HD 5H3 ,6jl u-n- ^0(5 West Mojave Route Network Project Draft California Desert Conservation Plan Amendment and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the California Desert District _ January 2015 BUV rary BDideen.,1 „v's;Center P.C - '0226 Den land,knownastheNationalSystemofPublicLands,isprimarilylocatedin12Western States,includingAlaska.TheBureau,withabudgetofabout$1billion,alsoadministers 700millionacresofsubsurfacemineralestatethroughoutthenation.TheBLM's multiple-usemissionistosustainthehealthandproductivityofthepubliclandsforthe useandenjoymentofpresentandfuturegenerations.TheBureauaccomplishesthisby managingsuchactivitiesasoutdoorrecreation,livestockgrazing,mineral development,andenergyproduction,andbyconservingnatural,historical,cultural, andotherresourcesonpubliclands. BLM/CA/PL-2015/003+1793 UnitedStatesDepartmentoftheInterior BUREAUOFLANDMANAGEMENT CaliforniaDesertDistrictOffice 22835CalleSanJuanDeLosLagos MorenoValley,CA92553 INREPLYREFERTO: 1610(LLCAD080.21)P January,2015 DearReader: AttachedforyourreviewandcommentistheWestMojaveRouteNetworkProject(WMRNP) andDraftSupplementalEnvironmentalImpactStatement(SEIS),CaliforniaDesertDistrict. ThroughthisResourceManagementPlanAmendment,theBLMisamendingthe1980 CaliforniaDesertConservationArea(CDCA)Plan,asamended. TheWMRNPspecifically amendsthedecisionsinthe2006WestMojave(WEMO)PlanAmendmenttotheCDCAPlan fortheplanningandmanagementofatransportationandtravelnetworkandlivestockgrazing onpubliclandswithintheWestMojavePlanningArea. TheBureauofLandManagement (BLM)haspreparedthisdocumentinaccordancewiththeNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct (NEPA),asamended,theFederalLandPolicyandManagementActof1976(FLPMA), implementingregulations,theBLM’sLandUsePlanningHandbook(H1601-1),andother applicablelawandpolicy. TheWestMojavePlanningAreaislocatedinsouthernCalifornia,inthenorthwesternthirdof theCDCA,andcomprisesapproximately9.4millionacresofland. WithinthePlanningArea, theBLMadministersapproximately3.1millionacresofpubliclands. TheWMRNPalsoincludesimplementation-leveldecisions,includingatransportationand travelnetworkwhichdesignatesspecificroutesoftravelintheplanningarea,andrelated implementationstrategies. Whenapproved,theWMRNPwillsupplementthe2006West MojavePlanandwillguidethemanagementoftransportationandtravelmanagementinthe WestMojavePlanningAreaintothefuture. TheWMRNPandDraftSEISandsupporting informationareavailableontheprojectwebsiteat: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/west moiave wemo.html. TheBLMencouragesthepublictoprovideinformationandcommentspertainingtothe analysispresentedintheDraftSEIS. Weareparticularlyinterestedinfeedbackconcerningthe alternatives,associatedgoalsandobjectives,adequacyandaccuracyoftheanalysis,andany newinformationthatwouldhelptheBLMasitdevelopsitsplananddecision. Ifyouwishto submitcommentsontheWMRNPandDraftSEIS,werequestthatyoumakeyourcommentsas specificaspossible. Commentswillbemorehelpfuliftheyincludesuggestedchanges, sources,ormethodologies,andreferencetoasectionorpagenumber. Commentswillbeacceptedforninety(90)daysfollowingtheEnvironmentalProtection Agency’s(EPA)publicationofitsNoticeofAvailabilityintheFederalRegister. TheBLMcan bestutilizeyourcommentsandresourceinformationsubmissionsifreceivedwithinthereview o period. Commentsmaybesubmittedelectronicallyat:[email