Limestone Hills Training Area land withdrawal : final legislative environmental impact statement

2008·140.2 MB·English

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

1
&60b Hrt>
2^3
.m*i
\J2Lp
X003
c. 0.
LimestoneHillsTrainingAreaLandWithdrawal
Final
LegislativeEnvironmentalImpactStatement
April2008
MontanaArmyNationalGuard
FortHarrison
P.O.Box4789
Helena,MT 59604-4789
ButteFieldOffice
BureauofLandManagement
U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior
106NorthParkmont
Butte,MT 5970
C

1 85721
TABLEOFCONTENTS
.0
Copter Page
EXECUTIVESUMMARY
1 PURPOSEANDNEEDFORTHEWITHDRAWALOFTHELHTA I-
1.1 Introduction
1.2 PurposeAndNeed 1.4
1111....2222....3421 ALMIdiamlmnpiidotnraiWrtsyiattnrMhcaidetsrisovaifeownaLHliimsRetesoqrtuyoinorefemHtiehlenlstLsTHrTaiAningAreatoMilitaryMission |I|1-_.584
1.2.5 WithdrawalRequirements |-9
1.2.6 MTARNGTrainingRangeRequirements I-1
1.3 LandWithdrawalProcess 1.15
11..33..21 AApgpelniccyabRleolLesawasndanRdesRpeognuslibaitliiotnises ||._115
2.0 11..54 SDcecoipseioOnfsTThoeBLeegMisaldaetiveEIS I1._2234
1.5.1 RequirementsofNEPA 1-24
1.5.2 AgencyandPublicParticipationintheLegislativeEIS 1-24
1.5.3 OtherEnvironmentalAnalysesandDecisionsRelevantto
theAction |_28
1.6 OtherRegulatoryRequirements I-29
DESCRIPTIONOFPROPOSEDACTIONANDALTERNATIVES 2-1
2.1 ActionsCommontoAlternatives1,2,and3 2-2
2.1.1 WithdrawalTenureandRangeRequirements 2-4
2.1.2 MilitaryLandUse 2-4
2.1.3 NonMilitaryLandUse 2-13
22..11..54 RReosaodusrceStewardship 22--117
2. .6 LHTAWithdrawalBoundary 2-1
2.1.7 Inholdings 2-18
FinalLegislativeEIS 1 LHTALandWithdrawal
April2008
189
TABLEOFCONTENTS(Cont.)
Chapter Page
22..11..89 UPanyemxepnltosdeidnLOiredunoafnTcaexeCslearanceActivities 22--11
—
2.2 AlternativeI ProposedAction 2-20
2.2.1 WithdrawalTenureandRangeRequirements 2-20
2.2.2 MilitaryLandUse 2-20
2.2.3 NonMilitaryLandUse 2-20
2.2.4 ResourceStewardship 2-24
2.2.5 Roads 2-26
2.2.6 LHTAWithdrawalBoundary 2-26
2.2.7 Inholdings 2-26
2.2.8 UXOClearanceActivities 2-27
2.2.9 PaymentsinLieuofTaxes 2-27
2.3 Alternative2 2-28
2.3.1 WithdrawalTenureandRangeRequirements 2-28
2.3.2 MilitaryLandUse 2-28
2.3.3 NonMilitaryLandUse 2-28
22..33..54 RReosaodusrceStewardship 22--335I
2.3.6 LHTAWithdrawalBoundary 2-35
2.3.7 Inholdings 2-35
2.3.8 UXOClearanceActivities 2-35
2.3.9 PaymentsinLieuofTaxes 2-35
—
2.4 Alternative3 PreferredAlternative 2-36
2.4.1 WithdrawalTenureandRangeRequirements 2-36
2.4.2 MilitaryLandUse 2-36
2.4.3 NonMilitaryLandUseandResourceManagement 2-36
2.4.4 ResourceManagementandResponsibilitiesandPractices 2-40
2.4.5 Roads 2-41
2.4.6 LHTAWithdrawalBoundary 2-41
22..44..87 UInXhoOldiCnlgesaranceActivities 22--441
2.4.9 PaymentsinLieuofTaxes 2-41
FinalLegislativeEIS LHTALandWithdrawal
April2008
11 6 11111
TABLEOFCONTENTS(Cont.)
