2. Description of the Action: The Bureau of Land Management proposes to continue a livestock grazing program for 678,469 acres of public land in the Drewsey ES area of the Burns District. The program consists of implementing 68 Allotment Management Plans (AMPs) on 81 allotments covering 636, 444 acres of public land. Less intensive management is proposed for 43 allotments covering 18,553 acres; 1,680 acres would continue as a driveway; and 21,792 acres would continue with no livestock grazing. Implementation of the proposed action includes allocation of livestock forage to livestock, wild horses, wildlife and watershed; establishment of grazing systems; and struction of range improvements consisting of reservoirs, springs, pipelines, wells, fences, cattle guards, seeding, burning and brush control. 3. Summary of Environmental Impacts: The proposed action would initially reduce livestock grazing by 8,442 AUMS. In the long term, forage production would increase from 79, 167 AUMS to 101,773 AUMS. Erosion would be reduced significantly on 144,000 acres and would either be reduced slightly or not change on approximately 482,500 acres. Water quality would improve somewhat. Range condition would improve significantly on approximately 139,000 acres. No significant change is expected on the remaining 487,500 acres. The annual reproduction of waterfowl would increase from the existing 400 birds to 1,250 birds. Forage for big game animals would increase on 270,000 acres and decrease on 30,000 acres. Fish habitat would improve on 22 miles and remain poor on 10 miles. Hunter days are expected to to increase. Construction of range improvements would cause short-term disturbance of vegetation, soils, wild horses and some wildlife species as well as minor adverse impacts on water quality. Range improvement projects would increase visual contrast. Potential for disturbance of unidentified cultural resources would continue in both the short term and long term. In the short term, 48 permittees would be allocated less animal unit months for grazing, with 9 permittees losing at least 10 percent of their estimated annual livestock forage. (2) Protect Sedimentary Soils and Optimize the Wild Horse Population (4) Implement Only Cost-Effective AMPS (5) Optimize Allocation of Forage to Livestock 6. Date Statement Made Available to EPA and the Public: Draft Statement: May 4, 1979 Final Statement: September 1979 |