protected]. Commentsmayalsobe submittedbymailto: CaliforniaDesertDistrict,Attn:WMRNPPlanAmendment,22835Calle SanJuandeLosLagos,MorenoValley,CA92553. Tofacilitateanalysisofcommentsand informationsubmitted,weencourageyoutosubmitcommentsinanelectronicformat. IndevelopingtheFinalSEISandCDCAPlanAmendment,whichisthenextphaseofthe planningprocess,thedecisionmakermayselectvariouscomponentsfromamongthe alternativesanalyzedintheDraftSEISforthepurposeofcreatingamanagementstrategythat bestmeetstheneedsoftheresourcesandvaluesundertheBLMmultiple-useandsustained yieldmandate. Asamemberofthepublic,yourtimelycommentsontheWMRNPandDraft SEISwillhelpformulatetheFinalSEISandCDCAPlanAmendment. Commentswhich containonlyopinionorpreferenceswillbeconsideredandincludedaspartofthedecision makingprocess,althoughtheywillnotreceiveaformalresponsefromtheBLM. Beforeincludingyouraddress,phonenumber,emailaddress,orotherpersonalidentifying informationinyourcomment,beadvisedthatyourentirecomment-includingyourpersonal identifyinginformation-maybemadepubliclyavailableatanytime. Whileyoucanrequestto withholdyourpersonalidentifyinginformationfrompublicreview,BLMcannotguaranteethat wewillbeabletodoso. Publicmeetingstoprovideanoverviewofthedocument,respondtoquestions,andtakepublic commentswillbeannouncedbythelocalmedia,website,and/orpublicmailingsatleast15 daysinadvance. CopiesoftheDraftSEIShavebeensenttoaffectedFederal,state,andlocal governmentagencies. CopiesoftheWMRNPandDraftSEISareavailableforpublic inspectionattheBLMCaliforniaDesertDistrictOfficeandallBLMFieldOfficeswithinthe CaliforniaDesertDistrict. Copiesarealsoavailableforpublicinspectionatthefollowinglocallibrarylocations: KernCountyLibrary,RidgecrestBranch,131ELasFloresAve,Ridgecrest,CA; KernCountyLibrary,CaliforniaCityBranch,9507CaliforniaCityBlvd,CaliforniaCity; SanBernardinoCountyLibrary,5709829PalmsHighway,YuccaValley,CA; VictorvilleCityLibrary,15011CircleDrive,Victorville,CA; SanBernardinoCountyLibrary,777EastRialtoAvenue,SanBernardino,CA. ThankyouforyourcontinuedinterestintheWMRNP. Weappreciatetheinformationand suggestionsyoucontributetotheplanningprocess. Foradditionalinformationorclarification regardingthisdocumentortheplanningprocess,pleasecontactEdySeehafer,WestMojave ProjectManager,BarstowFieldOffice,760-252-6021orCraigBeck,AssistantWestMojave ProjectManager,RidgecrestFieldOffice,760-384-5440. Sincerely, 9 TeresaA.Rami DistrictManager,CaliforniaDesert Abstract LeadAgency:U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior(DOI),BureauofLandManagement(BLM) TypeofAction:Administrative Jurisdiction:SanBernardino,Inyo,Kern,Riverside,andLosAngelesCounties,California Abstract:TheDraftWestMojaveRouteNetworkProject(WMRNP)andSupplementalEnvironmental Impact Statement (SEIS) describe and analyze alternatives forthe planning and management ofa transportationandtravelnetworkandlivestockgrazingonpubliclandsandresourceswithintheWest MojavePlanningArea,administeredbytheBLM,CaliforniaDesertDistrictOffice.TheWestMojave (WEMO)PlanningAreaislocatedinsouthernCalifornia,inthenorthwesternthirdoftheCalifornia DesertConservationArea(CDCA),andcomprisesapproximately9.4millionacresofland.Withinthe DecisionArea,theBLMadministersapproximately3.1millionacresofpubliclands. ThroughthisResourceManagementPlan(RMP)Amendment,theBLMisamendingthe 1980CDCA