Eastern Interior : proposed resource management plan and final environmental impact statement

2016·38.1 MB·English

U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
1 88074209 "W- •
Eastern Inta erior
July 2016
Proposed Resource Management Plan
and Final Environmental Impact Statement
Volume 1: Chapters 1-3
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The Bureau of Land Management Today
Our Vision
To enhance the quality of life for all citizens through the balanced
stewardship of America’s public lands and resources.
Our Mission
To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands
for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
orary
Denver Federal Center
8Jdg. 50, OC-521
pO. Box 25047
Denver, CO 80225
BLM/AK/PL-16/006+1610+F0200
BLM Cover Photos:
1. Alpenglow on the White Mountains, Beaver Creek Wild and
Scenic River, Alaska.
2. Steele Creek Roadhouse, Fortymile Wild and Scenic River,
Alaska.
3. Dali Sheep at mineral lick near Lime Peak, White
Mountains National Recreation Area, Alaska.
4. Mining operation on Walker Fork in Fortymile mining
district, Alaska.
Eastern Interior
Proposed Resource Management Plan
and Final Environmental Impact Statement
Volume 1
Abstract
Executive Summary
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Alternatives
Chapter 3: Affected Environment
Prepared by the
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management-Alaska
Eastern Interior Field Office
July 2016

in
Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS
Table of Contents
xxxiii
Dear Reader
xxxvii
Abstract
xxxix
Executive Summary
xxxix
Introduction .
xxxix
Purpose and Need.
. xl
Issues .
. xl
Alternatives .
.... xli
Alternative A .
... xlii
Alternative B .
... xlii
Alternative C .
Alternative D as Modified by the Supplement to the Draft RMP ... .. xliii
.. xliv
Alternative E (Proposed RMP) .
... xlv
Summary of Alternatives Table.
.. xlvi
Environmental Consequences .
. xlvii
Public Involvement .
xlviii
Summary of Changes from Draft to Final.
xlviii
Changes to Agency Preferred Alternative.
Other Changes Requiring Addition of Supplementary Information .liii
.liv
Minor Changes .
. lv
Summary of Additional Maps, Tables, and Figures.
1. Introduction
1
1.1. How to Read This Chapter.
1
1.2. Background.
2
1.3. Purpose and Need for the Plan.
2
1.4. Planning Area Description.
5
1.4.1. Fortymile Subunit .
5
1.4.2. Steese Subunit.
5
1.4.3. Upper Black River Subunit ...
6
1.4.4. White Mountains Subunit .
7
1.5. Scoping Issues.
7
1.5.1. Issues Addressed.
7
1.5.1.1. Climate Change.
8
1.5.1.2. Soil Resources.
8
1.5.1.3. Water Quality .
8
1.5.1.4. Fisheries Management
G
1.5.1.5. Wildlife Management \
O
1.5.1.6. Subsistence. '.
O
1.5.1.7. Minerals Management n

O
1.5.1.8. Travel Management ...

