Mancos-Gallup Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement

269 Pages·2015·5.53 MB·English

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U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

Farmington Field Office

Mancos-Gallup Resource Management Plan

Amendment

and
Environmental Imp act Statement
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Assessment of the Man agement Situation • F
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March 2 015 m
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Bureau of Land Management

Farmington Fie ld Office

6251 College Boulevard

Farmington, New Mexico 87402

505-564-7600
It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the
public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Mancos-Gallup RMPA/EIS Analysis of the Management Situation Table of Contents
Mancos-Gallup RMPA/EIS
Analysis of the Management Situation
Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Purpose of the Analysis of Management Situation ....................................................... 1-1
1.3 General Description of the Planning Area, Geographic Scope, and Resources
and Programs ................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.4 Key Findings ................................................................................................................. 1-5
Chapter 2. Area Profile, Current Management Direction, and Management Opportunities .................. 2-1
2.1 Resources ..................................................................................................................... 2-1
2.1.1 Regional Context ............................................................................................. 2-1
2.1.2 Air Resources ................................................................................................... 2-2
2.1.3 Soil Resources ............................................................................................... 2-16
2.1.4 Geology .......................................................................................................... 2-23
2.1.5 Water Resources ........................................................................................... 2-25
2.1.6 Riparian Areas and Wetlands ........................................................................ 2-42
2.1.7 Forestry .......................................................................................................... 2-48
2.1.8 Upland Vegetation ......................................................................................... 2-53
2.1.9 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species ........................................................... 2-59
2.1.10 Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................. 2-65
2.1.11 Special Status Species .................................................................................. 2-77
2.1.12 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics Outside Existing Wilderness
Study Areas .................................................................................................... 2-85
2.1.13 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................ 2-87
2.1.14 Paleontological Resources ............................................................................ 2-97
2.1.15 Visual Resources ......................................................................................... 2-102
2.2 Resource Uses .......................................................................................................... 2-108
2.2.1 Minerals ........................................................................................................ 2-108
2.2.2 Lands and Realty ......................................................................................... 2-117
2.2.3 Transportation and Travel Management ...................................................... 2-122
2.2.4 Recreation .................................................................................................... 2-125
2.3 Special Designations................................................................................................. 2-131
2.3.1 Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas .......................................... 2-131
2.3.2 National Historic Trails ................................................................................. 2-134
2.3.3 Special Designation Areas ........................................................................... 2-136
2.4 Social and Economic Features ................................................................................. 2-136
2.4.1 Native American Tribal Interests and Uses ................................................. 2-136
2.4.2 Social and Economic Features .................................................................... 2-138
2.4.3 Environmental Justice .................................................................................. 2-170
2.4.4 Public Health and Safety .............................................................................. 2-173
Chapter 3. Consistency/ Coordination with Other Plans ....................................................................... 3-1
3.1 Consistency and Coordination with Other Plans .......................................................... 3-1
Chapter 4. List of Preparers .................................................................................................................. 4-1
4.1 List of Preparers ............................................................................................................ 4-1
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Chapter 5. References .......................................................................................................................... 5-1
5.1 References .................................................................................................................... 5-1

