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2008 Moab RMP Appendices

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2008 Moab RMP Appendices APPENDIX A. LAND TENURE ADJUSTMENT AND WITHDRAWAL CRITERIA A.1 LAND TENURE ADJUSTMENT CRITERIA A.1.1 DISPOSAL CRITERIA (GENERAL) 1. Lands can be considered for disposal if they meet criteria described in Sections 203 & 206 of the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). 2. Lands with mining claims can be considered for disposal if the following apply: (a) the new surface owner is the mining claimant, or (b) the new surface owner agrees to accept the surface with the claim encumbrance. 3. Lands can be considered for disposal that are not encumbered by a withdrawal or other special designation. 4. Lands can be considered for disposal if disposal would not adversely impact National Register–eligible cultural sites unless mitigated. 5. Lands can be considered for disposal if they are not suitable for management by another Federal department or agency. 6. Lands in floodplains or containing wetlands can be considered for disposal if the BLM would acquire more or higher quality floodplains, wetlands, or riparian areas. 7. Lands listed in Appendix D and other lands not within specially designated areas can be considered for disposal, as necessary, to facilitate an exchange. 8. Lands will not be considered for disposal if they have: (a) any habitat for listed, endangered or special status species or (b) any habitat for any non-listed species if such action could lead to the need to list any species as threatened or endangered. 9. Lands in WSAs, ACECs, and SRMAs and other designated areas will be retained. 10. Lands identified for disposal that meet FLPMA Sec. 203 criteria are listed by tract in Appendix D, and are shown on Map 2-3. A.1.2 ACQUISITION CRITERIA (GENERAL) 1. Acquired lands would meet program objectives for management of recreation resources, wilderness, cultural resources, wildlife habitat, riparian or wetland areas, or threatened or endangered species. 2. Acquisition would result in better Federal land management. 3. Where possible, acquisition would provide access to public lands. 4. Acquisitions through purchase or donation should meet general acquisition criteria. Moab PRMP/FEIS Appendix A: Land Tenure Adjustment and Withdrawal Criteria A.1.3 EXCHANGES To be in conformance with the plan, lands considered for disposal through FLPMA Section 206 must 1. be shown to be in the public interest and 2. meet general disposal and acquisition criteria shown above. Further, the resource values of acquisition must outweigh the resource values of disposal. A.1.4 RECREATION AND PUBLIC PURPOSES (R&PP) ACT DISPOSALS 1. Lands are needed for community expansion. 2. Lands are needed for a public facility that cannot be accommodated on non-federal land. A.2 WITHDRAWAL CRITERIA A.2.1 NEW WITHDRAWALS New withdrawals would be considered if 1. other methods are not available to protect valuable resources or 2. a withdrawal is necessary to transfer jurisdiction of lands to another federal agency. A.2.2 WITHDRAWAL REVIEW Review existing withdrawals on a case-by-case basis. Determine whether the use is consistent with the intent of the withdrawal and whether the withdrawal should be continued, modified, revoked or terminated. If it is determined by a withdrawal review that a withdrawal should be revoked or terminated, or a withdrawal expires, the land does not automatically open to operation of the law(s) to which the land was closed. An opening order will be published to notify the public when and to what extent the land will be opened. An opening order may be incorporated in a public land order or termination order that revokes or terminates a withdrawal or may be published in the Federal Register as a separate document. Any land becoming unencumbered by withdrawals will be managed in a manner consistent with adjacent or comparable public land within the planning area. A.2.3 WITHDRAWAL REVOCATION Following revocation of a withdrawal, the lands would be managed according to other provisions for these lands as specified in this RMP. A-2 APPENDIX B. FILM PERMITS: MINIMUM IMPACT CRITERIA Filming is allowed in all areas provided the following criteria are met: B.1 MINIMUM-IMPACT CRITERIA FOR ALL BLM LANDS 1. Project would not adversely impact sensitive habitat or species. 2. Project would not adversely impact Native American sacred site(s) and/or National Register eligible sites. 3. Project does not involve use of pyrotechnics more than a campfire in an appropriate setting. 4. Filming allowed in all areas, provided impacts to land, air, or water can be avoided, mitigated, or reclaimed. 5. Project does not involve use of explosives. 6. Project, involving use of exotic animal species, includes provisions for containment and/or capture of animals. 7. Project does not involve extensive restriction of public access. 8. Limited filming would be allowed in areas with the following sensitive resources provided that impacts to these sensitive resources can be avoided, mitigated, or reclaimed: a. Historic, Cultural or Paleontological sites b. Sensitive soils (see chapter 3 Soils section for definition of these soils) c. Relict environments d. Wetlands, floodplains, or riparian areas e. Water quality f. Wildlife habitat 9. Use of heavy equipment would be allowed provided that any resource damage can be avoided, mitigated, or reclaimed. 