdevelopmentisinthe
bestinterestofallourpeople.TheDepartmentalsohasamajorresponsibilityforAmericanIndianreservationcommunitiesandforpeople
wholiveinIslandTerritoriesunderU.S.administration.
BLM/OR/WA/ES-94/30+1792
i^-^l^X^^^^ lt>?§^^>h^ LegalGuidelines^^
Appendix A. Legal Guidelines
.or
Thefollowingstatutesandexecutiveorders(asamended)constitutethemajorlegalguidanceforplanningand
managementoflandsadministeredbyBLMinwesternOregon. Thislistisnotnecessarilyallinclusivebutdoes
representtheprimarylegalguidancetobeconsideredinpreparationoftheResourceManagementPlan.
FederalLandPolicyandManagementActof1976(FLPMA) 43USC1701
TheO&CSustainedYieldActof1937 43USC1181a
NationalEnvironmentalPolicyActof1969(NEPA) 42USC4321
EnvironmentalQualityImprovementActof1970 42USC4371
ExecutiveOrder11514,ProtectionandEnhancementofEnvironmentalQuality(1970)
TaylorGrazingAct 43USC315
RecreationandPublicPurposesAct 43USC869
UnlawfulInclosuresorOccupancyAct 43USC1061
MiningandMineralsPolicyActof1970 30USC21a
MiningActof1872 30USC26
MineralLeasingActof1920(MineralLandsLeasingAct) 30USC181
MaterialsActof1947 30USC601
GeothermalSteamActof1970 30USC1001
GeothermalEnergyActof1980 v 30USC1501
AntiquitiesActof1906 16USC431
HistoricSites,Buildings,andAntiquitiesAct 16USC461
NationalHistoricPreservationAct 16USC470
ArchaeologicalResourcesProtectionActof1979 16USC470aa
ReservoirSalvageActof1960 16USC580m-n
FishandWildlifeCoordinationAct 16USC661
BaldEagleProtectionAct 16USC668
SikesAct 16USC670a
MigratoryBirdTreatyAct 16USC703
MigratoryBirdConservationAct 16USC715
WildernessAct 16USC1131
NationalTrailSystemsAct 16USC1241
WildandScenicRiversAct 16USC1271
ExecutiveOrder11644,UseofOff-RoadVehiclesonthePublicLands(1972)
ExecutiveOrder11989,Off-RoadVehiclesonPublicLands(1977)
WildFree-RoamingHorsesandBurrosAct 16USC1331
CoastalZoneManagementActof1972 16USC1451
EndangeredSpeciesActof1973 16USC1531
SoilandWaterResourcesConservationActof1977 16USC2001
ExecutiveOrder11988,FloodplainManagement(1977)
ExecutiveOrder11990,ProtectionofWetlands(1977)
CoastalBarriersResourcesAct 16USC3501
LandandWaterConservationFundActof1965 16USC4601-4
FederalWaterPollutionControlAct/CleanWaterAct 33USC1251
SafeDrinkingWaterAct 42USC300(f)
AmericanIndianReligiousFreedomAct 42USC1996
ResourceConservationandRecoveryActof1976 42USC6901
CleanAirAct 42USC7401
ComprehensiveEnvironmentalResponse,CompensationandLiabilityActof1980 42USC9601
EmergencyPlanningandCommunityRight-to-KnowActof1986 42USC11001
n$

GuidanceforFormulationofAlternatives
Appendix B. State Director Guidance for the
RIVIP Process
AccordingtoBureauregulationsforpreparingRIVIPs,'liieStateDirectorshallprovidequalitycontrolandsupervisory
review,includingplanapproval,forplansandrelatedenvironmentalimpactstatementsandshallprovideadditional
guidance,asnecessary,forusebyDistrictandAreaManagers.""Guidance"means"anytypeofwritten
communicationsorinstructionsthattransmitsobjectives,goals,constraintsoranyotherdirectionthathelpsDistrictand
AreaManagersandstaffknownowtoprepareaspecificresourcemanagementplan."
EarlyintheprocessofconcurrentlypreparingthisRMPandfiveotherRMPswhichtogethercoverallBLM-administered
landsinwesternOregon,theBLMStateDirectordecidedtodevelopcomprehensiveproceduralguidanceasplanning
criteriatoassureconsistenttreatmentofavarietyofissuesandconcernsinthesixplans. Theintenttodothiswas
conveyedtol<nowninterestedpartiesinamailersentoutbyeachBLMdistrictofficewithplanningresponsibilityon
March27,1987. Suggestionsforcontentofthatguidanceweresolicitedinthemailer.
