BLM U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Land Speed Record Challenger North American Eagle, Inc. Diamond Valley, Eureka County, Nevada Final Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-NV-B010-2016-0018-EA Preparing Office Battle Mountain District Office 50 Bastian Road Battle Mountain, NV 89820 December 2017 This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS i Table of Contents Chapter One: Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need for Action .............................................................................. 3 1.2 Decision to be Made ........................................................................................... 6 1.3 Public Scoping Issues Identified .......................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Relevant Issues....................................................................................................... 6 1.4 BLM Responsibilities and Relationship to Planning ............................................. 7 1.4.1 Conformance to Plans, Statutes, and Regulations ................................................. 7 Chapter Two: Management Alternatives ................................................................... 11 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................13 2.1 Proposed Action: Land Speed Record Attempt ..................................................13 2.1.1 Vehicle Description ............................................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Course Description ............................................................................................... 14 2.1.3 Access ................................................................................................................... 15 2.1.4 Staff Accommodations .......................................................................................... 16 2.1.5 Schedule and Operations ..................................................................................... 16 2.1.6 Communications ................................................................................................... 19 2.1.7 Sanitation Facilities/Trash Control ........................................................................ 19 2.1.8 Safety Including Fire Protection ............................................................................ 19 2.1.9 Applicant-Committed Biological Environmental Protection Measures .................. 21 2.2 No Action Alternative .........................................................................................23 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Analysis ...........................23 2.3.1 Alternative 1: Black Rock Desert, Nevada ............................................................ 23 2.3.2 Alternative 2: Bonneville Flats, Utah ..................................................................... 24 2.3.3 Alternative 3: Alvord Desert, Oregon .................................................................... 24 Chapter Three: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ........... 25 3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ..................................27 3.1 Effects Analysis .................................................................................................27 3.2 Resources and Issues Considered for Analysis .................................................27 3.3 Project Area Description ....................................................................................32 3.4 Human Health and Safety ..................................................................................33 LAND SPEED RECORD CHALLENGER BMDO ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.4.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 33 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ........................................ 34 3.4.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................. 35 3.5 Native American Religious Concerns .................................................................35 3.5.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 36 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ........................................ 37 3.5.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................. 37 3.6 Noxious Weeds, Invasive and Non-native Species ............................................37 3.6.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 38 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ........................................ 40 3.6.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................. 41 3.7 Recreation .........................................................................................................41 3.7.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 41 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ........................................ 42 3.7.3 Environmental Consequence of the No Action Alternative ................................... 43 3.8 Soils ...................................................................................................................43 3.8.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 43 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ........................................ 49 3.8.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................. 49 3.9 Special Status Species (Plants and Wildlife) ......................................................49 3.9.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................ 50 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ........................................ 62 3.9.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ................................. 63 3.10 Wastes (Hazardous or Solid) .............................................................................63 3.10.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 64 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ...................................... 65 3.10.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ............................... 66 3.11 Water Resources ...............................................................................................66 3.11.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 67 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ...................................... 69 3.11.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ............................... 70 3.12 Wildlife ...............................................................................................................70 3.12.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 71 3.12.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action ...................................... 75 3.12.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ............................... 79 Chapter Four: Cumulative Impacts Analysis ............................................................ 81 LAND SPEED RECORD CHALLENGER BMDO TABLE OF CONTENTS iii 4.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................83 4.1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions .............................83 4.2 Cumulative Impacts ...........................................................................................83 4.2.1 Cumulative Effects Study Area ............................................................................. 83 4.2.2 Human Health and Safety ..................................................................................... 85 4.2.3 Native American Religious Concerns ................................................................... 85 4.2.4 Noxious Weeds, Invasive and Non-Native Species .............................................. 86 4.2.5 Recreation ............................................................................................................. 86 4.2.6 Special Status Species (Plants and Wildlife) ........................................................ 87 4.2.7 Soils ...................................................................................................................... 87 4.2.8 Wastes (Hazardous or Solid) ................................................................................ 88 4.2.9 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 88 4.2.10 Wildlife ................................................................................................................. 89 4.3 Cumulative Effects of the No Action Alternative .................................................89 Chapter Five: Consultation and Coordination .........................................................