BLM LIBRARY 88045293 United States Department of the Interior DRAFT Bureau of Land Management Vernal District Office November 1991 Diamond Mountain Resource Area Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement 1Wfl8>BCTltiiifiii>iui'^^^ STONE HOUSE JARVIE RANCH The Bureau of Land Management isresponsibleforthe stewardship ofourpublic lands. It iscommitted to manage, protect, and improvethese lands in a mannerto serve the needsoftheAmerican peopleforall times. Management isbased on the principlesofmultiple use and sustained yield ofournation'sresourceswithin aframework ofenvironmental and scientifictechnology. These resource include recreation; rangelands; timber; minerals; watershed; fish and wildlife; wilderness; air; and scenic, scientific, and cultural values. & \^T Index NumberBLM-UT-PT-91-031-1610 MHOi O^J^ TAKE United States Department of the Interior PRIDEIN AMERICA BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Vernal District Office 170 South 500 East INREPLYREFERTO: Vernal, Utah 84078 1616.10 Fall 1991 Dear Friend: ThisdraftResourceManagementPlan/Environmental ImpactStatement(RMP/EIS)fortheDiamondMountain Resource Area is presented for your review and comment. This documentanalyzes alternatives for managing public lands in the resource area. These alternatives are designed to guide future management and resolve land management issues that were identified during the early states of the planning process. Wewelcome yourcomments onthecontent ofthis document. We are particularly interested in commentsthataddress one or more of the following: (1) possible flaws in the analysis; (2) new information that would have a bearing on the analysis; and (3) needs for clarification. Specific comments will be most useful. Those comments addressing the adequacy of the draft RMP/EIS will be responded to in the final EIS. In order to be considered in the final ElS/proposed RMP, comments must be received within 90 days of the Federal Register notice of availability. Please keep this copy ofthe draft RMP/EIS, as you may wish to referto it when you review the final document. Copies ofthefinal ElS/proposed RMP will be sentto all those who provide comments on the draft RMP/EIS or requestacopy. All written comments should be sent to: Penelope Smalley, Team Leader Bureau of Land Management Vernal District 170 South 500 East Vernal, UT 84078 An open house and tours of the various areas of interest described in the draft RMP/EIS will be scheduled soon after you receive this document. We will send you notification of the exact dates. % Sincerely, David E. Little District Manager fy%yj&M% DIAMOND MOUNTAIN RESOURCE AREA DRAFT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PLAN Prepared by Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Vernal District Fall 1991 District Manager ate Director Vernal District ah State Office ) ) DIAMOND MOUNTAIN RESOURCE AREA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PLAN Draft (X) Final ( The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management 1. Type of Action: Administrative (X) Legislative ( 2. Abstract: This Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement describes and analyses the impactsoffive alternativesfor managing the public lands in the Diamond Mountain ResourceArea. The alternatives provide management of all resources. Areas of Environmental Concern and Wild and Scenic Rivers are also recommended. Alternative E is BLM's preferred alternative. 3. Comments are requested from all interested and/or affected agencies, organizations and individuals. Comments must be received within 90 days of the Federal Register notice of availability. 4. For further information contact: Penelope Smalley, Team Leader Bureau of Land Management Vernal District 170 South 500 East Vernal, UT 84078 (801) 789-1362 Summary HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT groupings differ under each alternative, the management objectives for each grouping are quite similar across the alternatives: PUBLIC REVIEW LEVEL 1 identifies those lands requiring the most This draftResource ManagementPlan and Environmental restrictive management. These lands would generally be Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) documents the process by closedto all activities exceptthose specificallydevised to whichthe Diamond Mountain ResourceArea (DMRA) has enhance those values which placed the area in level 1. evaluatedalternativemanagementplansand identifiedthe preferred plan. As a member of the public affected by LEVEL 2 identifies those lands that under the subject this choice, your review will help the resource area to alternative require careful management. These lands incorporate your concerns into the final RMP/EIS. Your would be open to activities that do notdetractfrom those comments will be most effective if they clearly point out values which placed the area in level 2. areas where you wish to add information critical to the analysis process but has notbeen included, orwhere you LEVEL 3 identifies those lands that under the subject feel information is incorrectly stated, or where you alternative require active management. These lands disagree with conclusions (please include your reasons would be open to most activities which may be for favoring a different conclusion). constrained somewhat to protect those values which placed the lands in level 3. LEVEL 4 identifies those lands that under the subject Itiscriticalthatthereaderunderstandthe alternativerequire open management. These landswould management priority concept; it is the be open to all legal uses and activities. foundation ofthis RMP/EIS. Specific management prescriptionswerethen matchedto the management level for each alternative; all of the alternatives are compatible with the multiple use THE MANAGEMENT PRIORITY AREA management directives ofthe BLM, but give emphasis to CONCEPT different resources. Please refertothefive alternative maps in the mappacket The Diamond Mountain RMP/EIS is based on the to view the graphic descriptions of management priority concept of management priority areas. It is critical that area assignments under each alternative. the reader understand the management priority concept; it isthefoundation ofthis RMP/EIS. First, the capabilities Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and of the land are evaluated in a resource inventory. Then other special emphasis areas were also developed using objectivesforalternative resource management plansare the management priority area concept. The most devised based on issues, management concerns, and important, significant features and resources which merit scoping aswell asanalysisof managementopportunities. special management consistent with each alternative, Based on these alternatives' objectives, lands are placed were mapped. These areas were then combined, where into one of four geographic groupings where similar possible, and exterior boundaries were drawn. In this managementwould be applied. Althoughthe geographic Summary respect the Diamond Mountain Resource Management This chapter describes the planning process and lists the Plan may differ from previous RMPs in that the ACECs issues developed by discussions with those affected by within DMRA are not covering a singie high