Therewaslimitedpublicresponse,butthatresponse,alongwithinternalBLMrecommendations,ledtoformulationofa
proposedsetoftopicsforStateDirectorguidance. Amailerdescribingthosetopicsweresenttothepublicforcomment
oPnroApuogsuesdtS1t1at,e19D8i7r.ectUosriGnugifduarntcheer,bwuhtisctihllwlaismitseedntpuobulticfocropmumbelnictsr,evBieLwMbmyoidnitfeireedstietsdlpisatrtoifetsopoincsMsalyigh1t3l,y1a9n8d8.drafted
Althoughlessthanahundredindividualsandgroupsresponded,manyofthecommentsreceivedwerethoughtfuland
constructive,andaddressedtheproposalsindepth. BLMundertookasubstantialrevisionofmanysectionsofthe
proposedguidance. Thisrevisionwasdoneonastaggeredschedule,todistributetheworkloadandprovidetimely
guidancetothedistrictsforeachstepintheprocess.
ThefirstelementoftheguidancecompletedwasGuidanceforthePreparationoftheAnalysisoftheManagement
Situation(AMS). Thisdocumentsummarizesimportantinformationaboutexistingresourceconditions,usesand
demands,aswellasaboutmanagementactivitiesandnaturalrelationships. Itprovidesthebaselineforsubsequent
stepsintheplanningprocess,suchasthedesignofalternativesandanalysisofenvironmentalconsequences. The
AMSalsoprovidesmostofthedatatobesummarizedinthe"affectedenvironment"chapteroftheEIS. TheAMS
guidanceprescribedminimumcontentsandtableformatsfortheAMSforeachplan. Thatguidancewasessentially
completedinOctober1988,andslightlyrevisedduring1989and1990.
AmasterglossaryfortheAMSwaspreparedaspartoftheStateDirectorGuidance. Itwascompletedin1989,andlater
revisedforinclusionineachDraftRMP.
TheGuidanceforFormulationofAlternativeswasessentiallycompletedinOctober1990butunderwentmodestrevision
during1991and1992. Acopyofthefinalversionofthisguidanceisincludedinthisappendix.
Twoothersections.GuidanceforAnalyticalTechniquesNeededtoEstimateEffectsofAlternativesandGuidancefor
UseoftheCompletedPlan,werecompletedinJuly1991,withslightmodificationoftheformerin1992.Descriptionsof
complexanalyticaltechniqueshavebeenappendicizedtodiscussionsoftherelevantanalysesinChapters3and4. The
UseoftheCompletedPlansectionwaswrappedintotheequivalentsectionofChapter2oftheDraftRMP/EIS.
Theoriginaldraftguidancehadtwoothersectionsthatneverbecamefinal.GuidancefortheExecutiveSummarywas
droppedbecausetheStateDirector'sstaffpreparedthatsummary. Guidanceforexpressingconsistencywithplans,
programsandpoliciesofotheragencieswasneverformalized,asBLMstaffworkedwithstateagenciesandcounty
plannersuntiltheDraftRMP/EISswerealmostcomplete,onwaystoexpresssuchconsistency.
AppendixB
GuidanceforFormulationofAlternatives
Guidance for Formulation ofAlternatives
Introduction
Thepurposeofalternativesistoidentifyarangeofreasonablecombinationsofresourceusesandmanagement
practicesthatrespondtoplanningissuesandprovidemanagementdirectionforallresources. Fivecommonalternatives
willbeaddressedineachRMP,toprovideaconsistentsetofdistinctchoicesamongpotentialmanagementstrategies.
Anochangefromtheexistinglanduseplanalternativewillalsobeaddressed. Thisisthe"noaction"alternative. Inthe
otheralternativesallexistinglandusedecisionsnotfoundvalidforcontinuedimplementationafter1990(throughan
analysissummarizedintheAnalysisoftheManagementSituation),willbereconsidered.
CommonalternativesthatidentifyspecificmanagementactionsalongDistrictboundarieswillbeconsistent. Examples
includeelkmanagementareas,spottedowlcorridorsorvisualcorridors.
ThisGuidanceforFormulationofAlternativesmaybemodifiedlaterbasedoninformationidentifiedinthedistricts'
analysesofthemanagementsituation,orrefinementsthatflowfromthedistricts'site-specificdevelopmentofcommon
alternatives.
Goalsand ObjectivesoftheCommonAlternatives
Thepurposeofthegoalandobjectivestatementsforthefivecommonalternatives(AthroughE)istoguidedevelopment
ofspecificcriteria. Eachalternative,ifimplemented,isintendedtoachieveormeetitsgoal. Goalandobjective
statementsfocusongeneraldirectionofalternativesratherthantechnicalpointsinissue-relatedcriteriaforthe
alternatives. Ineachalternativeallresourcemanagementvalueswouldbeaccommodatedtotheextentconsistentwith
theprimarygoalsandobjectivesforthatalternative.
SpecificGuidanceon CommonAlternatives
Thecommonalternativeswoulddifferprimarilyinthewaytheyallocateprimaryusesoflands(forexample,lands
allocatedtointensiveforestmanagement,andlandsallocatedtoprotectionofriparianzones).
Thediscussiononpage4throughpartofpages14and15describescriteriaforaddressingeachoftheelevenplanning
issuesintheformulationofthecommonalternatives. Italsodescribeshowlanduseallocationsandmanagement
actionswouldvaryinresponsetoeachissue. Withinthespecificconstraintsprovidedbytheguidanceforaddressing
eachissue,thedistrictshaveflexibilitytoformulatethecommonalternativesastheyconsiderappropriatetomeetthe
goalsandobjectivesofeachalternative.
AppendixB
AlteiTiativeA AlternativeB
GOALS: Emphasizehighproductionoftimberand Emphasizetimberproductiontocontribute
othereconomicallyimportantvaluesonall tocommunitystabilityconsistentwiththe
landstocontributetocommunitystability. varietyofotherlandusessuchasfishand
wrielsdoliufrecheasbiotnatO,&reCcraeantdioCn,BaWnRdlsacnednsi.cGive
equalconsiderationtoallresourcevalues
onpublicdomainlands.
OBJECTIVES: Prtaoviadmibulecareblotenhefaolhrlihsgauhrievtseatsbtls.eusftoraeisntedlaynidesldloegfally •ProdonodmOuac&ienCalaahnniddgshCwsBhuseWtrRaeinlnaeondndtsyi,iemlabdnedrofoutsniempsbuebarlnidc
•Contributetoecologicalfunctions valuesareoflesserimportancethan
importanttotimberproductivityandto timberproduction.
habitatdiversitytotheextentpossible •Contributetoecologicalfunctions
consistentwiththeallocationfortimber importanttotimberproductivityandto
production. habitatdiversityusingasystemthat
•Managethreatenedandendangered maintainsoldgrowthandmatureforest
specieshabitataslegallyrequired. inlargeandsmallblocks.
•ProvideResearchNaturalAreasand •Protecthabitatofallthreatenedand
eligibleAreasofCriticalEnvironmental endangeredspeciesandspecieswith
Concerntotheextentconsistentwiththe highpotentialforlisting.Protecthabitat
allocationfortimberproduction. ofotherspeciesofsubstantialconcern
•ManageappropriateCongressionally totheextentconsistentwithhightimber
designatedareastomaintainand production.
enhancetheirscenicvalues. •RetainexistingResearchNaturalAreas
•Meetlegalrequirementsforprotectionof (RNAs)andAreasofCritical
wetlandsandwaterquality,toprotect EnvironmentalConcern(ACECs).
anadromousfishhabitatandother Providenewonesfromeligibleareasto
relevantvalues. theextentconsistentwiththeemphasis
•Emdpihspaesriszeedsmuobtsotraintzieadlrdeecvreealtoipoenduasensd. 'Maonnatgiembsecrepnriocdurcetsioounr.cesinselected
•Findnoadditionalriverssuitablefor areasofhighrecreationuse.
designationundertheWildandScenic •Meetlegalrequirementsforprotectionof
RiversAct. wetlandsandwaterqualityandprovide
•MaeknehalnacnedtBeLnMurleoandgj-utsertmmesnutsstawihniecdhyield amondaedrraotmeouadsdiftisihonhaalbiptraott,ecottihoenrfor
timberharvestopportunities. substantialstreams,andotherwater.
•Providenospecialmanagementinrural •Provideforawiderangeofdevelopedand
(residential)interfaceareas. dispersedmotorizedrecreationusesand
opportunities,tominimizeconflicts
amongrecreationusergroups.