List of Tables
1-1 Preliminary Planning Issues ....................................................................................................... 1-6
1-2 Planning Issues Identified in External Scoping .......................................................................... 1-8
2-1 National and New Mexico Ambient Air Quality Standards ......................................................... 2-3
2-2 Air Quality Monitoring Values in San Juan County, New Mexico .............................................. 2-5
2-3 Summary of 2011 Annual Emissions for San Juan, McKinley, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval
Counties (Tons) .......................................................................................................................... 2-6
2-4 Average Temperatures and Precipitation in the Planning Area (1981-2010) .......................... 2-11
2-5 Summary of 2011 Annual Reported GHG Emissions by Source Category ............................. 2-12
2-6 Noise Levels Associated with Oil and Gas Activity .................................................................. 2-15
2-7 Acres of Soils Susceptible to Erosion ...................................................................................... 2-18
2-8 Acres of Soils by Slope Gradient ............................................................................................. 2-19
2-9 Acres of Corrosive Soils ........................................................................................................... 2-19
2-10 Acres of Farmlands .................................................................................................................. 2-19
2-11 Watersheds in the Planning Area ............................................................................................ 2-29
2-12 Impaired Water Quality by Watershed ..................................................................................... 2-34
2-13 Riparian Areas in the Planning Area ........................................................................................ 2-43
2-14 Woodland Product Sales.......................................................................................................... 2-48
2-15 Acres of Forest Woodland Community Types ......................................................................... 2-49
2-16 Vegetation Type by Vegetation Condition Class (Acres) ......................................................... 2-50
2-17 Acres of Plant Community Types on Federal Mineral Estate in the Analysis Area ................. 2-54
2-18 New Mexico Noxious Weeds ................................................................................................... 2-62
2-19 Noxious Weeds Inventoried in the Planning Area ................................................................... 2-63
2-20 Native Fish Species of the San Juan River Basin ................................................................... 2-68
2-21 Nonnative Fish Species of the San Juan River Basin ............................................................. 2-69
2-22 New Mexico PIF Priority Species and USFWS BCC in the FFO ............................................. 2-71
2-23 Federally Listed, Proposed, and Candidate Species and Critical Habitat that Occur or
Potentially Occur in McKinley, Rio Arriba, San Juan, and Sandoval Counties ........................ 2-78
2-24 BLM Sensitive and FFO Special Management Status Species that Occur in the
Planning Area ........................................................................................................................... 2-80
2-25 Archaeological Periods and Default Date Ranges ................................................................... 2-87
2-26 Management Concerns by Potential Fossil Yield Classification .............................................. 2-98
2-27 Paleontological Areas Identified for Management ................................................................. 2-101
2-28 Visual Resource Inventory Component Distribution .............................................................. 2-104
2-29 Visual Resource Management Classes ................................................................................. 2-108
2-30 Locations of Permitted Salable Mineral Operations in the Planning Area ............................. 2-115
2-31 Surface Landownership in the Planning Area ........................................................................ 2-117
2-32 Recreation Areas in the FFO ................................................................................................. 2-127
2-33 Study Area Population and Density (2000-2012) .................................................................. 2-142
2-34 Study Area Population Centers (2012 estimate) ................................................................... 2-142
2-35 Study Area Population Totals (1980-2012) ............................................................................ 2-143
2-36 Study Area Population Projections (2015-2030) .................................................................... 2-144
2-37 Study Area Place of Birth (2012) ........................................................................................... 2-144
2-38 Study Area Age of Population (2012) .................................................................................... 2-145
2-39 Study Area Language Spoken at Home (2008-2012) ............................................................ 2-146
2-40 Study Area Educational Attainment for Population 25 Years and Older (2008-2012) ........... 2-147
2-41 Study Area Crime Rates (2005) ............................................................................................. 2-147
2-42 Socioeconomic Study Area Household Characteristics (2000 to 2012 Comparison) ........... 2-148
2-43 Study Area Income Distribution (2000 to 2012 Comparison) ................................................ 2-149
2-44 Study Area Labor and Nonlabor Income (2012) .................................................................... 2-150
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2-45 Study Area Income Inflow and Outflow (2012) ...................................................................... 2-151
2-46 Study Area Employment Status from 2008 to 2012 (Population 16 Years and Over) ........... 2-152
2-47 Study Area Annual Unemployment Rate by County (2002-2012) ......................................... 2-153
2-48 Study Area Employment Characteristics (2008-2012) ........................................................... 2-153
2-49 Average Annual Wages by Industry (2012) ........................................................................... 2-155
2-50 Average Annual Pay (2002, 2012) ......................................................................................... 2-155
2-51 Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 Enrollment for School Year 2012-2013 ........................ 2-156
2-52 Major Components of General Fund Revenue, 2009-2013 ................................................... 2-158
2-53 Gross Receipts Tax Revenue, 2009-2012 ............................................................................. 2-159
2-54 Property Tax Obligations, 2012 ............................................................................................. 2-159
2-55 Socioeconomic Study Area PILT (Fiscal Year 2013) ............................................................. 2-159
2-56 Direct and Indirect Economic Impacts in New Mexico Supported by the BLM’s
Management of Public Lands (Fiscal Year 2012; in Millions of Dollars ................................. 2-160
2-57 Direct and Indirect Jobs in New Mexico Supported by the BLM’s Management of
Public Lands (Fiscal Year 2012) ............................................................................................ 2-160
2-58 Summary of FFO Revenue Collected 2009-2013 .................................................................. 2-161
2-59 Wood Product Harvest in the FFO (2012) ............................................................................. 2-161
2-60 Oil and Gas Production in Study Area Counties in New Mexico (2013) ................................ 2-162
2-61 New Mexico Oil and Gas Tax Distribution (in Millions of Dollars) .......................................... 2-163
2-62 Socioeconomic Study Area Royalty Disbursement ............................................................... 2-163
2-63 Summary of Payments to State and Local Governemtns from Oil and Gas
Operations (2013) .................................................................................................................. 2-164
2-64 Farmington Field Office ROW Receipts (2009-2013) ............................................................ 2-165
2-65 Economic Impacts of Tourism ................................................................................................ 2-166
2-66 Special Recreation Permit Receipts ...................................................................................... 2-166
2-67 Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Watching in New Mexico (2011) ............................................ 2-167
2-68 Summary of Socioeconomic Study Area Agriculture (2007) .................................................. 2-167
2-69 Study Area County Population in Poverty (2002-2012) ......................................................... 2-172
2-70 Study Area County Population by Race/Ethnicity (2012) ...................................................... 2-172
2-71 Study Area Key Community Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Data .............................................. 2-173

