DOCSLIB.ORG

CHAPTER 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
CHAPTER 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences CHAPTER 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Changes Between Draft and Final Environment Impact Statement Updated the visitor use information. Added environmental analysis of Alternative 4 Added environmental analysis of forest plan amendment concerning camps within 200 feet of meadows, streams, lakes, and key interest areas. Expanded analysis in each section to address DEIS comments and concerns. Incorporated information from 2012 Needs Assessment. Added an Economic and Social Analysis. Made numerous, minor editorial and spelling corrections. Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Introduction This chapter summarizes the affected physical, biological, social, and economic environments of the project area and the effects of implementing each alternative. The scientific and analytic basis is presented for the comparison of alternatives listed in Chapter 2. The effects disclosed are based on the effectiveness of the design criteria and mitigation measures outlined in Chapter 2. The analysis of resources uses varying measures due to management direction, research, or field practice. Therefore, the effect of similar resources cannot always be directly compared, although analysis for each alternative can be compared for the same resource. The effects resulting from each action are described in terms of their context, intensity, speed, direction, magnitude and duration. Other activities occurring in the same area over time, under certain circumstances, may have incremental effects that produce cumulative effects. It is sometimes necessary to look beyond the defined project area to determine the cumulative effects on certain resources. The effects disclose the direct and indirect effects plus the past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions that define cumulative effect in this chapter. Many of the effects discussed in this chapter are not easily quantified. It should be kept in mind that many of the values presented are modeled or estimated predictions of effects, and that the actual effects may not occur exactly to the degree presented. In some cases, the value of the analysis is in the comparison of the estimated effects between alternatives, rather than in the absolute values of the effects shown. Each environmental component is discussed in terms of the consequences of implementing each of the alternatives listed in Chapter 2. This allows the reader interested in specific resources to find the effects related to that resource in one place. The following format is used for each environmental component: Regulatory Framework provides management direction from the Forest Plan, policy from the Forest Service Handbooks and Manuals, and laws, rules, and regulations for each resource. Analysis Method details how the analysis of each resource was conducted. Affected Environment describes the environment of the area to be affected by the alternatives, that is, the baseline environment, thus including past actions. It provides background for understanding the discussion that follows. Pack and Saddle Stock Outfitter-Guide Permit FEIS 3-1 February 2013 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Environmental Consequences of implementing each alternative are discussed. There are three types of effects considered: 1. Direct Effects are caused by the action and occur at the same time and place [40 CFR 1508.8(a)]. 2. Indirect Effects are caused by the action but occur later in time or further removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable [40 CFR 1508.8(b)]. 3. Cumulative Effects result from the incremental impacts of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonable foreseeable actions [40 CFR 1508.7]. Consistency Finding is a statement for each resource area that demonstrates how the action alternatives are consistent with the amended Forest Plan. The Chapter begins with a discussion of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions that may affect the project area. Environmental components are detailed as above. This EIS hereby incorporates by reference the wilderness, recreation, botany/sensitive plants, wildlife, hydrology, aquatics, soil, range, noxious weed, heritage resources, and air quality specialist reports in the Analysis file [40 CFR 1502.21] all of which are summarized in this chapter. Other specialist reports are wholly contained in the respective sections of this chapter. The referenced reports are located in the corresponding resource section of the Analysis file. All specialist reports contain the detailed data, methodologies, analyses, conclusions, maps, references and technical documentation (best available science) that the resource specialists relied on to reach conclusions. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions The project interdisciplinary team (IDT) identified past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, that might have cumulative impacts with the proposed action. Those actions in and adjacent to the project area are listed below. Each resource specialist considered different mixes of these actions, depending on the cumulative effects boundary for the resource area and the resource affected. Only those past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions that overlap the geographic analysis area boundary for each particular resource are considered, and only if those other actions have or are expected to have overlapping effects (spatially and temporally) with the pack and saddle stock outfitter-guide project. Some past projects may still be having effects on one resource, but not another. Past Actions In order to understand the contribution of past actions to the cumulative effects of the proposed action and alternatives, this analysis relies on current environmental conditions as a proxy for the impacts of past actions. This is because existing conditions reflect the aggregate impact of all prior human actions and natural events that have affected the environment and might contribute to cumulative effects. Pack and Saddle Stock Outfitter-Guide Permit FEIS 3-2 February 2013 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest This cumulative effects analysis does not attempt to quantify the effects of past human actions by adding up all prior actions on an action-by-action basis. There are several reasons for not taking this approach. First, a catalog and analysis of all past actions would be impractical to compile and unduly costly to obtain. Current conditions have been impacted by innumerable actions over the last century (and beyond), and trying to isolate the individual actions that continue to have residual impacts would be nearly impossible. Second, providing the details of past actions on an individual basis would not be useful to predict the cumulative effects of the proposed action or alternatives. In fact, focusing on individual actions would be less accurate than looking at existing conditions, because there is limited information on the environmental impacts of individual past actions, and one cannot reasonably identify each and every action over the last century that has contributed to current conditions. Additionally, focusing on the impacts of past human actions risks ignoring the important residual effects of past natural events, which may contribute to effects just as much as human actions. By looking at current conditions, we are sure to capture all the residual effects of past human actions and natural events, regardless of which particular action or event contributed those effects. Third, public scoping for this project did not identify any public interest or need for detailed information on individual past actions. Finally, the Council on Environmental Quality issued an interpretive memorandum on June 24, 2005 regarding analysis of past actions, which states, “agencies can conduct an adequate cumulative effects analysis by focusing on the current aggregate effects of past actions without delving into the historical details of individual past actions.” The cumulative effects analysis in this FEIS is also consistent with Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Regulations (36 CFR 220.4(f)) (July 24, 2008), which state, in part: “CEQ regulations do not require the consideration of the individual effects of all past actions to determine the present effects of past actions. Once the agency has identified those present effects of past actions that warrant consideration, the agency assesses the extent that the effects of the proposal for agency action or its alternatives will add to, modify, or mitigate those effects. The final analysis documents an agency assessment of the cumulative effects of the actions considered (including past, present, and reasonable foreseeable future actions) on the affected environment. With respect to past actions, during the scoping process and subsequent preparation of the analysis, the agency must determine what information regarding past actions is useful and relevant to the required analysis of cumulative effects. Cataloging past actions and specific information about the direct and indirect effects of their design and implementation could in some contexts be useful to predict the cumulative effects of the proposal. The CEQ regulations, however, do not require agencies to catalogue or exhaustively list and analyze all individual past actions. Simply because information about past actions may be available or obtained with reasonable effort does not mean that it is relevant and necessary to inform decision making.” (40 CFR 1508.7) For these reasons, the analysis of past
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Signage Drowning Prevention - Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
    OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LOSS PREVENTION REVIEW TEAM DROWNING PREVENTION WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT NOVEMBER 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1 - Executive Summary ................................................................................... 1 Drowning as an Issue for State Parks .......................................................................... 1 What Drowning Costs................................................................................................... 2 Summary of Recommendations ................................................................................... 4 Team Members ............................................................................................................ 5 Section 2 - Introduction ................................................................................................ 6 The Program ................................................................................................................ 6 This Review.................................................................................................................. 6 Methodology................................................................................................................. 6 Scope Of The Problem................................................................................................. 7 Section 3 – Risk Assessment of the Incidents Triggering Review ........................... 8 Summary Description of Incidents...............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Spring Cattle Grazing on the Nutritional Ecology of Mule Deer
    THE EFFECTS OF SPRING CATTLE GRAZING ON THE NUTRITIONAL ECOLOGY OF MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS) IN EASTERN WASHINGTON By SARA JANE WAGONER A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCES IN NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY Department of Natural Resource Sciences MAY 2011 To the Faculty of Washington State University The members of the Committee appointed to examine the thesis of SARA JANE WAGONER find it satisfactory and recommend that it be accepted ________________________________ Lisa A. Shipley, Ph.D., Chair ________________________________ Linda H. Hardesty, Ph.D. ________________________________ Kristen A. Johnson, Ph.D. ________________________________ Karen L. Launchbaugh, Ph.D. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was fully funded and supported by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and partnered by the Washington Cattlemen’s Association. My advisor, Dr. Lisa A. Shipley, whom was the brain-child and brawn-child behind this enormous endeavor, tirelessly offered perspective and assistance when I needed it, and I am forever indebted. A sincere thank you to my committee members: Linda Hardesty, Kristen Johnson, and Karen Launchbaugh for contributing their range science expertise and logistical input to our experimental design. I extend my appreciation to Rachel and John Cook, for giving me the opportunity to work along side them at Starkey; it gave me a real grasp on what I was getting into; especially to Rachel, for her professional guidance, friendship, and assistance towards this project. Thank you Laura Applegate, Taryn Clark, Becky Greenwood, Ben Maletzke, Tamara Johnstone-Yellin. and Sarah McCusker for selflessly pitching in, you are truly great friends.
    [Show full text]
  • Land Areas of the National Forest System, As of September 30, 2019
    United States Department of Agriculture Land Areas of the National Forest System As of September 30, 2019 Forest Service WO Lands FS-383 November 2019 Metric Equivalents When you know: Multiply by: To fnd: Inches (in) 2.54 Centimeters Feet (ft) 0.305 Meters Miles (mi) 1.609 Kilometers Acres (ac) 0.405 Hectares Square feet (ft2) 0.0929 Square meters Yards (yd) 0.914 Meters Square miles (mi2) 2.59 Square kilometers Pounds (lb) 0.454 Kilograms United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Land Areas of the WO, Lands National Forest FS-383 System November 2019 As of September 30, 2019 Published by: USDA Forest Service 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250-0003 Website: https://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar-index.shtml Cover Photo: Mt. Hood, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon Courtesy of: Susan Ruzicka USDA Forest Service WO Lands and Realty Management Statistics are current as of: 10/17/2019 The National Forest System (NFS) is comprised of: 154 National Forests 58 Purchase Units 20 National Grasslands 7 Land Utilization Projects 17 Research and Experimental Areas 28 Other Areas NFS lands are found in 43 States as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. TOTAL NFS ACRES = 192,994,068 NFS lands are organized into: 9 Forest Service Regions 112 Administrative Forest or Forest-level units 503 Ranger District or District-level units The Forest Service administers 149 Wild and Scenic Rivers in 23 States and 456 National Wilderness Areas in 39 States. The Forest Service also administers several other types of nationally designated
    [Show full text]
  • Backcountry Campsites at Waptus Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
    BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES AT WAPTUS LAKE, ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS, WASHINGTON: CHANGES IN SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION, IMPACTED AREAS, AND USE OVER TIME ___________________________________________________ A Thesis Presented to The Graduate Faculty Central Washington University ___________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Resource Management ___________________________________________________ by Darcy Lynn Batura May 2011 CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Graduate Studies We hereby approve the thesis of Darcy Lynn Batura Candidate for the degree of Master of Science APPROVED FOR THE GRADUATE FACULTY ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Karl Lillquist, Committee Chair ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Anthony Gabriel ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Thomas Cottrell ______________ _________________________________________ Resource Management Program Director ______________ _________________________________________ Dean of Graduate Studies ii ABSTRACT BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES AT WAPTUS LAKE, ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS, WASHINGTON: CHANGES IN SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION, IMPACTED AREAS, AND USE OVER TIME by Darcy Lynn Batura May 2011 The Wilderness Act was created to protect backcountry resources, however; the cumulative effects of recreational impacts are adversely affecting the biophysical resource elements. Waptus Lake is located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the most heavily used wilderness in Washington
    [Show full text]
  • The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Restoration Strategy