•Findeligibleriversegmentssuitablefor
diemspiogrntaatnitoannadsmraencaregaetaibonlael,,aifntdheyare
designationwouldnotcauseadverse
economicimpact.
•MaeknehalnacnedtBeLnMurleoandgj-utsertmmesnutsstawihniecdhyield
tCiBmbWeRrhlaarnvdess,taonpdpowrhtiucnihtibeesneofnitOa&vCariaentdy
ofusesandvaluesonpublicdomain
lands.
•Adoptappropriatespecialforest
managementpracticesonBLM-
administeredlandsintermingledwithor
adjacenttoruralinterfaceareaszoned
formostdenseresidentialoccupancy.
GuidanceforFormulationofAlternatives
AlternativeC AlternativeD AlternativeE
cPmroaoimvnmitudeneniattinymcbesetarobfiplbriiotoydlucocgotinicsoailnstdteionvtecrowsniitttrhyibauntdettohe omEfmapsnphaoagtsetiemzdeenowtplraohtnaedbcitteianotnh,aaannlcdoenrmgeewenisttthaobfloitshhemrent Emsumacpnhhaagasseimdzeiensppteroartsneedcdteinnoonhnamonfoctoeolrmdieerzneftdororefesvctarsleaautneisdon
varietyofotherusessuchasfishand valuessuchasdispersednonmotorized opportunitiesandscenicresources.
wrielsdoliufrecheasbiotnata,ilrelcarnedast.ion,andscenic rreecsroeuartcieosn,owphpiolretusnuisttiaeisnianngdssocmeenitcimber
production.
Produceamoderatesustainedyieldof •Produceasustainedyieldoftimber
timber. •Produceasustainedyieldoftimber consistentwithallocationsforotheruses
Providebiologicaldiversityusingasystem consistentwithallocationsforotheruses andvalues.
thatmaintainssomeoldgrowthand andvalues. •Protectailoldgrowthandoldermature
matureforest,focusingonprotectionof •Protecthabitatofthespottedowlin forests.
areaswherespecialstatusplantand accordancewiththeOwlConservation •Protecthabitatofallthreatenedand
animalspeciescluster. Strategy. endangeredspecies,specieswithhigh
Preontdecatngheabrietdatsopfecaliletsharneadtesnpeedciaensdwith •Preontdecatngheabrietdatsopfecaillest,hrsepaetceineesdwainthdhigh proetleantteidalcofnocrelrinst.ingandspeciesof
highpotentialtorlisting.Protecthabitat potentialforlisting,andspeciesof •RetainallexistingRNAsandACECsand
ReaotmtfhnoarddoiotenuthrogeeahxrttiheessetpmtiepenicxhgmitabeeRsesnNritsoApfcrsooosnnduasubnibscsidtttoaileAnoontCngti.EiacwClaisltch.odinvceerrsinty •RereaPterxralecoiaventcipeodatdnlelswcinehoxdeneiecrwsreeteroidnnln.gaetnosRdpNsfrArmoosvaminadeaenlgidmgeioAdbrCleeEbyaCrsoe.tahsers ••MMaadaprennnosaadtiggegpceenrtaoiaatvlollleindirafediloleprsnaetroaliliimlfagienilebadalvnreidsesscaua.erasneliaacrsn.erdseowsueortuclreacnedssto
Providenewonesfromeligibleareas appropriateopportunities. maintainandimprovewaterqualityand
exceptwherelandsmanagedbyothers •Manageallidentifiedscenicresources. fisherieshabitat,andcontributeto
areconsideredtoprovidemore •Providesubstantialprotectionforwetlands wildlifehabitatdiversity.