Plan,asamended. TheWMRNPPlanAmendmentspecificallyamendsthedecisionsinthe2006West MojavePlanAmendmenttotheCDCAPlan. Itaddressesspecificissuesraisedinafederalcourtpartial remandofthe2006WEMOPlanandtoconsidernewdataandpolicies,emergingissues,andchanging circumstancesthathaveoccurredsincethe2006WEMOPlanRecordofDecisionwassigned. Many aspectsofthe2006WEMOPlan,developedasahabitatconservationplantoaddresssensitivespecies management,werekeptinplace.AspartoftheRMPamendmentprocess,theBLMconductedscopingto solicitinputfromthepublicandinterestedagenciesonthenatureandextentofissuesandimpactstobe addressedintheDraftRMPAmendmentandDraftSEIS.PlanningissuesidentifiedforthisWMRNP RMP Plan Amendment focus on transportation access for the public, commercial users, residents, associatedrecreationaluse,accessimpactsonsensitiveresources,andlivestockgrazingmanagement withintheWEMOPlanningArea. TheWMRNPalsoincludesimplementation-leveldecisions,includingatransportationandtravelnetwork whichdesignatesspecificroutesoftravelintheWEMOPlanningArea,andrelatedimplementation strategies. Toassisttheagencydecisionmakerandthepublicinfocusingonappropriatesolutionstoplanning issues,theDraftEISconsidersfouralternatives. ThesealternativesincludebothPlanAmendmentand implementationactions. Alternative1isacontinuationofcurrentmanagement(NoActionAlternative).Underthisalternative, theBLMwouldcontinuetomanagetheuseofandaccesstopubliclandsandresources,including livestock grazing, under the existing 2006 WEMO Plan, as amended. Alternative 2 emphasizes protectionofphysical,biological,andheritageresources,whileprovidingforthesmallesttransportation andtravel network focused on through-access, and the most limitedacreage and forage allocation dedicatedtolivestockgrazing,comparatively.Alternative3istheBLM’sPreferredAlternative,and providesforthemostextensivetransportationandtravelnetworkfocusedonenhancedrecreationaland touringopportunitiesandabalancedlivestockgrazingprogramwithmodestacreageandforageallocation reductions. Alternative4limitschangestothe2006WEMOPlantorespondtocommunity-identified enhancementsandCourtissues,withtheleastamountofchangestothetransportationandtravelnetwork andlimitedreductionstotheacreagesandforageallocationsdedicatedtolivestockgrazing. When completed, the ROD forthe RMP Plan Amendmentwill provide comprehensive long-range decisionsfor(1)managingtransportationandtravelmanagementresourcesintheWestMojavePlanning Areaand(2)identifyingallowablelivestockgrazingmanagementusesonBLM-administeredpublic lands.Commentsareacceptedfor90daysfollowingthedateonwhichtheU.S.EnvironmentalProtection AgencypublishestheNoticeofAvailabilityforthisDraftPlanAmendmentandDraftSEIS inthe FederalRegister.CommentsmaybesubmittedelectronicallyusingtheWMRNPrevisionwebsiteat: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/west_mojave wemo.html or via e-mail to [email protected]. Commentsmayalsobesubmittedbymailto: CaliforniaDesertDistrict,Attn:WMRNPPlanAmendment,22835CalleSanJuandeLosLagos,Moreno Valley,CA92553 1 31 WestMojave(WEMO)RouteNetworkProject SupplementalEnvironmentalImpactStatement TableofContents EXECUTIVESUMMARY ES-1 ES.l Introduction ES-1 ES.2 SupplementalEISGoals ES-6 ES.3 Alternatives ES-9 CHAPTERONE-INTRODUCTION 1-1 1.1 OverviewoftheEnvironmentalImpactStatement 1-1 1.1.1 SiteLocationandDescription 1- 1.1.2 