quality the RMP. The plan deals primarily with these concerns. resource value, but in most cases cover multiple high Criteria by which the alternatives were evaluated are also quality resource values. Thus management prescriptions listed in this section. were established by alternative to handle multiple use management for each ACEC relating directly to the Chapter 2. Alternatives management levelsoutlined above. WithinoneACEC,for example, there could be three different levels of This chapter gives a detailed description ofthe proposed managementfrom strictprotection toopen management. management under each of five alternatives. There are two sets of alternatives: areawide alternatives and In general, the specific management prescriptions for alternatives for each of the special emphasis areas (as resource values and uses within the ACEC are the same they apply to each plan alternative). as management objectives outside the ACEC. However, to enhance or protect the combination of high value A preferred alternative is identified andthe rationalefor its resources within these areas, some further specific identification is listed. This chapter is the heart of the refinements and/or clarifications were necessary. These resource management plan. The reader should spend refinements may have included additional timing time studying the alternatives, especially the preferred restrictions, or closures to specific uses (for example, alternative. OHV, mineral entry, or agricultural leasing). Further clarifications deal with the extent and/or type of Chapter 3. Affected Environment vegetationtreatments, mitigationmeasurestoensurehigh quality visual resources, etc. This chapter describes the Diamond Mountain Resource Dividing the resource area into different management Areaand its resources asthey presentlyexistand asthey priority areas makes it possible to anticipate types of relate to the alternatives presented. Refer to the resource development in any particular area. An oil and Management Situation Analysis (MSA) for a detailed gas operator, for example, will know where oil and gas discussion of the resources and current management development will have the least restrictions and where programs within the resource area. (A copy of the MSA more restriction would be required for development. is available for review in the Vernal District Office). Utility companies can look at the planning map and determine where a right-of-way will encounter the fewest Chapter 4. Environmental Consequences restrictions. Areas where range or wildlife improvements can occur with the least threat of later conflict with other Thischapteranalyzesthe changesthat mayoccur ifeach resource development will be easily determined. By alternative were implemented, and attempts to assign the inviting the public, resource users, and local, state, and relative significance of each change, both beneficial and other federal agencies to participate in this planning adverse. Theanalysisisarea-wide, notmanagement-area process, BLM hasgiven interested partiestheopportunity specific, although it does focus on important site-specific to participate in the land-use planning procedure. The impacts in each special emphasis area. This chapter is Diamond Mountain Resource Management Plan will be the heart of the environmental impact analysis. The the guiding influence for management decisions until reader should check the information presented and add amended or rewritten. anything that was overlooked that may change the conclusions. HOW THE DIAMOND MOUNTAIN RMP/EIS IS ORGANIZED Chapter 5. Consultation and Coordination This section of the RMP/EIS gives a brief description of This chapter lists the agencies, organizations, and the entire document. This is a good place to start your individuals who were consulted during the development review and get an overall view of the RMP/EIS. The of this document. Also included is a list of individuals resources and programs are arranged alphabetically contributing to this document and their qualifications. within this document. Appendices Chapter Purpose and Need 1. These sections contain additional information you may need to understand the RMP/EIS. Summary Glossary, References, and Index Whencompleted,theDiamondMountainRMPwill provide acomprehensiveframeworkformanaging publiclandand These sections are provided to aid the reader in finding allocating resources in the resource area during the next and understanding the material contained in this fifteen or more years. However, this RMP/EIS document document. is primarily focused on three broad issues and the decisions needed to address each issue. The broad Map Packet issues involve the managementof natural resources such as vegetation, soils, and watershed; special emphasis areas including wild and scenic rivers and ACECs; and The large maps in the map packet depict important resource uses such as minerals, woodlands, and lands. aspects ofthe RMP/EIS. The management priorityareas are mapped for each alternative along with the special Five alternatives were considered in this document. One emphasis areas associated with each alternative. The represents "no action" which means a continuation of status of all lands within the resource area are displayed currentmanagementdirection. Theotherfouralternatives on the ownership map. Grazing allotments and major provide a range of choices from those emphasizing roads are displayed on a separate map. environmental guardianship to those emphasizing resource uses. ALTERNATIVES The preferred alternative incorporates portions of the This draft Diamond Mountain RMP and EIS addresses otherfouralternatives and generally representsa balance future management options for approximately 709,000 between environmental guardianship and resource use. surface acres and 854,000 total acres of federal mineral The management actions, resource allocations, and estate administered by the Bureau of Land Management environmental consequences characterizing each (BLM) through its Diamond Mountain Resource Area alternative are summarized in Chapter 2, pages 2.15 (DMRA) office in Vernal, Utah. through 2.32. Although the exterior boundary of DMRA encompasses some 3.8 million acres of land in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah (portion) Countiesofnortheastern Utah,81 percent of these lands are owned or managed by other entities, namely the Ashley National Forest and the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation (see Chapter 1). in Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land. All ethics so far evolved rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts. His instincts prompt him to competefor his place in that community, but his ethics prompt him also to co- operate (perhaps in order that there may be a place to competefor). The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries ofthe community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land. A land ethic, then, reflects the existence ofan ecological conscience, and this in turn reflects a conviction of individual responsibilityfor the health of the land. Health is the capacity ofthe landfor self-renewal. Conservation is our effort to understand and preserve this capacity. - Aldo Leopold in A Sand County Almanac