Emigrant Crevice Mineral Withdrawal Draft Environmental Assessment Custer Gallatin National Forest Park County, Montana March 2018
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United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Emigrant Crevice Mineral Withdrawal Draft Environmental Assessment Custer Gallatin National Forest Park County, Montana March 2018 Emigrant Crevice i For More Information Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51258 or contact: Sitka Pence Custer Gallatin National Forest PO Box 130/10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59771 Phone: 406-587-6985 Title page photographs by Dan Seifert and Doug Madsen (2017). In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] . USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. ii Figure 1. Vicinity map displaying the proposed Emigrant and Crevice minerals withdrawal areas, in relation to Yellowstone National Park, the Absaroke-Bearthooth Wilderness, North Absaroka IRA, Chico Peak IRA, and the Sliding Mountain RNA (facing north). iii Table of Contents Common Acronyms Used .................................................................................................................. vi Section 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Location .......................................................................................................................... 1 Emigrant ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Crevice .......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Purpose of and Need for Action ................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Decision Process ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Analysis Framework ................................................................................................................... 6 Forest Plan Consistency ................................................................................................................ 6 43 Code of Federal Regulation 2301.3-2 ...................................................................................... 8 1.6 Public Participation ................................................................................................................... 10 Public Comments Received ......................................................................................................... 11 Section 2: Proposed Action and Alternatives................................................................................ 13 2.1 Elements Common to both Alternatives ................................................................................... 13 2.2 Alternative A: No Action .......................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Alternative B: Proposed Action 20 year Mineral Withdrawal ................................................... 14 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ............................................. 15 Section 3: Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Minerals .................................................................................................................................... 17 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 18 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 23 3.2 Scenic Resources ...................................................................................................................... 25 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 25 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 26 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 29 3.3 Recreation Resources ................................................................................................................ 31 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 31 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 35 3.4 Terrestrial (Wildlife) Species.................................................................................................... 37 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 38 Emigrant and Crevice .................................................................................................................. 41 3.5 Botanical Species ...................................................................................................................... 43 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 43 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 44 3.6 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................. 45 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 45 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 46 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 48 3.7 Aquatic Species ........................................................................................................................ 51 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 51 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 52 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 53 3.8 Economics................................................................................................................................. 55 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 55 Emigrant and Crevice .................................................................................................................. 55 3.9 Heritage Resources ..................................................................................................................