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Lander Final Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement Lander Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement

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Lander Final Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement Lander Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement United States Department of the interior Bureau of Land Management Rawlins District Office March 1990 Lander Final Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement Lander Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement ( ) Draft (X) Final Environmental Impact Statement Type of Action: ( ) Administrative (X) Legislative Responsible Agencies: Lead Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Cooperating Agencies: None Abstract The Lander Final Wilderness Environmental Impact Statement analyzes six wilderness study areas (WSAs) in the Rawlins District to determine the re­ source impacts that could result from designation or nondesignation of those WSAs as wilderness. The following WSAs are recommended as nonsuitable for wilderness designation: Lankin Dome, WSA 030-120 (6,316 acres), Split Rock, 030-122 (12,749 acres), Savage Peak, 030-123a (7,041 acres), Miller Springs, 030-123b (6,429 acres), and Copper Mountain, 030-111 (6,858 acres). For the Sweetwater Canyon WSA, 030-101 (9,056 acres), 3,518 acres are rec­ ommended as nonsuitable for wilderness designation; the remaining portion (5,538 acres) is recommended for wilderness designation. Comments have been requested and received from the following: See the “Consultation" section. Date draft statement made available to the Environmental Protection Agency and the public. Draft EIS: Filed 11/7/85 Final EIS: United States Department of the interior JSraSTAKE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WYOMING STATE OFFICE P.O. BOX 1828 CHEYENNE, WYOMING 82003 Dear Reader: Enclosed is the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared for six Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in the Lander Resource Area of our Rawlins District. The WSAs include; Sweetwater Canyon, Lankin Dome, Split Rock, Miller Springs, Savage Peak, and Copper Mountain. You were sent this copy because of your past interest and participation in the review of the draft version of the EIS. The six areas described in this EIS were studied for possible wilderness designation under the authority of Section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). The Bureau of Land Management's recommendations for the six WSAs will be forwarded to the Secretary of Interior who will then forward his recommendations to the President. The President, in turn, will forward his recommendations to Congress. Only Congress can designate an area as wilderness. The next opportunity for public comment regarding whether or not these areas should be added to the wilderness system will be during the legislative process. Thank you for your interest in the Bureau's wilderness study. For further information, please contact: District Manager, Rawlins District Office, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 670, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301. Sincerel; Ray Brubaker Wyoming State Director FINAL LANDER WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT for the LANDER RESOURCE AREA Prepared by: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Rawlins District Rawlins, Wyoming 1989 Wyoming State Director Date TABLE OF CONTENTS SU M M AR Y................................................................................................. 1 ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND PLANNING PROCESS . 5 Purpose and Need.................................................................................... 5 Location ..................................................................................................... 5 Environmental Issue Identification/Scoping.......................................... 7 Issues Selected for Analysis.................................................................... 7 Impacts on Wilderness Values ........................................................... 7 Impacts on Development of Energy and Mineral Resources....... 7 Impacts on Recreation and Off-Road Vehicle Use in the Sweetwater Canyon WSA and the Copper Mountain W SA....... 7 Impacts on Local Ranching Operations............................................ 7 Issues Not Selected for Analysis............................................................. 7 Impacts on Livestock Operations....................................................... 8 Impacts on Threatened or Endangered Species............................. 8 Impacts on Prehistoric Resources..................................................... 8 Impacts on Recreation in the Sweetwater Rocks WSA Complex ................................................................................... 8 Impacts on Historic Trails .................................................................. 8 Impacts on Forest Management......................................................... 8 Impacts on Water Quality in the Sweetwater Canyon W S A ......... 9 Impacts on Wildlife and Fisheries..................................................... 9 Development of Alternatives.................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2: PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES... 11 SWEETWATER CANYON ........................................................................ 11 Proposed Action (Partial Wilderness) ................................................... 11 Livestock Grazing Management......................................................... 11 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management................................... 11 Recreation Management...................................................................... 13 Wildlife and Fisheries........................................................................... 13 Cultural Resources Management....................................................... 13 No Wilderness Alternative........................................................................ 13 Livestock Grazing Management......................................................... 13 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management....................................... 13 Recreation Management...................................................................... 14 Wildlife and Fisheries........................................................................... 14 Cultural Resources Management....................................................... 14 All Wilderness Alternative....................................................................... 14 Livestock Grazing Management......................................................... 14 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management....................................... 14 Recreation Management.............. 14 Wildlife and Fisheries................................................................... 14 Cultural Resources Management....................................................... 14 LANKIN DOME.......................................................................................... 15 Proposed Action (No Wilderness)........................................................... 15 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management...................................... 15 Livestock Grazing Management......................................................... 15 Recreation Management...................................................................... 15 Wildlife Management........................................................................... 15 Cultural Resources Management....................................................... 15 i CONTENTS All Wilderness Alternative...................................................................... 15 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management...................................... 15 Livestock Grazing Management........................................................ 15 Recreation Management.................................................................... 17 Wildlife Management.......................................................................... 17 Cultural Resources Management...................................................... 17 SPLIT ROCK........................................................................................... 17 Proposed Action (No Wilderness).......................................................... 17 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management...................................... 17 Livestock Grazing Management........................................................ 17 Recreation Management.................................................................... 17 Wildlife Management.......................................................................... 17 Cultural Resources Management...................................................... 17 All Wilderness Alternative...................................................................... 17 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management...................................... 19 Livestock Grazing Management........................................................ 19 Recreation Management.................................................................... 19 Wildlife Management.......................................................................... 19 Cultural Resources Management...................................................... 19 SAVAGE PEAK........................................................................................ 19 Proposed Action (No Wilderness)......................................................... 19 Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Management...................................... 19 Livestock Grazing Management........................................................ 19 Recreation Management.................................................................... 19 Wildlife Management........................................................................
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