    United States Department of The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Agriculture Forest Restoration Strategy: a Forest Service process for guiding restoration Pacific Northwest Region projects within the context of ecosystem management DRAFT Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest March 9, 2010 Contents OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION VISION ..... 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 2 DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION ....................................................................................................................... 3 NEW SCIENCE AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION ................................................................................ 4 PART I: BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................... 8 MANAGEMENT DIRECTION AND POLICY ..................................................................................................... 8 SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT STEPS - KEY CONCEPTS ..................................................................... 9 Ecosystem Management ........................................................................................................................ 9 Forest Restoration .............................................................................................................................. 10 Aquatic Disturbance ..........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • State Park Contact Sheet Last Updated November 2016
    WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Film Permit Application State Park Contact Sheet Last Updated November 2016 AREA MANAGER PHONE PARK NAME PARK AREA ADDRESS EMAIL (@parks.wa.gov) REGION Sharon Soelter ALTA LAKE STATE PARK (509) 923-2473 Alta Lake State Park Alta Lake Area 1B OTTO ROAD [email protected] Eastern PATEROS WA 98846 Brian Hageman FORT WORDEN STATE PARK Anderson Lake (360) 344-4442 Olympic View Area 200 BATTERY WAY State Park [email protected] Southwest PORT TOWNSEND, WA 98368-3621 Chris Guidotti BATTLE GROUND STATE PARK Battle Ground Lake (360) 687-4621 Battle Ground Area PO BOX 148 State Park [email protected] Southwest HEISSON, WA 98622 Kevin Kratochvil RASAR STATE PARK (360) 757-0227 Bay View State Park Rasar Area 38730 CAPE HORN ROAD [email protected] Northwest CONCRETE, WA 98237 Chris Guidotti BATTLE GROUND STATE PARK Beacon Rock (509) 427-8265 Battle Ground Area PO BOX 148 State Park [email protected] Southwest HEISSON, WA 98622 Joel Pillers BELFAIR STATE PARK (360) 275-0668 Belfair State Park South Sound Area 3151 N.E. SR 300 [email protected] Southwest BELFAIR, WA 98528 Jack Hartt DECEPTION PASS STATE PARK Ben Ure Island Marine (360) 675-3767 Deception Pass Area 41020 STATE ROUTE 20 State Park [email protected] Northwest OAK HARBOR, WA 98277 Ted Morris BIRCH BAY STATE PARK (360) 371-2800 Birch Bay State Park Birch Bay Area 5105 HELWEG ROAD [email protected] Northwest BLAINE WA 98230 Dave Roe MANCHESTER STATE PARK Blake Island Marine (360) 731-8330 Blake
    [Show full text]
  • The Wild Cascades
    THE WILD CASCADES October-November 1969 2 THE WILD CASCADES FARTHEST EAST: CHOPAKA MOUNTAIN Field Notes of an N3C Reconnaissance State of Washington, school lands managed by May 1969 the Department of Natural Resources. The absolute easternmost peak of the North Cascades is Chopaka Mountain, 7882 feet. An This probably is the most spectacular chunk abrupt and impressive 6700-foot scarp drops of alpine terrain owned by the state. Certain­ from the flowery summit to blue waters of ly its fame will soon spread far beyond the Palmer Lake and meanders of the Similka- Okanogan. Certainly the state should take a mean River, surrounded by green pastures new, close look at Chopaka and develop a re­ and orchards. Beyond, across this wide vised management plan that takes into account trough of a Pleistocene glacier, roll brown the scenic and recreational resources. hills of the Okanogan Highlands. Northward are distant, snowy beginnings of Canadian ranges. Far south, Tiffany Mountain stands above forested branches of Toats Coulee Our gang became aware of Chopaka on the Creek. Close to the west is the Pasayten Fourth of July weekend of 1968 while explor­ Wilderness Area, dominated here by Windy ing Horseshoe Basin -- now protected (except Peak, Horseshoe Mountain, Arnold Peak — from Emmet Smith's cattle) within the Pasay­ the Horseshoe Basin country. Farther west, ten Wilderness Area. We looked east to the hazy-dreamy on the horizon, rise summits of wide-open ridges of Chopaka Mountain and the Chelan Crest and Washington Pass. were intrigued. To get there, drive the Okanogan Valley to On our way to Horseshoe Basin we met Wil­ Tonasket and turn west to Loomis in the Sin- lis Erwin, one of the Okanoganites chiefly lahekin Valley.
    [Show full text]
  • Review Article Magma Loading in the Southern Coast Plutonic Complex, British Columbia and Washington
    GeoScienceWorld Lithosphere Volume 2020, Article ID 8856566, 17 pages https://doi.org/10.2113/2020/8856566 Review Article Magma Loading in the Southern Coast Plutonic Complex, British Columbia and Washington E. H. Brown Department of Geology, Western Washington University, USA Correspondence should be addressed to E. H. Brown; [email protected] Received 2 May 2020; Accepted 22 September 2020; Published 10 November 2020 Academic Editor: Tamer S. Abu-Alam Copyright © 2020 E. H. Brown. Exclusive Licensee GeoScienceWorld. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). The southen end of the 1800 km long Coast Plutonic Complex (CPC), exposed in the Harrison Lake area of British Columbia and in the North Cascades of Washington, bears a record of great crustal thickening -20 to 40 km in localized zones during Late Cretaceous times. During this period, the CPC was positioned at the continental margin during collision/subduction of the Farallon plate. Arc magmatism and regional orogenic contraction were both active as potential crustal thickening processes. Magmatism is favored in this report as the dominant factor based on the delineation of four spatially and temporally separate loading events, the close association of the loaded areas with emplacement of large plutons, and a paucity of evidence of deep regional tectonic contraction. The timing and spatial location of crustal loading events are documented by the following: zircon ages in plutons; an early event of low pressure in pluton aureoles evidenced by andalusite, now pseudomorphed by high- pressure minerals; high pressures in country rock in pluton aureoles measured by mineral compositions in the assemblages garnet-biotite-muscovite-plagioclase and garnet-aluminum silicate-plagioclase; high pressures recorded in plutons by Al-in- hornblende barometry; and uplift ages of plutons derived from K-Ar and Ar-Ar ages of micas and hornblende in plutons.
    [Show full text]
  • Stratigraphy, Age, and Provenance of the Eocene Chumstick Basin
    Stratigraphy, age, and provenance of the Eocene Chumstick basin, Washington Cascades; implications for paleogeography, regional tectonics, and development of strike-slip basins Erin E. Donaghy1,†, Paul J. Umhoefer2, Michael P. Eddy1, Robert B. Miller3, and Taylor LaCasse4 1 Department of Earth, Planetary, and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA 2 School of Earth Sciences and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011, USA 3 Department of Geology, San Jose State University, San Jose, California 95192, USA 4 Department of Geology, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota 55057 USA ABSTRACT tions can be constrained at high temporal Here we present a large provenance data set resolution (0.5–1.5 m.y. scale) for an ancient coupled with new lithofacies mapping from Strike-slip faults form in a wide variety strike-slip basin and permits a detailed re- the Chumstick basin within the framework of a of tectonic settings and are a first-order construction of sediment routing pathways recently developed precise depositional chronol- control on the geometry and sediment accu- and depositional environments. As a result, ogy (Eddy et al., 2016b). This basin formed in mulation patterns in adjacent sedimentary we can assess how varying sediment supply a strike-slip setting in central Washington and basins. Although the structural and depo- and accommodation space affects the depo- provides a unique opportunity to track changes sitional architecture of strike-slip basins is sitional architecture during strike-slip basin in sediment routing systems that are related well documented, few studies of strike-slip evolution. to rapidly changing paleogeography in basin- basins have integrated depositional age, bounding basement blocks.
    [Show full text]
  • Requested Action — Expedited
    WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Date: March 16, 2006 Place: Centennial Conference Center 719 East 3rd Street Cle Elum, WA 98922 (509) 674-7530 Time: 9 a.m. Flag Salute: Jason Both, Park Ranger 2, Lake Easton State Park Call of the Roll Introduction of Staff Recognition of State and Local Officials Recognition of Local Volunteers Service Pins A. Agenda Approval B. Minutes of Previous Meeting C. Public Comments – New and ongoing issues not on the agenda D. Area and Region Reports Area Report: Maurya Broadsword, Senior Park Aide, Lake Easton State Park Region Report: Don Hoch, Puget Sound Region Manager E. Business Agenda Items Requested Action — Expedited E-1: Restructuring the Lake Sammamish Advisory Committee This item asks the Commission to amend the Lake Sammamish Advisory Committee charter to add an additional “at large” position to the committee. This complies with the Centennial 2013 Plan elements, “Our Commitment – Stewardship.” Author: Peter Herzog, Parks Planner (360) 902-8562 [email protected] Park(s) Affected: Lake Sammamish State Park Action taken: Passed as requested E-2: 2006 Inholdings – Trust land transfer and other acquisitions This item requests the Commission to determine that certain properties are suitable for state park purposes at Bogachiel, Burrows Island, Dosewallips, Fields Spring, Fort Casey, Klickitat Trail, Lake Easton, Ocean City and Riverside state parks and at Hartstine Island. This request complies with the Centennial 2013 Plan element, "Our Commitment – Stewardship." Author:
    [Show full text]
  • 2011 Washington Fishing Prospects
    2011 Washington Fishing Prospects WHERE TO CATCH FISH IN THE EVERGREEN STATE Washington Department of FISH AND WILDLIFE 600 Capitol Way N – Olympia, WA 98501-1091 http://wdfw.wa.gov 1 CONTENTS Agency’s Contact Information 3 WDFW Regional Office Contact Information 4 What’s New for 2011-2012 Season? 5 Introduction 6 Licensing 10 License types and fees 11 Juvenile, Youth, Senior information 11 Military Licensing information 11 Fishing Kids Program and Schedule 12 “Go Play Outside” Initiative 13 Fish Consumption (Health) Advisories 13 Accessible Fishing for Persons with Disabilities 14 Accessible Outdoor Recreation Guild 15 Launch and Moorage Locations 15 Washington State Parks 15 Sport Fish of Washington 16 County-by-County Listings 30 Juvenile-Only and other special fishing waters in Washington 146 Fly-fishing Only waters in Washington 148 2011 Triploid Rainbow Trout Stocking Information 149 WDFW State Record Sport Fish Application information 149 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This publication is produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Fish Program Manager, Jim Uehara, using information supplied by the Department’s field biological staff, including: Eric Anderson, Charmane Ashbrook, Steve Caromile, Jim Cummins, Wolf Dammers, Chris Donley, Mark Downen, Rick Ereth, Joe Hymer, Paul Hoffarth, Chad Jackson, Bob Jateff, Thom Johnson, Jeff Korth, Glen Mendel, Larry Phillips, Mike Scharpf, Art Viola, John Weinheimer, and no doubt other staff that were inadvertently omitted. Accessibility and Boating information is provided by the
    [Show full text]
  • Wilderness Study Areas
    I ___- .-ll..l .“..l..““l.--..- I. _.^.___” _^.__.._._ - ._____.-.-.. ------ FEDERAL LAND M.ANAGEMENT Status and Uses of Wilderness Study Areas I 150156 RESTRICTED--Not to be released outside the General Accounting Wice unless specifically approved by the Office of Congressional Relations. ssBO4’8 RELEASED ---- ---. - (;Ao/li:( ‘I:I)-!L~-l~~lL - United States General Accounting OfTice GAO Washington, D.C. 20548 Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division B-262989 September 23,1993 The Honorable Bruce F. Vento Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Committee on Natural Resources House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: Concerned about alleged degradation of areas being considered for possible inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System (wilderness study areas), you requested that we provide you with information on the types and effects of activities in these study areas. As agreed with your office, we gathered information on areas managed by two agencies: the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLN) and the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Specifically, this report provides information on (1) legislative guidance and the agency policies governing wilderness study area management, (2) the various activities and uses occurring in the agencies’ study areas, (3) the ways these activities and uses affect the areas, and (4) agency actions to monitor and restrict these uses and to repair damage resulting from them. Appendixes I and II provide data on the number, acreage, and locations of wilderness study areas managed by BLM and the Forest Service, as well as data on the types of uses occurring in the areas.
    [Show full text]