10. Criteria for use of aircraft (helicopter, fixed wing, hot air balloons): a. No refueling requested within WSAs and Designated Wilderness Areas. b. Use of aircraft in an area with wildlife concerns would be allowed if a survey or inventory by an approved biologist demonstrates that animals are not present, or, if animals are present, aircraft use is not proposed for more than one day and does not exceed the frequency of 2 projects per 30-day period. c. Use of aircraft in areas with outstanding recreational opportunities, Wilderness Study Areas, designated Wilderness, or close to residential areas is proposed for no more than 2 days and does not exceed the frequency of 3 two-day projects per 30-day period. Moab PRMP/FEIS Appendix B: Film Permits: Minimum Impact Criteria d. Aircraft use proposed within ½ mile of any designated campground would be during low- use times (i.e. weekdays and not during major holidays between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) B.2 ADDITIONAL MINIMUM-IMPACT CRITERIA FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: DESIGNATED WILDERNESS, WSAS 1. Project does not involve use of more than 20 livestock in these locations. Impacts from livestock can be avoided, mitigated, or reclaimed. 2. Project does not involve 15 or more production vehicles. Vehicles would only be allowed on Wilderness Study Areas or designated Wilderness boundary roads. 3. Project does not involve 50 or more people within these areas. 4. The activity within these areas would not continue in excess of 10 days. If filming projects do not meet the criteria listed above, site-specific NEPA will be required. B-2 APPENDIX C. STIPULATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICES APPLICABLE TO OIL AND GAS LEASING AND OTHER SURFACE- DISTURBING ACTIVITIES C.1 STIPULATIONS APPLICABLE TO OIL AND GAS LEASING AND OTHER SURFACE-DISTURBING ACTIVITIES This appendix lists by alternative the stipulations for oil and gas leasing referred to throughout this Proposed RMP and Final EIS. These stipulations would also apply, where appropriate and practical, to other surface-disturbing activities (and occupancy) associated with land-use authorizations, permits, and leases issued on BLM lands. The stipulations would not apply to activities and uses where they are contrary to laws, regulations, or specific program guidance. The intent is to maintain consistency, to the extent possible, in applying stipulations to all surface-disturbing activities. Surface-disturbing activities are those that normally result in more than negligible disturbance to public lands and accelerate the natural erosive process. Surface disturbance may, but does not always, require reclamation. These activities normally involve use and/or occupancy of the surface, cause disturbance to soils and vegetation, and are usually caused by motorized or mechanical actions. They include, but are not limited to: the use of mechanized earth-moving equipment; truck-mounted drilling and geophysical exploration equipment; off-road vehicle travel in areas designated as limited or closed to off-road vehicle use; vegetation treatments; construction of facilities such as power lines, pipelines, oil and gas wells; recreation sites, improvements for range and wildlife; new road construction; and use of pyrotechnics and explosives. Surface disturbance is not normally caused by casual-use activities. Activities that are not considered surface-disturbing include, but are not limited to: livestock grazing, cross- country hiking, minimum impact filming, and vehicular travel on designated routes. C.1.1 DESCRIPTION OF STIPULATIONS The following tables show resources of concern and stipulations including exceptions, modifications, and waivers by alternative. Three types of stipulations could be applied to land- use authorizations: 1) no surface occupancy (NSO), 2) timing limitations (TL), and 3) controlled surface use (CSU). Although not a stipulation, areas that are closed to oil and gas leasing and other surface-disturbing activities are also identified in the tables. All other areas are open to oil and gas leasing subject to standard terms and conditions. Areas identified as NSO are open to oil and gas leasing but surface-disturbing activities can not be conducted on the surface of the land. Access to oil and gas deposits would require horizontal drilling from outside the boundaries of the NSO areas. NSO areas are avoidance areas for rights- of-way; no rights-of-ways would be granted in NSO areas unless there are no feasible alternatives. Where necessary in the future, NSO areas could be recommended for withdrawal from operations conducted under the mining laws (locatable minerals) if unacceptable resource Moab PRMP/FEIS Appendix C: Stipulations and Environmental Best Practices Applicable to Oil and Gas Leasing and Other Surface-disturbing Activities impacts are occurring or could occur.
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