Section Rage
2.5 Alternative4-NoAction 2-42
2.5.1 MilitaryUseTenureandRangeRequirements 2-42
2.5.2 MilitaryLandUse 2-42
2.5.3 NonMilitaryLandUseandResourceManagement 2-43
2.5.4 ResourceStewardship 2-47
2.5.5 Roads 2-48
2.5.6 LHTAWithdrawalBoundary 2-48
2.5.7 Inholdings 2-48
2.5.8 UXOClearanceActivities 2-49
2.5.9 PaymentsinLieuofTaxes 2-50
2.6 AlternativesEliminatedfromFurtherConsideration 2-5
2.6. SelectionCriteria 2-5
2.6.2 AlternativesConsideredbutDismissed 2-52
2.7 SummaryofAlternativesConsideredinDetail 2-6
2.8 OtherPlannedActionsintheRegionofInfluence 2-69
2.8. IronMaskPropertyAcquisition 2-69
2.8.2 BLMButteFieldOfficeResourceManagementPlanRevision 2-71
2.8.3 GraymontMineExpansionandExplorationActivities 2-7
2.8.4 PlannedLowerIndianCreekStreamRestoration 2-72
3.0 AFFECTEDENVIRONMENT 3.
3.1 LocationandLandUse 3.2
3.1.1 LandUseManagementPractices 3-2
3.1.2 MilitaryUseoftheLHTA 3_||
3.1.3 NonmilitaryUse 3-23
3.1.3.1 Grazing 3.23
3.1.3.2Recreation 3.27
3.1.3.3MineralUses 3-27
3.1.3.4FireManagement 3-28
3.1.3.5WeedandPestControl 3-28
3.1.3. AccessandRights-of-Way 3-30
3.1.4 NonmilitaryStructures 3-30
FinalLegislativeEIS iii LHTALandWithdrawal
April2008
11 1
TABLEOFCONTENTS(Cont.)
Section Page
3.1.5 LocalZoning 3.30
33..1..76 PDreovpeelrotpymOewnnterPlsahnisp,anLdeaPsriongg,raamnsdPortoheprosPerdopfeorrtIymApglermeeenmteanttison 3-3I
3.1.8 iRnestehaerVcihciPnirtoyjeocftsthoenLtHheTALHTA 33-.33||
3.2 AirQualityandNoise 3.33
3.2.1 Climate 3.33
3.2.2 ApplicableAirQualityRegulationsandStandards 3-34
3.2.3 CurrentAirQualityintheVicinityoftheLHTA 3-37
3.2.4 Noise 3-41
3.3 Geology,Minerals,andPaleontology 3-48
3.4 SoilResources 3_64
3.4. RegionalSoilSettingandCharacteristics 3-64
3.4.2 LimestoneHillsTrainingAreaSoils 3-66
3.5 WaterResources 3_68
3.5.1 SurfaceWaterOccurrenceandQuality 3-68
3.5.2 GroundwaterOccurrenceandQuality 3-70
3.5.3 Springs 3.75
3.5.4 WaterRightsandWaterUseintheLHTA 3-76
3.6 VegetationandWetlands 3-78
3.6.1 VegetationTypeDescriptions 3-78
3.6.2 RangeCondition 3.88
3.6.3 SpeciesList/RarePlants 3.9
3.6.4 NoxiousWeeds 3,94
3.7 FishandWildlife 3.95
3.7.1 Fish IZZZZZZZIZZZII3-96
3.7.2 Wildlife 3-96
3.7.3 SpecialStatusSpecies 3-100
FinalLegislativeEIS IV LHTALandWithdrawal
April2008
1193
TABLEOFCONTENTS(Cont.)
Section page
3.8 CulturalResources
3.8.1 CulturalOverview 3-102
3.8.2 CulturalResourceManagementwithintheLHTA 3-106
3.8.3 PreviousCulturalResourceInventoriesandPlanningDocuments
PertinenttotheLHTA 3-107
3.8.4 NationalHistoricLandmarkorNationalRegisterProperties
withinorneartheLHTA 3-109
3.8.5 SufficiencyofPreviousCulturalResourceInventories 3-109
3.8.6 NativeAmericanConsultation 3-|||
3.9 SocioeconomicResourcesandEnvironmentalJustice 3-|13
3.9.1 SocioeconomicSetting 3-113
3.9.2 EconomicActivity 3-117
3.9.3 EnvironmentalJustice 3-128
3.9.4 ProtectionofChildren 3-129
3.10 InfrastructureandHazardousMaterials 3-131
3.10.1 TransportationRoutes 3-131
33..1100..32 SUttirluictiteusreasndServices 33.-113332
3.10.4 Rights-of-Way 3-133
3.10.5 HazardousMaterialsManagement 3-134
3.10.6 OrdnanceandExplosivesActivities 3-136
4.0 ENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES 4.|
4.1 LandUse 4-2
4.1.1 EffectsofAlternativeI 4-2
4.1.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4-8
44..11..34 EEffffeeccttssooffAAlltteerrnnaattiivvee43((PNroefAecrtrieodn)Alternative) 44--15
4.2 AirQualityandNoise 4.\9
4.2.1 EffectsofallActionAlternatives(Alternative 1,2,and3) 4-1
4.2.1.1 EffectstoAirQuality 4- 9
4.2.1.2EffectsfromNoise 4-20
FinalLegislativeEIS v LHTALandWithdrawal
April2008
TABLEOFCONTENTS(Cont.)
