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Draft Record of Decision for the Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan

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Draft Record of Decision for the Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan United States Department of Agriculture Draft Record of Decision for the Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region R5-MB-304-E August 2018 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. 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 Pacific Southwest Region Office at (707) 562-9121. Cover Photo: Ancient Bristlecone pines. Photo by Leeann Murphy. Draft Record of Decision for the Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mono, and Tulare Counties, California and Esmeralda and Mineral Counties, Nevada Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Tammy Randall-Parker, Forest Supervisor For information, contact: Leeann Murphy Resource and Planning Staff Officer, Inyo National Forest Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Distinctive Roles and Contributions ................................................................................................ 1 Purpose and Need and Selected Alternative .................................................................................... 2 Nature of this Decision .................................................................................................................... 3 Engagement with State and Local Governments, Indian Tribes, other Federal Agencies, and the Public ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Decision and Rationale for the Decision ......................................................................................... 6 Rationale for the Decision ........................................................................................................... 7 Topic 1: Fire Management and Smoke..................................................................................... 8 Topic 2: Ecological Integrity .................................................................................................... 9 Topic 3: Sustainable Recreation and Designated Areas ......................................................... 12 Requirements of the Planning Rule ........................................................................................ 14 Transition to the Revised Land Management Plan ................................................................. 17 Preliminary Administrative Recommendations ...................................................................... 18 Monitoring Program ............................................................................................................... 20 Alternative Development............................................................................................................... 20 Changes between the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements.............................. 21 Alternatives Considered in Detail .......................................................................................... 22 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ............................................... 23 Environmentally Preferable Alternative ........................................................................................ 25 Best Available Scientific Information ........................................................................................... 25 Assessment Phase ..................................................................................................................... 25 Planning Phase .......................................................................................................................... 26 Findings Required by Other Laws and Relevant Directives ......................................................... 31 The Effective Date of the Plan Revision ....................................................................................... 36 Administrative Review .................................................................................................................. 36 Contact Person ............................................................................................................................... 37 Signature and Date ........................................................................................................................ 37 Appendix: Recommended Wilderness Areas ................................................................................ 39 References ..................................................................................................................................... 54 Tables Table 1. South Sierra Wilderness Addition ................................................................................... 39 Table 2. Piper Mountain Wilderness addition ............................................................................... 42 Table 3. White Mountain Wilderness Addition (West) ................................................................. 45 Table 4. White Mountain Wilderness Addition (East) .................................................................. 47 Table 5. List of eligible wild and scenic rivers and their segments, outstandingly remarkable values, and length .................................................................................................................. 50 Figures Figure 1. Inyo National Forest Plan Area ........................................................................................ ii Figure 2. South Sierra Wilderness Addition .................................................................................. 41 Figure 3. Piper Mountain Wilderness addition .............................................................................. 44 Figure 4. White Mountain Wilderness additions (west and east) .................................................. 49 i Draft Record of Decision Figure 1. Inyo National Forest Plan Area Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan ii Introduction This Draft Record of Decision (Draft ROD) documents my decision and rationale for approving the 2018 Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan. The decision implements the Forest Service’s 2012 Land Management Planning Rule1 and advances goals of the Department of Agriculture, including local economic development and sound land stewardship in partnership with communities. The Inyo National Forest (also referred to as “the Inyo” or “the Forest”) plays a unique role supporting local economies in the eastern Sierra region, and providing clean drinking water and recreational opportunities for much of California. The Inyo National Forest is located in eastern California, and small portion in Nevada (figure 1). The Inyo includes the crest and eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada from the Mono Basin to the Kern Plateau, plus the Glass, White, and Inyo Mountain Ranges. The Inyo encompasses approximately 2 million acres, intermixed with 56,481 acres of private and State lands; 26,711 acres of the Sierra National Forest and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests are also administered by the Inyo National Forest. Distinctive Roles and Contributions The Inyo National Forest is characterized by large magnificent mountains that invite and inspire visitors locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. This stunning landscape is home to well-known attractions such as Mt. Whitney, Mono Lake, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest and Mammoth Mountain lava dome complex. The
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