List of Figures
1-1 Planning Area and Field Office Surface Administration ............................................................. 1-3
1-2 Federal Mineral Estate ............................................................................................................... 1-4
2-1 Lakes, Rivers, and Streams ..................................................................................................... 2-27
2-2 Hydrologic Unit Code Level 8 Watersheds .............................................................................. 2-28
2-3 Vegetation Condition Class ...................................................................................................... 2-52
2-4 Vegetation Communities .......................................................................................................... 2-55
2-5 Weed Infestations .................................................................................................................... 2-61
2-6 Potential Fossil Yield Classification ......................................................................................... 2-99
2-7 Visual Resource Inventory ..................................................................................................... 2-105
2-8 Visual Resource Management ............................................................................................... 2-107
2-9 Federal and Tribal Oil and Gas Leases ................................................................................. 2-110
2-10 Oil and Gas Leasing Allocations ............................................................................................ 2-111
2-11 Coal ........................................................................................................................................ 2-112
2-12 Salable Minerals ..................................................................................................................... 2-116
2-13 Right-of-Way Exclusion and Avoidance Areas ...................................................................... 2-121
2-14 Off Highway Vehicle Area Designations ................................................................................ 2-126
2-15 Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas ............................................................................... 2-133
2-16 National Historic Trails ........................................................................................................... 2-135

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Appendix
Appendix A, Current Management A-1

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Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary

µg/m3 micrograms per cubic meter

ACEC area of critical environmental concern
AML Abandoned Mine Lands (Program)
AMS analysis of management situation
AO Authorized Officer
APD application for permit to drill
AQRV air quality-related value
ATV all-terrain vehicle
AUM animal unit month

BCC Birds of Conservation Concern
BEA Bureau of Economic Analysis
BLM United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
BMP best management practice

CBM coal bed methane
CEQ Council on Environmental Quality
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
cfs cubic feet per second
COA condition of approval
CWA Clean Water Act

dBA A-weighted decibels

EIS environmental impact statement
EO executive order
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency
ERA ecological risk assessment
ESA Endangered Species Act

FAR functioning at risk
FEIS final environmental impact statement
FFO Farmington Field Office
FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
Forest Service United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
FRCC fire regime condition class

GHG greenhouse gas
GIS geographic information system
GPS global positioning systemGRT
gross receipts tax

HUC hydrologic unit code

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

maf million acre-feet
MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Actmg/L
milligrams per liter
MOU memorandum of understanding
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS (continued) Full Phrase

NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality StandardsNEPA
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
NF nonfunctioning
NHT National Historic Trails
NHPA National Historic Preservation Act
NMAC New Mexico Administrative Code
NMAQB New Mexico Air Quality Board
NMED New Mexico Environment Department
NMDA New Mexico Department of Agriculture
NMDGF New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
NMMNHS New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
NMWQCC New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission
NOAA National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRHP National Register of Historic Places
NTL notice to lessee
NVCS National Vegetation Classification System

OHV off-highway vehicle
ORV off-road vehicle

PFC proper functioning condition
PFYC potential fossil yield classification
PIF Partners in Flight
PM particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter
10
PM particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter
2.5
ppb parts per billion
ppm parts per millionPRMP
proposed resource management plan
PSD prevention of significant deterioration

R&PP Act Recreation and Public Purposes Act
REA rapid ecoregional assessment
RFD reasonable foreseeable development scenario
RNA research natural area
RMPA resource management plan amendment
ROD record of decision
ROW right-of-way

SDA Specially Designated Area
SMA Special Management Area
SRMA Special Recreation Management Area
SWQB Surface Water Quality Bureau (New Mexico)

T&E threatened and endangered species
TCP traditional cultural property
TDS total dissolved solidsTMDL
total maximum daily load

USACE US Army Corps of Engineers
USBR United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
USC United States CodeUSFWS
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS (continued) Full Phrase

USGS US Geological Survey
UTV utility trail vehicle

VRI visual resource inventory
VRM visual resource management

WA wilderness area
WQCC Water Quality Control Commission (Colorado)
WRCC Western Regional Climate CenterWSA
wilderness study area

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