Environmental United States Department of Assessment Agriculture Forest True Oil LLC - Lander Peak Area Service Exploratory Proposal March Bridger-Teton National Forest 2017 Sublette County, Wyoming Township 32 North, Range 115 West, Sections 15, 16, 22, & 27 For further information contact: Don Kranendonk, District Ranger Big Piney Ranger District P. O. Box 218 Big Piney, Wyoming 83113 307-736-5500 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion. age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Lander Peak Area Exploratory Proposal Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Document Structure ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Project Background and Location ................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Regulatory Background ........................................................................................................... 3 1.3.2 Project Location ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.3 National Environmental Policy Act Documents ....................................................................... 4 1.4 Purpose and Need .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Conformance with Existing Plans ................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Decision Framework ..................................................................................................................... 11 1.7 Agency and Tribal Consultation .................................................................................................... 11 1.8 Public Involvement ........................................................................................................................ 12 1.9 Key Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 2 - PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ..................................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Project History and ExistinG Disturbance in the Lander Peak Area ............................................. 15 2.3 Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ..................................................................................................... 17 2.3.1 No Action Alternative ............................................................................................................. 17 2.3.2 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.3 Mitigation Alternative ............................................................................................................. 43 2.4 Comparison of Alternatives and Impacts ...................................................................................... 53 2.5 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ...................................................................... 65 CHAPTER 3 - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND EFFECTS .................................................................... 67 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 67 3.2 Air Quality and Climate ................................................................................................................. 68 3.2.1 Current Conditions ................................................................................................................ 68 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 86 3.3 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................................... 90 3.3.1 Current Conditions ................................................................................................................ 90 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 91 3.4 Fire and Fuels ............................................................................................................................... 91 3.4.1 Current Conditions ................................................................................................................ 91 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 92 3.5 Geologic Resources ...................................................................................................................... 94 3.5.1 Current Conditions ................................................................................................................ 94 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 102 3.6 Invasive, Non-native Species and Noxious weeds ..................................................................... 104 3.6.1 Current Conditions .............................................................................................................. 104 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 107 3.7 Land Tenure, Rights of Way and Other Uses ............................................................................. 108 3.7.1 Current Conditions .............................................................................................................. 108 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 110 3.8 Migratory Birds ............................................................................................................................ 110 3.8.1 Current Conditions .............................................................................................................. 110 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 113 3.9 Mineral Resources ...................................................................................................................... 115 3.9.1 Current Conditions .............................................................................................................. 115 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 117 3.10 Paleontological Resources ....................................................................................................... 118 3.10.1 Current Conditions ............................................................................................................ 118 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 119 3.11 Range Management ................................................................................................................. 119 3.11.1 Current Conditions ............................................................................................................ 119 i Lander Peak Area Exploratory Proposal Environmental Assessment 3.11.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 120 3.12 Recreation ................................................................................................................................. 122 3.12.1 Current Conditions ............................................................................................................ 122 3.12.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 123 3.13 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................................................ 124 3.13.1 Current Conditions ............................................................................................................ 124 3.13.2 Environmental Consequences .........................................................................................