United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Emigrant Crevice Mineral Withdrawal Draft Environmental Assessment Custer Gallatin National Forest Park County, Montana March 2018 Emigrant Crevice i For More Information Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51258 or contact: Sitka Pence Custer Gallatin National Forest PO Box 130/10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59771 Phone: 406-587-6985 Title page photographs by Dan Seifert and Doug Madsen (2017). 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Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] . USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. ii Figure 1. Vicinity map displaying the proposed Emigrant and Crevice minerals withdrawal areas, in relation to Yellowstone National Park, the Absaroke-Bearthooth Wilderness, North Absaroka IRA, Chico Peak IRA, and the Sliding Mountain RNA (facing north). iii Table of Contents Common Acronyms Used .................................................................................................................. vi Section 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Location .......................................................................................................................... 1 Emigrant ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Crevice .......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Purpose of and Need for Action ................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Decision Process ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Analysis Framework ................................................................................................................... 6 Forest Plan Consistency ................................................................................................................ 6 43 Code of Federal Regulation 2301.3-2 ...................................................................................... 8 1.6 Public Participation ................................................................................................................... 10 Public Comments Received ......................................................................................................... 11 Section 2: Proposed Action and Alternatives................................................................................ 13 2.1 Elements Common to both Alternatives ................................................................................... 13 2.2 Alternative A: No Action .......................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Alternative B: Proposed Action 20 year Mineral Withdrawal ................................................... 14 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ............................................. 15 Section 3: Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Minerals .................................................................................................................................... 17 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 18 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 23 3.2 Scenic Resources ...................................................................................................................... 25 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 25 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 26 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 29 3.3 Recreation Resources ................................................................................................................ 31 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 31 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 35 3.4 Terrestrial (Wildlife) Species.................................................................................................... 37 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 38 Emigrant and Crevice .................................................................................................................. 41 3.5 Botanical Species ...................................................................................................................... 43 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 43 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 44 3.6 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................. 45 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 45 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 46 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 48 3.7 Aquatic Species ........................................................................................................................ 51 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 51 Emigrant ...................................................................................................................................... 52 Crevice ........................................................................................................................................ 53 3.8 Economics................................................................................................................................. 55 Analysis Measures ...................................................................................................................... 55 Emigrant and Crevice .................................................................................................................. 55 3.9 Heritage Resources ..................................................................................................................