ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT February 2015 Lease Parcels Wind River / Bighorn Basin District Wind River/Bighorn Basin District, Wyoming DOI-BLM-WY-R050-EA-14-49 Office Na me and State goes here February 2015 Lease Parcels Wind River / Bighorn Basin District DOI-BLM-WY-R050-EA-14-49 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................ 1-2 1.4 Conformance with BLM Land Use Plans ........................................................................ 1-3 1.5 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or Other Plans ..................................................... 1-4 1.6 Identification of Issues and Scoping ................................................................................ 1-5 1.7 Issues Considered and Eliminated From Further Analysis .............................................. 1-2 2 Description of Alternatives, Including Proposed Action ................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative ............................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ...................................................................................... 2-1 2.4 Alternative 3 – Modified and Deferred ............................................................................ 2-1 2.5 Alternatives Considered and Eliminated from Further Analysis ..................................... 2-2 3 Affected Environment ............................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 General Setting................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.3 Resources Brought Forward for Analysis ........................................................................ 3-1 3.3.1 Air Quality and Climate Change ............................................................................ 3-1 3.3.2 Socioeconomics ..................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.3 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................. 3-5 3.3.4 Livestock Grazing Management ............................................................................ 3-7 3.3.5 Vegetation (Including Invasive Species and T&E Plant Species) ......................... 3-7 3.3.6 Paleontology and Geology ................................................................................... 3-10 3.3.7 Recreation, VRM, Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, and Special Designations ....................................................................................................................... 3-11 3.3.8 Wildlife and Fish.................................................................................................. 3-14 3.3.9 Soils...................................................................................................................... 3-21 3.3.10 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 3-22 4 Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................................... 4-24 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4-24 4.2 General Analysis Assumptions and Data Limitations ................................................... 4-24 4.2.1 Assumptions ......................................................................................................... 4-24 4.2.2 Data Limitations................................................................................................... 4-24 4.3 Direct and Indirect Impacts ............................................................................................ 4-25 4.4 Alternative 1 - No Action Alternative ........................................................................... 4-25 4.4.1 Common to all Resources .................................................................................... 4-25 4.4.2 Air Quality and Climate Change .......................................................................... 4-25 4.4.3 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................... 4-25 4.4.4 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 4-25 4.4.5 Livestock Grazing Management .......................................................................... 4-26 4.4.6 Vegetation ............................................................................................................ 4-26 4.4.7 Paleontology and Geology............................................................................ 4-26 4.4.8 Recreation, Visual Resources and Special Designations ..................................... 4-26 4.4.9 Wildlife and Fish.................................................................................................. 4-26 4.4.10 Soils...................................................................................................................... 4-26 4.4.11 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 4-26 4.5 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action .................................................................................... 4-26 4.5.8 Common to all Resources .................................................................................... 4-26 4.5.9 Air Quality and Climate Change .......................................................................... 4-27 4.5.10 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................... 4-27 4.5.11 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 4-28 4.5.12 Livestock Grazing Management .......................................................................... 4-28 4.5.13 Vegetation ............................................................................................................ 4-28 4.5.14 Paleontology and Geology ................................................................................... 4-29 4.5.15 Recreation, Visual Resource, Lands with Wilderness Characteristic, and Special Designations ....................................................................................................................... 4-29 4.5.16 Wildlife and Fish.................................................................................................. 4-30 4.5.17 Soils...................................................................................................................... 4-31 4.5.18 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 4-32 4.6 Alternative 3- Modified and Deferred ........................................................................... 4-34 4.6.1 Common to all Resources .................................................................................... 4-34 4.6.2 Air Quality and Climate Change .......................................................................... 4-34 4.6.3 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................... 4-34 4.6.4 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 4-35 4.6.5 Livestock Grazing Management .......................................................................... 4-36 4.6.6 Vegetation ............................................................................................................ 4-36 4.6.7 Paleontology and Geology ................................................................................... 4-37 4.6.8 Recreation, Visual Resources, Lands with Wilderness Characteristic, and Special Designations ....................................................................................................................... 4-37 4.6.9 Wildlife and Fish.................................................................................................. 4-38 4.6.10 Soils...................................................................................................................... 4-40 4.6.11 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 4-40 4.7 Cumulative Impact Analysis .......................................................................................... 4-41 5 Consultation and Coordination ............................................................................................... 5-1 6 References, Glossary .....................................................................................................................