2021 Final Report Table of Contents Agency Oversight………… ………………. ……………..………3 Advocacy and Education…. ………………. ………………..……16 ATV/OHV/Mountain Bikes. ………………. ………………..……19 Fisheries…………………... ………………. ……………..………21 Livestock Grazing………… ………………. ……………..………25 Mining……………………. ………………. ……………..………31 Oil and Gas………………... ………………. ……………..………37 Timber……………………. ………………. ……………..………39 Watersheds………………... ………………. ……………..………49 Wildlife…………………… ………………. ……………..………52 Other……………………… ………………. ……………..………57 2 AGENCY OVERSIGHT Status Yellowstone to Uintas Connection (Y2U) continues to participate in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by submitting science-based comments on many Forest Service (FS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decisions. Y2U also provides feedback on agency monitoring protocol and works towards creative solutions to help these underfunded agencies accomplish their stated conservation and restoration goals. During 2020, Y2U submitted comments on fourteen (14) Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments and Categorical Exclusions for proposed projects occurring in the Ashley, Bridger-Teton, Caribou-Targhee, Flathead, Manti-La Sal and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests. The proposed projects included ATV/OHV trails, logging, mountain bike trails, mining, stream rehabilitation and vegetation treatments. During FY2020 we submitted comments on a Forest Plan Revision for the Ashley National Forest. We also submitted comments on twenty (20) proposed federal policy and rule changes and four (4) sets of comments on proposed wildlife action including introducing non-native mountain goats into the Mt. Naomi wilderness area in the Logan Ranger District of the Wasatch NF. During 2020, Y2U filed eight (8) Objections/Protests to FS and BLM public land management decisions in the Bridger-Teton, Caribou-Targhee, and Manti La Sal National Forests including, one regarding a federal land exchange for a phosphate mine in Southeast Idaho, one regarding proposed range improvements, three on proposed logging and vegetation management projects and one regarding the use of heavy equipment to rebuild a dam in the wilderness. 3 Y2U also filed three (3) Notices of Intent (NOI) to litigate public land management decisions by the US Forest Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service during FY20. One regarding the authorization of the killing of 72 Grizzly bears in the Wind River Range of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, one regarding a proposed natural gas pipeline that is routed through Idaho Roadless Areas and Wilderness Study Areas in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and one regarding a Forest Service decision log and burn 49,000 acres of critical and linkage habitat for Canada Lynx and Grizzly Bear. On March 31st , 2020, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, and Western Watersheds Project, filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service for the 2019 decision to allow 72 federally-protected grizzly bears to be killed for the sake of public lands livestock grazing operations in the Upper Green River area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. To view the comments, the Notice of Intent, or the Complaint, please visit our web page at the following link: https://www.yellowstoneuintas.org/issues/science/item/124-crow-creek-pipeline-project On April 20th, 2020, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and the U.S. Forest Service to stop the Forest Service's decision to allow construction of the Crow Creek pipeline through six National Forest Inventoried Roadless Areas in southeast Idaho. To view the comments, the Notice of Intent or the Complaint please visit our web page here. On December 8th, 2020, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and the U.S. Forest Service to stop the Forest Service’s decision to log and burn approximately 49,000 acres in the Caribou zone of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. To view the comments, the Notice of Intent or the Complaint please visit our web page at the following link: https://www.yellowstoneuintas.org/issues/science/item/133-middle-henry-s-fork-aspen-enhancement- project On January 19th, 2021, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection, the Center For Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians, Western Watersheds Project, and Rocky Mountain Wild filed a lawsuit for declaratory and injunctive relief to challenge Federal Defendants’ unlawful approval of nine Resource Management Plans (“RMP”) and related projects, which govern the management of more than 6.5 million acres of public lands and minerals, because Defendant William Perry Pendley’s exercise of the duties of Acting Director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) was unlawful under the Appointments Clause, U.S. Const. art. 2, § 2, cl. 2; the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. §§ 3345 et seq. (“FVRA” or “Act”); and the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 701 et seq. (“APA”). This includes the Dairy Syncline phosphate mining project. To view the complaint, see our web page at the following link: https://www.yellowstoneuintas.org/issues/science/item/123-simplot-company-s- proposed-dairy-syncline-mine Y2U also currently has a legal review in process for the Dairy Syncline phosphate mine owned by the J.R. Simplot Company. We intend to litigate the lack of cumulative impact analysis and the lack of analysis of the phosphate mining industry’s impact on the overall function and health of the Yellowstone to Uintas Wildlife Corridor. 4 Work Plan ● Continue to submit comments on Environmental Assessments (EA), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Categorical Exclusions (CE) and other stages of the land management decision- making process. ● Continue to file Objections on Final Decisions issued by these agencies when the issues identified for each proposed project are not satisfactorily addressed. ● Continue to pursue and support litigation when objection resolution is not reached for these proposed projects. ● Continue to submit letters to legislators and other policy and rule makers within the federal and state agencies. ● Continue to submit comments to wildlife management agencies regarding management decisions including introduction of non-native species. ● Continue following up with agency staff as projects develop, and when possible, attend site visits where both agency staff and Y2U staff can discuss project purposes and objectives. Expected Outcome Y2U will continue to be the voice for wildlife and habitat connectivity throughout the Corridor. We will continue to advocate for the use of sound science in land management decisions and when necessary, we will support litigation efforts to oppose projects that are projected to have a negative impact on wildlife and habitat. January 27, 2021 Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis and Development of Guidelines for Protected Areas Status On April 14th, 2021, Yellowstone to Uintas Connection as well as an additional 30 conservation organizations throughout the country as well as individuals submitted comments regarding the Protection of 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 in accordance with the January 27, 2021 Executive Order. These comments are science-based and provide on the ground examples of current Forest Service management that is causing loss of carbon sequestration and destruction of soils, streams, wildlife habitats, wildlife corridors, and biodiversity. These outcomes are in opposition to the desired outcomes of the Executive Order and require major changes in current Forest Service and other public lands management if the stated goals are to be achieved. Other public lands such as National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, National Monuments, and Bureau of Land Management managed lands also do not meet sufficient criteria to be deemed "protected" as they are subject to many of the same damaging practices delineated in our comments about the National Forests. These practices include, but are not limited to logging, thinning, prescribed fire, sagebrush and juniper removal, excessive road density and off-road vehicle use, livestock grazing and other extractive uses. These are causing loss in carbon storage, increasing carbon emissions and exacerbating climate change. We note that Federal managed public lands account for about 30% of the land base and are uniquely suited for the changes needed to achieve the climate, biodiversity, and other goals of the Executive Order. We understand that on behalf of the Climate Task Force, the Department of Interior is tasked with producing guidelines for determining the lands and waters to be deemed as "conserved" or "protected" for the purpose of achieving the goals of 30% protection by 2030. To view the full set of comments please visit our website at this link: https://www.yellowstoneuintas.org/news/item/158-comment-on-january-27- 2021-executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-and-development-of-guidelines-for-protected-areas 5 Alaska Roadless Rule FEIS Comment Letter Status Y2U, along with a coalition of environmental groups throughout the country and on behalf of their millions of members and supporters to voice our strong opposition to the Forest Service’s selection of the “full exemption” alternative contained in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed