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Draft Record of Decision for the Custer Gallatin National Forest Land

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Draft Record of Decision for the Custer Gallatin National Forest Land United States Department of Agriculture Draft Record of Decision Custer Gallatin National Forest Land Management Plan Forest Service Northern Region Publication No. R1-19-07 July 2020 Custer Gallatin National Forest Title Page: Photo Credit – Mariah Leuschen-Lonergan. Top left, going clockwise – Coneflower, Echinacea, native wildflowers, Sioux Ranger District; American Flag and U.S. Forest Service Flag displayed in winter on the Hebgen Ranger District; Log Deck from East Short Pines Project, Sioux Ranger District, photo by Kurt Hansen; Bison grazing in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with Arrowleaf Balsamroot in background; Elk Grazing on the Gardiner R.D. with sagebrush in background, foreground; Center - Close up of Indian Paintbrush, Bozeman R.D; Calf nursing from Mother (Cow), Grazing permittees are a large part of the Ashland and Sioux Ranger Districts; Close-up of native alpine wildflowers in early spring on the Beartooth R.D., Beartooth Pass; View looking into the Rock Creek drainage and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness atop Beartooth Pass, Beartooth R.D; Aspen trees blowing in light breeze on the Yellowstone Ranger District, Suce Creek Trail. 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 and 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 (such as 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. Note: We make every effort to create documents that are accessible to individuals of all abilities; however, limitations with our word processing programs may prevent some parts of this document from being readable by computer-assisted reading devices. If you need assistance with this document, please contact the Custer Gallatin National Forest at (406) 587-6701. Custer Gallatin National Forest Draft Record of Decision Draft Record of Decision for the Custer Gallatin National Forest Land Management Plan The Custer Gallatin National Forest is located in southern Montana and northwestern South Dakota and includes 3,039,000 acres of National Forest System lands in the following counties: Carbon, Carter, Gallatin, Madison, Meagher, Park, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Montana; and Harding County, South Dakota. Lead Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Cooperating Agencies Park County, Montana Sweet Grass County, Montana South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks State of South Dakota Responsible Official: Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor 10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-6701 For Information Contact: Virginia Kelly, Plan Revision Team Leader 10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-6701 i Custer Gallatin Draft Record of Decision Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Forest Setting .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Need for Change ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Engagement with State and Local Governments, Other Federal Agencies, Indian Tribes, and The Public ............. 4 State and Local Governments and Other Federal Agencies ............................................................................. 4 Indian Tribes ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Public Involvement ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Decision and Rationale for the Decision ........................................................................................................... 7 Decision...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Key Elements of the Decision .................................................................................................................... 8 Nature of Land Management Plan Decisions .............................................................................................. 9 Rationale for the Decision ............................................................................................................................ 9 Supporting Local Communities ............................................................................................................... 10 Plan Allocations ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat ................................................................................................................... 17 Requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule ................................................................................................. 18 Preliminary Administrative Recommendations ............................................................................................ 25 Changes Between Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement ............................................................. 28 Alternatives Considered ................................................................................................................................ 30 Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ................................................................................................................... 30 Elements Common to All Alternatives ..................................................................................................... 31 Elements Common to All Revised Plan Alternatives .................................................................................. 32 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................................... 32 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ........................................................................ 34 Environmentally Preferable Alternative ......................................................................................................... 34 Best Available Scientific Information .............................................................................................................. 37 Findings Required by Other Laws ................................................................................................................... 38 American Indian Religious Freedom Act ...................................................................................................... 38 Archaeological Resources Protection Act ..................................................................................................... 39 Clean Air Act ............................................................................................................................................. 39 Clean Water Act ........................................................................................................................................ 40 Endangered Species Act ............................................................................................................................. 40 Environmental Justice: Executive Order 12898 ............................................................................................ 41 Federal Land Policy and Management Act ................................................................................................... 41 Invasive Species .......................................................................................................................................
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