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June 2016
IV Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS
1.5.1.9. Recreation and Visitor Services . 10
1.5.1.10. Rights-of-Way Management. 10
1.5.1.11. Wilderness Characteristics . 10
1.5.2. Issues Considered, But Not Analyzed Further. 10
1.6. Planning Criteria . 11
1.7. Relationship to BLM Plans. 12
1.8. Collaboration. 13
1.9. Related Plans. 13
1.10. Policy and Legislation. 13
2. Alternatives. 17
2.1. How to Read This Chapter. 19
2.2. General Description of Alternatives . 19
2.2.1. Alternative A - No Action Alternative. 19
2.2.2. Alternative B . 20
2.2.3. Alternative C. 21
2.2.4. Alternative D. 22
2.2.5. Alternative E (Proposed RMP) . 22
2.2.6. Summary of Alternatives Table .. 24
2.3. Alternatives Considered but Not Analyzed in Detail . 30
2.3.1. Livestock Grazing. 30
2.3.2. Recommending Wilderness Designation by Congress . 30
2.4. Alternative Considered in Supplemental EIS . 30
2.5. ANILCA Access . 31
2.6. Management Common to All Subunits and All Action Alternatives . 33
2.6.1. Mitigation. 33
2.6.2. Resources . 34
2.6.2.1. Air and Atmospheric Values . 34
2.6.2.2. Cultural Resources . 35
2.6.2.3. Fish and Aquatic Species . 36
2.6.2.4. Non-Native Invasive Species . 42
2.6.2.5. Paleontological Resources . 43
2.6.2.6. Soil Resources. 44
2.62.1. Special Status Species. 45
2.6.2.8. Vegetative Communities . 46
2.6.2.9. Visual Resources. 48
2.6.2.10. Water Resources. 49
2.6.2.11. Wilderness Characteristics . 51
2.6.2.12. Wildland Fire Ecology and Management . 52
2.6.2.13. Wildlife . 54
2.6.3. Resource Uses. 57
2.6.3.1. Forest and Woodland Products . 57
2.6.3.2. Land Tenure . 57
2.6.3.3. Land Use Authorizations . 60
2.6.3.4. Renewable Energy . 62
2.6.3.5. Minerals . 63
2.6.3.6. Recreation . 66
2.6.3.7. Travel Management . 72
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Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS
2.6.3.8. Withdrawals . 73
2.6.4. Special Designations. 74
2.6.4.1. Wild and Scenic Rivers. 74
2.6.5. Social and Economic. 75
2.6.5.1. Hazardous Materials . 75
2.6.52. Subsistence. 76
2.7. Fortymile Subunit . 77
2.7.1. Alternative A: No Action Alternative. 77
2.7.1.1. Resources . 77
2.7.1.2. Resource Uses. 79
2.7.1.3. Special Designations. 81
2.7.2. Action Alternatives: Fortymile Subunit . 82
2.7.2.1. Alternative B: Fortymile Subunit. 82
2.7.2.2. Alternative C: Fortymile Subunit. 92
2.7.2.3. Alternative D: Fortymile Subunit . 100
2.7.2.4. Alternative E (Proposed RMP): Fortymile Subunit. 109
2.7.3. Comparison of Alternatives: Fortymile Subunit . 122
2.8. Steese Subunit. 139
2.8.1. Alternative A: No Action Alternative. 129
2.8.1.1. Resources . 139
2.8.1.2. Resource Uses. 132
2.8.1.3. Special Designations. 136
2.8.1.4. Subsistence. 136
2.8.2. Action Alternatives Steese Subunit . 136
2.8.2.1. Alternative B: Steese Subunit . 137
2.8.2.2. Alternative C: Steese Subunit . 149
2.8.2.3. Alternative D: Steese Subunit. 161
2.8.2.4. Alternative E (Proposed RMP): Steese Subunit . 172
2.8.3. Comparison of Alternatives: Steese Subunit. 183
2.9. Upper Black River Subunit. 192
2.9.1. Alternative A: No Action Alternative. 192
2.9.2. Action Alternatives: Upper Black River Subunit . 192
2.9.2.1. Alternative B: Upper Black River Subunit . 192
2.9.2.2. Alternative C: Upper Black River Subunit . 199
2.9.2.3. Alternative D: Upper Black River Subunit. 204
2.9.2.4. Alternative E (Proposed RMP): Upper Black River Subunit . 208
2.9.3. Comparison of Alternatives: Upper Black River Subunit. 215
2.10. White Mountains Subunit . 320
2.10.1. Alternative A: No Action Alternative. 220
2.10.1.1. Resources . 320
2.10.1.2. Resource Uses . 323
2.10.1.3. Special Designations . 227
2.10.1.4. Subsistence. 327
2.10.2. Action Alternatives White Mountains Subunit. 228
2.10.2.1. Alternative B: White Mountains Subunit . 228
2.10.2.2. Alternative C: White Mountains Subunit . 241
2.10.2.3. Alternative D: White Mountains Subunit . 252
2.10.2.4. Alternative E (Proposed RMP): White Mountains Subunit. 263
2.10.3. Comparison of Alternatives: White Mountains. 274
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VI Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS
2.11. Comparison of Impacts . 283
2.11.1. Impacts Common to All Subunits. 283
2.11.2. Comparison of Impacts Fortymile Subunit. 298
2.11.3. Comparison of Impacts Steese Subunit . 313
2.11.4. Comparison of Impacts Upper Black River Subunit . 330
2.11.5. Comparison of Impacts White Mountains Subunit. 337
3. Affected Environment . 351
3.1. How to Read This Chapter. 353
3.2. Resources . 353
3.2.1. Air and Atmospheric Values . 353
3.2.1.1. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 353
3.2.1.2. Climate and Meteorology . 365
3.2.1.3. Climate Change. 371
3.2.2. Cave and Karst Resources . 378
3.2.2.1. Laws, Regulations, and Policies . 378
3.2.2.2. Significant Caves . 378