CDCAPlanandWEMOPlanBackground 1-2 1.1.3 CourtActions 1-4 1.1.4 RouteInventoryfortheWMRNP 1-5 1.2 PurposeandNeed 1-6 1.3 NEPAProcess 1-10 1.3.1 NoticeofIntent 1-10 1.3.2 EISScoping 1-11 1.3.3 DesertAdvisoryCouncilSubgroup 1-12 1.4 PlanningIssues 1-12 1.5 PlanningCriteria ..1-13 1.6 RelationshiptoOtherStatutes,Regulations,andPolicies 1-15 1.6.1 F1.e6d.e1r.a1l OtherBLMPrograms ...11--1155 1.6.1.2 U.S.FishandWildlifeService 1-16 1.6.2 RelationshiptoAdjacentandOverlappingJurisdictions 1-18 1.6.2. BorderingJurisdictions 1-18 1.7 CoordinationandConsultation 1-22 1.8 OrganizationoftheDraftPlanandSEIS 1-24 1.9 CourtIssuesAddressedintheSEIS 1-25 CHAPTERTWO-ALTERNATIVES 2-1 2.1 DLeacnids-iUosnesPtolabneMMaandaegement,CDCAPlanAmendment,andImplementation 2-4 2.1.1 BackgroundtoLand-UsePlan-LevelDecisions 2-4 2.1.2 PlanningDecisions 2-5 2.1.3 Implementation-LevelDecisions 2-12 2.1.4 ProcessforDevelopmentofTransportationNetworkAlternatives 2-1 2.2 Land-UsePlanningAlternatives 2-34 2.2.1 Land-UsePlanning(LUP)Goals 2-34 2.2.2 Alternative1:NoActionLUP-LevelGoals,Objectives,and Strategies 2-36 2.2.3 Alternative2: ResourceConservationEnhancementLUP-Level Goals,Objectives,andStrategies 2-38 i 8 westmojave(WEMO)RoutenetworkProject SupplementalEnvironmentalImpactStatement 2.2.4 Alternative3:PublicLandsAccessLUP-LevelGoals,Objectives, andStrategies 2-39 2.2.5 Alternative4:CommunityAccessEnhancementLUPGoalsand Objectives 2-41 2.3 DescriptionofRouteNetworkandNetworkImplementationAlternatives 2-43 2.3.1 TheUseofthe“Baseline”intheDevelopmentofAlternatives 2-43 2.3.2 Alternative1:NoAction 2-44 2.3.3 Alternative2:ResourceConservationEnhancement 2-55 2.3.4 Alternative3:PublicLandsAccessMaintenance 2-65 2.3.5 Alternative4:CommunityAccessEnhancement 2-76 2.4 ComparisonofAlternatives 2-86 2.5 AlternativesConsideredbutEliminatedfromDetailedEvaluation 2-93 2.6 ModifyingthePlan 2-94 CHAPTERTHREE-AFFECTEDENVIRONMENT 3.1-1 3.1 AnalysisoftheManagementSituation 3.1-1 3.1.1 CurrentManagementDirection 3.1-2 3333....1111....1111....4132 C2PLoe0Dsg0itC6sWAlWaEtPEilMoManOnOanCdPhlaPaonnlgiecsietsoVehicleAccessManagement 33..3311..--1111--5572 3.1.1.5 WOtEheMrOReDceenvtelPooplmiecyntasndPlanning-RelatedPost2006 3.1-19 3.1.2 AreaProfile 3.1-21 3.1.2.1 Resources 3.1-21 3.1.2.2 LandUses 3.1-23 3.1.2.3 SocialandEconomicConditions 3.1-23 3.2 AirQuality 3.2-1 3.2.1 Climate 3.2-1 3.2.2 AirQualityRegulatoryFramework 3.2-3 3.2.2.1 FederalOversight 3.2-3 3.2.2.2 StateRegulation 3.2-4 3.2.3 AirQualityStandards 3.2-5 3.2.4 ExistingAirQuality 3.2-8 3.2.5 AirQualityMonitoring 3.2-13 3.2.6 SensitiveReceptorsandResidences 3.2-15 3.2.7 ClimateChange 3.2-15 3.2.7.1 GreenhouseGases 3.2-16 3.2.7.2 ForecastsofImpactsofClimateChangeintheLocal LandscapeandEcology 3.2-1 3.3 Geology,Soils,andWater 3.3-1 3.3.1 GeologyandSoils 3.3-1 3.3.2 WaterResources 3.3-8 3.3.2.1 Groundwater 3.3-10 3.3.2.2 SurfaceWater 3.3-11 3.4 BiologicalResources 3.4-1 ii 11 WestMojave(WEMO)routeNetworkProject SupplementalEnvironmentalImpactStatement 3.4.1 NaturalCommunities 3.4-1 3.4.2 UnusualPlantAssemblages 3.4-2 3.4.3 SpecialStatusSpecies 3.4-3 3.4.3.1 Plants 3.4-3 3.4.3.2 WildlifeSpecies 3.4-57 3.4.3.2.1 Mammals 3.4-62 3.4.3.2.2 Birds 3.4-68 3.4.3.2.3 Reptiles ....3.4-79 3.5 SocioeconomicsandEnvironmentalJustice 3.5-1 3.5.1 RegionalEconomicProfile 3.5-1 3.5.2 EconomicContributionofTourismandRecreation 3.5-9 3.5.3 EnvironmentalJustice 3.5-14 33..55..33..21 RMiengourliattyorayndFrLaomwe-wIonrckomePopulationsintheWEMO 3.5-14 PlanningArea 3.5-16 3.6 RecreationActivities 3.6-1 3.6.1 PatternsofUse 3.6-1 3.6.2 Trends 3.6-20 33..66..22..21 GTerneenrdaslinReOcrHeVatiUosneTrends 33..66--2200 3.6.3 Off-HighwayVehicleUse 3.6-32 33..66..33..21 DDrriivviinnggOOHHVVsstfoorARceccersesatOitohnerRecreation 33..66--3352 3.6.4 Non-MotorizedUse(MechanizedandNon-Mechanized) 3.6-36 3.6.5 Facilities,Improvements,andSpecialUses 3.6-37 3.6.6 RecreationSafety 3.6-38 3.7 Grazing 3.7-1 3.7.1 GrazingAllotments 3.7-1 3.7.2 MotorizedAccesstoAllotmentsandRangeImprovements 3.7-3 3.8 EnergyProduction,UtilityCorridors,andOtherLandUses 3.8-1 3.8.1 GeneralLandUsesAffectedbyTransportationNetwork 3.8-1 3.8.2 LandUsesWithinWEMOPlanningArea 3.8-2 3.9 CulturalResources 3.9- 3.9.1 DefinitionoftheAPE 3.9-1 3.9.2 RegulatorySetting 3.9-2 3.9.2.1 Federal 3.9-2 3.9.2.2 State 3.9-6 3.9.3 Background 3.9-7 3.9.3.1 RegionalOverview 3.9-7 3.9.3.2 IdentifiedResources 3.9-17 3.9.3.3 MethodologytoIncreaseInformation 3.9-3 3.10 VisualResources 3.10-1 3.10.1 VisualResourceManagementSystem 3.10-1 3.10.2 CurrentConditionsandGeneralVisualSetting 3.10-2 3.10.3 VisualResourceInventoryClasses 3.10-3 3.10.4 Characterization 3.10-3 3.11 SpecialDesignations 3.11-1 iii 7 WestMojave(WEMO)RouteNetworkProject SupplementalEnvironmentalImpactStatement 3.11.1 Wilderness 3.11-1 3.11.2 LandsInventoriedforWildernessCharacteristics 3.11-4 3.11.3 AreasofCriticalEnvironmentalConcernandDesertWildlife ManagementAreas 3.11-8 333...111111...333...132 ANDCeWEwMCAAsCsDEeCDsesisgiDngeanstaietgdendPartiienodrthiteno2t2h00e006260WW06EEWMMEOOMPPlOlaannPlan 333...111111---112080 3.11.4 EligibleWildandScenicRiver 3.11-21 3.12 Noise * 3.12-1 3.12.1 GeneralInformationonNoise 3.12-1 3.12.2 NoiseMeasurement 3.12-2 3.12.3 TypicalSoundLevels 3.12-3 3.12.4 WEMOPlanningAreaAmbientNoiseConditions 3.12-5 3.12.5 NoiseRegulationsandStandards 3.12-8 3.13 TravelandTransportationManagementNetwork 3.13-1 3.13.1 RelationshiptoOtherPlanElements 3.13-1 3.13.2 ModesofTravelandAccessPoints 3.13-1 3.13.2.1 TransportationMethods 3.13-1 3.13.2.1.1 MotorizedTravel 3.13-2 3.13.2.1.2 MechanizedTravel 3.13-4 3.13.2.1.3 Non-MechanizedTransportation 3.13-5 3.13.2.2 WestMojavePlanningAreaRoads 3.13-6 3.13.3 TravelandTransportationInventoryUpdate 3.13-8 3.13.4 CharacterizationandTrends 3.13-9 CHAPTERFOUR-ENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES 4.1-1 4.1 Introduction 4.1-1 4.1.1 DecisionsBeingAnalyzed 4.1-1 4.1.2 AnalysisMethodology 4.1-2 4.1.3 AssumptionsforAnalysis 4.1-4 4.1.4 SummaryofAlternatives 4.1-8 4.1.4.1 Alternative1-NoActionAlternative 4.1-12 4.1.4.2 Alternative2-ResourceConservationEnhancement 4.1-16 4.1.4.3 Alternative3-PublicLandsAccessMaintenance 4.1-19 4.1.4.4 Alternative4-CommunityAccessEnhancement 4.1-21 4.2 AirQuality 4.2-1 4.2.1 AirEmissions 4.2-1 4.2.1.1 Introduction 4.2-1 4.2.1.2 ImpactsCommontoAllAlternatives 4.2-2 4.2.1.3 ImpactsAssociatedwiththeNoActionAlternative 4.2-7 4.2.1.4 ImpactsAssociatedwithAlternative2 4.2-10 4.2.1.5 ImpactsAssociatedwithAlternative3 4.2-14 4.2.1.6 ImpactsAssociatedwithAlternative4 4.2-1 4.2.2 ClimateChange 4.2-19 44..22..22..21 IInmtpraocdtusctCioonmmontoAllAlternatives 44..22--1290 9 IV