Draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement for the Bakersfield field office

2011·143.3 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Bakersfield Field Office

BLM LIBRARY
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DOI Control Number: DES 11-39
BLM/CA/ES-2011-016+1793
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The BLM manages more land — 253 million acres — than any other federal agency.
This land, known as the National System ofPublic Lands, is primarily located in 12 '
Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion,
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also administers 700 million acres ofsubsurface mineral estate throughout the
nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the healdi and productivity of
the public lands for the use and enjoyment ofpresent and future generations. The
Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation,
livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving
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natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
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Abstract
Lead Agency: U.S. Department ofthe Interior (DOI), Bureau ofLand Management (BLM)
Type ofAction: Administrative
Jurisdiction: Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kings, Tulare, eastern Fresno, and western
Kern counties, California
Abstract: The Draft Resource Management Plan (RJMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describe
and analyze alternatives for the planning and management ofpublic lands and resources administered by the
BLM, Bakersfield Field Office. The Planning Area is located in central California, and comprises
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approximately 17 million acres ofland. Within the Decision Area, the administers approximately
400,000 acres ofsurface estate and 1.2 million acres offederal mineral estate.
Through this RJMP revision, the BLM is revising the existing plans (1997 Caliente and 1984 Hollister RMPs)
to address the availability ofnew data and policies, emerging issues, and changing circumstances that have
occurred during the 14 plus years since the Record ofDecisions (RODs) for the existing plans were signed.
As part ofthe RMP revision process, the BLM conducted scoping to solicit input from the public and
interested agencies on the nature and extent ofissues and impacts to be addressed in the Draft RMP and
RMP
Draft EIS. Planning issues identified for this revision focus on access to public, travel, recreation and
visitor services, wildlife and special status species, livestock grazing, and energy and minerals management.
To assist the agency decision maker and the public in focusing on appropriate solutions to planning issues, the
Draft EIS considers five alternative RMPs.
Alternative Ais a continuation ofcurrent management (No Action Alternative). Under this alternative, the
BLM would continue to manage the use ofpublic lands and resources under the existing RMPs, as amended.
Alternative B is the BLM’s current Preferred Alternative, which provides for a balance between resource
protection and development. This is not a final agency decision, but instead an indication ofthe agency’s
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preliminary preference that considers the recommendations ofcooperating agencies and specialists and
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reflects the best combination ofdecisions to achieve goals and policies, meet the purpose and need, and
address the key planning issues. Alternative C emphasizes protection ofphysical, biological, and heritage
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resources, while providing for the smallest level ofdevelopment, comparatively. Alternative mimics the
emphasis on protection in alternative C, however, presents a no grazing option to be analyzed. Alternative E
emphasizes resource development, while limiting protective management ofphysical, biological, and heritage
resources.
When completed, the ROD for the RMP willprovide comprehensive long-range decisions for (1) managing
resources in the Bakersfield Field Office and (2) identifying allowable uses on BLM-administered surface and
mineral estate. Comments are accepted for 90 days following the date onwhich the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency publishes the Notice ofAvailability for diis Draft RMP and Draft EIS in the FederalRegister.
Comments may be submitted electronically using the RMP revisionwebsite at: www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield or
via e-mail to [email protected]. Comments may also be submitted bymail to:
Bakersfield Field Office RMP/EIS
3801 Pegasus Drive
Bakersfield, California 93308-6837
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Draft Resource Management Plan
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and
Environmental Impact Statement
for the
Bakersfield Field Office
Volume
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Two
Chapters One, Three
September 2011
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United States Department ofthe Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Bakersfield Field Office
3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308-6837
Dear Reader:
Attached for your review and comment is the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for die California Bureau ofLand Management (BLM),
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Bakersfield Field Office. The prepared this document in accordance widi the National
Environmental PolicyAct of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), implementing regulations, the BLM’s Land Use Planning Handbook (H-
1601-1), and other applicable law and policy.
The Planning Area consists ofabout 17 million acres ofland which includes approximately 400,000
acres of surface lands and 1.2 million acres of federal mineral estate managed by the Bakersfield
Field Office within Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kings, Tulare, eastern Fresno,
and western Kern counties.
When approved, this RMP will replace the 1997 Caliente RMP, and a portion of the 1984 Hollister
RMP, and will guide the management ofpublic lands administered by the Bakersfield Field Office
into the future. The Bakersfield RMP and EIS and supporting information are available on the
project web site at: www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield
The BLM encourages the public to provide information and comments pertaining to the analysis
presented in the Draft RMP and Draft EIS. We are particularly interested in feedback concerning
the adequacy and accuracy ofthe proposed alternatives, the analysis of their respective management
decisions, and any new information that would help the BLM as it develops the plan.
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In developing the Proposed and Final EIS, which is the next phase ofthe planning process,
the decision maker may select various management decisions from each oftire alternatives analyzed
in the Draft RMP and Draft EIS for the purpose ofcreating a management strategy that best meets
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the needs ofthe resources and values in this area under the multiple use and sustained yield
mandate. As a member of the public, your timely comments on the Bakersfield RMP and EIS will
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help formulate the Proposed and Final EIS.
Comments will be accepted for ninety (90) calendar days following the Environmental Protection
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Agency’s (EPA) publication ofits Notice ofAvailability of the Draft and EIS in the Federal
Register. The BLM can best utilize your comments and resource information submissions ifreceived
within the review period.
Comments may be submitted electronically at: [email protected]; or by mail to:
RMP/EIS
Bakersfield Field Office
3801 Pegasus Drive
Bakersfield, California 93308-6837
To facilitate analysis ofcomments and information submitted, we strongly encourage you to submit
comments in an electronic format.
Your review and comments on the content of this document are critical to the success of this
planning effort. Ifyou wish to submit comments on the Draft RMP and Draft EIS, we request that
you make your comments as specific as possible. Comments will be more helpful if they include
suggested changes, sources, or methodologies, and reference to a section or page number.
Comments which contain only opinion or preferences will be considered and included as part ofthe
decision making process, although they will not receive a formal response from die BLM.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you are advised that your entire comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Public meetings to provide an overview of the document, respond to questions, and take public
comments will be announced by local media, website, and/or public mailings at least 15 days in
advance.
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Copies of die Draft and Draft EIS have been sent to affected federal, state, and local
government agencies [include tribal govermnents] and to those persons who indicated that they
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wished to receive a copy. Copies ofthe Draft and Draft EIS are available for public inspection
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at the Bakersfield Field Office and the following location:
Bureau ofLand Management, California State Office
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
Thank you for your continued interest in the Bakersfield RMP and EIS. We appreciate the
information and suggestions you contribute to the planning process. For additional information or
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clarification regarding this document or the planning process, please contact Sue Porter,
Project Manager at (661) 391—6022.
Sincerely,
Timothy Z. Smith
Field Manager, Bakersfield Field Office