3.2.3. Cultural and Paleontological Resources . 379
3.2.3.1. Regional Prehistory. 379
3.2.3.2. Regional History . 381
3.2.3.3. Known Sites . 384
3.2.3.4. Paleontological Resources . 387
3.2.4. Fish and Wildlife. 388
3.2.4.1. Fish. 388
3.2.4.2. Wildlife . 392
3.2.5. Non-Native Invasive Species. 405
3.2.6. Soil Resources. 407
3.2.7. Special Status Species. 408
3.2.7.1. Introduction. 408
3.2.7.2. Animals . 409
3.2.7.3. Plants. 413
3.2.8. Vegetative Communities . 418
3.2.8.1. Ecoregions. 418
3.2.8.2. Community Distribution and Composition. 418
3.2.8.3. Wildland Fire and Vegetation . 420
3.2.8.4. Current Condition and Trends. 420
3.2.9. Visual Resources. 422
3.2.9.1. Current Management Practices . 422
3.2.9.2. Visual Resource Inventory. 423
3.2.9.3. Current Conditions. 424
3.2.9.4. Trends. 425
3.2.10. Water Resources. 426
3.2.11. Wilderness Characteristics . 430
3.2.11.1. Fortymile Subunit . 431
3.2.11.2. Steese Subunit. 431
3.2.11.3. Upper Black River Subunit . 433
3.2.11.4. White Mountains Subunit . 433
3.2.12. Wildland Fire Ecology and Management . 434
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3.2.12.1. Fire Occurrence. 434
3.2.12.2. Fire Regime Condition Class . 435
3.2.12.3. Fire Behavior ... 437
3.2.12.4. Fire Policy. 438
3.2.12.5. Fuels Management. 440
3.2.12.6. Smoke Management. 440
3.2.12.7. Fire Prevention. 441
3.3. Resource Uses.441
3.3.1. Forest and Woodland Products . 441
3.3.1.1. Current Level and Location of Use. 441
3.3.1.2. Anticipated Demand for Use . 441
3.3.2. Land Tenure . 442
3.3.2.1. Disposal Actions . 442
3.3.2.2. Acquisitions . 443
3.3.2.3. Exchanges . 443
3.3.3. Land Use Authorizations . 443
3.3.3.1. Unauthorized Use or Trespass . 444
3.3.3.2. Access Corridors. 444
3.3.4. Minerals . 445
3.3.4.1. Leasable Minerals . 445
3.3.4.2. Locatable Minerals. 448
3.3.4.3. Salable Minerals. 451
3.3.5. Recreation . 452
3.3.5.1. Fortymile Subunit . 452
3.3.5.2. Steese Subunit. 455
3.3.5.3. Upper Black River Subunit. 458
3.3.5.4. White Mountains Subunit . 458
3.3.6. Renewable Energy . 461
3.3.6.1. Wind Resources . 462
3.3.6.2. Biomass. 463
3.3.7. Travel Management . 463
3.3.7.1. Fortymile Subunit . 463
3.3.7.2. Steese Subunit. 466
3.3.7.3. Upper Black River Subunit. 469
3.3.7.4. White Mountains Subunit . 470
3.3.8. Withdrawals . 472
3.3.8.1. ANCSA and ANILCA Withdrawals. 472
3.3.8.2. Other Withdrawals . 475
3.4. Special Designations. 477
3.4.1. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. 477
3.4.1.1. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. 477
3.4.1.2. Research Natural Areas. 478
3.4.2. Pinnell Mountain National Recreation Trail . 482
3.4.3. Steese National Conservation Area . 482
3.4.4. White Mountains National Recreation Area. 482
3.4.5. Wild and Scenic Rivers. 483
3.4.5.1. Designated Rivers . 483
3.4.5.2. Eligible and Suitable Rivers. 485
3.5. Social and Economic. 486
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viii Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS
3.5.1. Public Safety . 486
3.5.1.1. Abandoned Mines . 486
3.5.1.2. Hazardous Materials . 487
3.5.2. Social and Economic Conditions . 490
3.5.2.1. Economics. 490
3.5.2.2. Environmental Justice. 497
3.5.2.3. Sociocultural Systems. 500
3.5.3. Subsistence. 506
3.5.3.1. Federal Subsistence Management Program. 506
3.5.3.2. Subsistence Harvest Levels. 507
3.5.3.3. Subsistence Use Patterns. 508
3.5.3.4. Non-Market Values of Subsistence Resources and Activities . 514
4. Environmental Consequences. 515
4.1. How to Read This Chapter. 517
4.2. Introduction. 517
4.2.1. Analytical Assumptions . 517
4.2.1.1. General Assumptions . 518
4.2.1.2. Resource Assumptions.:. 519
4.2.1.3. Resource Use Assumptions. 522
4.2.1.4. Special Designation Assumptions. 530
4.2.1.5. Social and Economic Assumptions. 531
4.2.2. Types of Effects . 532
4.2.3. Incomplete or Unavailable Information. 532
4.2.4. Cumulative Effects. 533
4.2.4.1. Activities Considered in the Cumulative Case . 533
4.2.4.2. Past and Present Land Use and Activities. 533
4.2.4.3. Reasonably Foreseeable Future Land Use and Actions. 537
4.2.4.4. Actions Not Considered in the Cumulative Case . 541
4.3. Impacts Common to All Subunits. 541
4.3.1. Resources . 541
4.3.1.1. Air and Atmospheric Values . 541
4.3.1.2. Cave and Karst Resources . 550
4.3.1.3. Cultural and Paleontological Resources . 551
4.3.1.4. Fish and Aquatic Species . 555
4.3.1.5. Non-Native Invasive Species. 573
4.3.1.6. Soil and Water Resources . 577
4.3.1.7. Special Status Species. 589
4.3.1.8. Vegetative Communities . 592
4.3.1.9. Visual Resources . 603
4.3.1.10. Wilderness Characteristics. 613
4.3.1.11. Wildland Fire Ecology and Management. 617
4.3.1.12. Wildlife . 618
4.3.2. Resource Uses. 642
4.3.2.1. Forest and Woodland Products . 642
4.3.2.2. Land and Realty Actions. 648
4.3.2.3. Fluid Leasable Minerals. 651
4.3.2.4. Solid Leasable Minerals. 655
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