United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Helicopter landings in the Twin Peaks, Lone Peak, and Mount Timpanogos wilderness areas to capture and collar mountain goats and bighorn sheep project Environmental Assessment Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake and Pleasant Grove Ranger Districts, Salt Lake and Utah Counties, Utah July 2017 Environmental Assessment Helicopter landings in the Twin Peaks, Lone Peak, and Mount Timpanogos wilderness areas to capture and collar mountain goats and bighorn sheep Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake and Pleasant Grove Ranger Districts, Salt Lake and Utah Counties, Utah Lead Agency: U.S. Forest Service Responsible Official: David C. Whittekiend, Forest Supervisor 857 West South Jordan Parkway South Jordan, UT 84095 For Information Contact: Pamela Manders, Forest Wildlife Program Manager 857 West South Jordan Parkway South Jordan, UT 84095 Cover Photo: Photo by Rusty Robinson. 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Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1: Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Project Area ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.1 Existing Condition ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Forest Plan Consistency ...................................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Public Involvement and Consultation ............................................................................................... 11 1.7.1 Scoping/Comment Period .......................................................................................................... 11 1.8 Decision Framework ......................................................................................................................... 11 1.9 Project Record ................................................................................................................................... 12 1.10 Issues ............................................................................................................................................... 12 1.10.1 Key Issues ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.10.2 Issues Addressed but not Analyzed in Detail ........................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Alternatives ............................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail ..................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Alternative A (No Action) ......................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Alternative B (Proposed Action) ................................................................................................ 14 2.2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ................................................... 15 2.2.4 Summary Comparison of Alternatives ....................................................................................... 17 Chapter 3: Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................... 18 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 18 3.1.1 Wilderness Resources ................................................................................................................ 18 Chapter 4: Consultation and Coordination .................................................................................................. 26 4.1 Preparers and Contributors ................................................................................................................ 26 4.2 Consultation and Coordination ......................................................................................................... 26 4.3 Laws and Regulations ....................................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A: Scoping Report ...................................................................................................................... 30 Appendix B: Issues Addressed but not Analyzed in Detail ........................................................................ 99 Appendix C: Design Criteria & Mitigation Measures .............................................................................. 103 Appendix D: References ........................................................................................................................... 105 Chapter 1: Purpose and Need 1.1 Introduction This Environmental Assessment (EA) discloses the environmental impacts of landing helicopters and dropping materials from helicopters to collect biological samples and collar bighorn sheep and mountain goats in the Twin Peak, Lone Peak and Mount Timpanogos Wilderness areas within the Wasatch and Uinta National Forests. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache (UWC) National Forest received this proposal from the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) as part of UDWR’s mission of conserving and managing protected wildlife populations. The biological samples enabled by the authorization of helicopter landings and drops would allow UDWR to test for disease and evaluate disease spread between the two species. The collaring enabled by the authorization of helicopter landings and drops would allow UDWR to monitor the two species’ interactions and movements in this area. This document has been prepared pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 40 CFR 1500-1508, the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) implementing regulations of, including transition language at 36 CFR 219.14, and the 2003 Wasatch-Cache (WCFP) and Uinta (UFP) National Forests Revised Forest Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMP) (USDA 2003 and 2003a). Formal planning for this project was initiated on May 25, 2016 with a legal notice in the Provo Herald and the Salt Lake Tribune. The initial proposal included the capture and collaring of mountain goats. That proposal was modified by UDWR and expanded to also include bighorn sheep because of concern of disease transfer from one species to another. A revised legal notice was published after this change on February 9, 2017. 1.2 Project Area The project area falls within the UDWR’s Wasatch