appropriateopportunities. andriparianareasalongmoststreams •Emphasizedispersednonmotorized
Maunseagaeresacse,npiacrtriecsuoluarrlcyesemipnhsaesliezcitnegdhigh •Emapnhdaostihzeerwdaitsepre.rsednonmotorized •Fionudtdaloloerlirgeicbrleeartiivoenrospepgomrteunntistiessu.itablefor
protectionincorridorsofexistingand recreationopportunities. designationaswild,scenicor
Prapmoarnvjoaiopddroersotsermuadibolsuwst.isalndftiiasahnldhpasrbicotteaentci,tcioortnihveefrorrsand •Fidrmneeadcsnrieaeglgaintegaiiatobbinloleanler,.iavisfertwhisleedyg,masrecenetnisimcpsoourrittaanbtleanfodr •Mawrnekoocnuertlelidaamtenbidmoenrptaheluansruseirisvezeraeasnd.edjnuvhsaatlmnuecenset.msewnhtiocfh
esunbvsitraonntmiealntsst.reamsandotherwater •Mawlo<uelldaendmptheanusriezeadejnuhsatmnecnetmsewnhtiocfh •Admoapntasgpeecmieanlttipmrbaectrihcaersveexsttenasnidvefloyrest
Proopvpiodretufnoirtiaewsiedmephraasngiezionfgrdeicsrepaetrisoend •Adnoopnttismpbeeciraulsteismbaenrdhvaarlvueesst.andforest bmuofdfeerriantgerourrahliignhtedrefnascietyarreeasisdeznotniaeldfor
use,whilereducingconflictsamong managementpracticesinruralinterface occupancyandotherruralinterface
recreationalusergroups. areaszonedformoderateorhigh areasasappropriate.
Findeligibleriversegmentssuitablefor densityresidentialoccupancy.
designationasscenicorrecreational,if
theyareimportantandmanageable,but
notsuitablefordesignationasscenicif
designationwouldcauseadverse
economicimpact.
Makelandtenureadjustmentstobenefita
varietyofusesandvalues.
Adoptappropriatespecialforest
managementpracticesinruralinterface
areaszonedformoderateorhigh
densityresidentialoccupancy.
AppendixB
AllCommonAlternatives AlternativeA
IPrsascuteicNeos.:1:WhTiicmhbeforrePsrtoldauncdtsisohnouldbe aGluliodcaantecdetfoorinAtllenCsiovmemfoornestAlmtearnnaatgievemse:ntLands Aclolnosciastteenatllwfiotrhestthelamnadnsafgoremtiemnbterdiprreocdtuicotnifoonr
availablefortimbermanagement,andwhat underanyofthesealternativeswouldnormally otherresources(IssueNos.2and3,etc.)in
practicesshouldbeusedonthoselands? providethehighestnondecliningharvestlevel thisalternative,exceptthefollowing:
(evenflow)oftimberwhenthefollowing
c•oEnfdfietcitoinvsepsrielvviaciull:turaltechniques(suchas CNhonasrutisthaoblweinWgooTdPlCaCndcat(eSgeoeriFeisg.)ureB-1for
clearcutting,shelterwoodorpartialcutting)
appropriatetothelandallocationsareused.
•Allfeasiblesitepreparationandintensive
managementpracticesareapplied.
•Anticipatedmerchantabilityistheonly
constraintonminimumaveragestand
diameterslatedforfutureharvest.(Insome
areasthismayresultinharvestoftimber
standsasyoungas40yearsforseveral
decadesduringtheearlytomiddlepartof
thenextcenturyundersomealternatives.)
•Adequatebudgetsareavailabletosupport
theresultanttimbersaleprogramandallied
Intensivemanagementpractices,aswellas
scheduledmonitoringlinkedtothose
activities.
Thecommonalternativesassumethese
practicesandconditionsonthelandsallocated
tointensivetimbermanagement,but
incorporatelessintensivemanagement
practicesonotheravailableforestlandstothe
extentneededtobeconsistentwiththe
allocationofthoselands.
Whereconsistentwiththegoalsandobjectives
ofeachalternative,thefollowingsilvicultural
andharvestpracticeswouldbeimplemented
onlandsallocatedprimarilytotimt)er
management,tomeetmultiplelanduse
objectives:
Minimizeregenerationdelaybyreforesting
harvestedsitesassoonaspractical.Calculate
anempiricalregenerationperiodbasedon
representativestockingsurveyresults,
expectedtimbersalecontractlengthsand
managementobjectives.
Reforestharvestedlandswithindigenous
commercialtreespecies.Emphasiswouldbe
placedonutilizationofgeneticallyimproved
stockinaccordancewitiitheWesternOregon
TreeImprovementplan.
Managetreeseedorchardstoproduce
adequatesuppliesofgeneticallyimproved
seed.
Useavailablesitepreparationandseedling
protectionpractices,includingherbicides,using
anintegratedvegetationmanagement
approach.Emphasizethosetechniquesthat
haveprovedmosteffectiveinassuring
seedlingsurvivalandgrowth.(Actualpractices
willbebasedonsite-specificanalysisfollowing
completionoftheRMP.)
Converttoconifersthoselandsclassifiedas
commercialforestlandspresentlyoccupiedby
grass,hardwoodsandbrush.
8