Section 4.2.2 page
EffectsofAlternative4(NoAction) 4-22
4.3 Geology,Minerals,andPaleontology 4-23
4.3.1 EffectsofAlternative1 4-23
4.3.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4-26
4.3.3 EffectsofAlternative3(PreferredAlternative) 4-27
4.3.4 EffectsofAlternative4(NoAction) 4-27
4.4 SoilResources 4_30
4.4.1 EffectsofAlternative I 4-30
4.4.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4_3|
44..44..34 EEffffeeccttssooffAAlltteerrnnaattiivvee43((PNroefAecrtrieodn)Alternative) 44--33||
4.5 WaterResources 4-32
4.5.1 EffectsofAlternative I 4-32
4.5.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4.33
4.5.3 EffectsofAlternative3(PreferredAlternative) 4-34
4.5.4 EffectsofAlternative4(NoAction) 4.34
4.6 VegetationandWetlandResources 4-36
4.6.1 EffectsofAlternativeI 4.36
4.6.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4.37
4.6.3 EffectsofAlternative3(PreferredAlternative) 4-38
4.6.4 EffectsofAlternative4(NoAction) 4-38
4.7 FishandWildlifeResources 4_40
44..77..21 EEffffeeccttssooffAAlltteerrnnaattiivvee2I 44._4421
4.7.3 EffectsofAlternative3(PreferredAlternative) 4-43
4.7.4 EffectsofAlternative4(NoAction) 4.44
4.8 CulturalResources
4.8.1 EffectsofAlternative I 4.43
4.8.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4-50
FinalLegislativeEIS vi LHTALandWithdrawal
April2008
1 1 11111
TABLEOFCONTENTS(Cont.)
Section
44..88..34 EEffffeeccttssooffAAlltteerrnnaattiivvee43((PNroefAecrtrieodn)Alternative) 44.-551
4.9 SocioeconomicResourcesandEnvironmentalJustice 4.53
4.9.1 EffectsofAlternative1 4.53
4.9.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4.57
4.9.3 EffectsofAlternative3(PreferredAlternative) 4-59
4.9.4 EffectsofAlternative4(NoAction) 4_6
4.10 HazardousMaterialsandItemsofSpecialConcern 4-69
4.10. EffectsofAlternative I 4.^9
4.10.2 EffectsofAlternative2 4.59
4.10.3 EffectsofAlternative3(PreferredAlternative) 4-70
4.10.4 EffectsofAlternative4(NoAction) 4_70
4. 1 MitigationMeasures 4_72
4.12 CumulativeEffects
4.13 ComparisonOfTheEnvironmentalConsequencesOfThe
Alternatives
44..1154 URenlaavtoiiodnasbhilpeBAedtvewreseenESfhfoerctts-TermUsesoftheEnvironmentandthe 4.117
MaintenanceandEnhancementofLong-TermProductivity 4-118
4.16 IrreversibleandIrretrievableCommitmentofResources 4-119
65..00 ARECFREORNEYNCMESSANDGLOSSARY ZZZZZZZ'ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. 56-.
87..00 APGREEPNACRIEERSSAANNDDICNDOINVTIRDIUBAULSTOCROSNSULTED ZZZZZZZZZZ 87--11
9.0 DISTRIBUTIONLIST 9.
April2008
Appendices
AppendixA CurrentRight-of-WayGrant
AppendixB MajorLandAcquisitionWaiverRequest,WaiverApprovalandDraftWithdrawal
Proposal
AppendixC MTARNGTrainingAreaNeedCalculations
AppendixD RangeManualDocuments: RoadGuardLetterofInstruction,FireSuppression
Plan,andRangeDudTrackingForm
AppendixE MineralClaimsStatusunderAlternatives2and3
AppendixF MemorandumofAgreementBetweenBLM,MTARNG,andGraymont
AppendixG CorrespondencewithOtherAgencies
AppendixH LimestoneHillsTrainingVegetation
AppendixI WildlifeSpeciesintheLHTA
AppendixJ IntegratedCulturalResourceManagementPlanUpdateandSummary
AppendixK CulturalResourceStudiesintheLHTA
AppendixL BLMButteFieldOfficeDraftAcquisitionCriteria
FinalLegislativeEIS VIII LHTALandWithdrawal
April2008