United States Department of Roadless Area Conservation Agriculture National Forest System Lands in Idaho Forest Service Idaho National Forests Final Environmental Impact Statement August 2008 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, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ROADLESS AREA CONSERVATION NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS IN IDAHO FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Cooperating Agency: State of Idaho Responsible Official Secretary of Agriculture For Information, Contact: Brad Gilbert, Team Leader USDA Forest Service Idaho Roadless Rule (208) 765-7438 www.roadless.fs.fed.us Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is proposing to promulgate a rule in response to the Idaho State Petition presented by then Governor James Risch on November 29 and 30, 2006, to the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee. This final environmental impact statement (EIS) discloses the environmental and economic effects of the Proposed Rule. The purpose of the Proposed Idaho Roadless Rule is to provide State-specific direction for the conservation and management of inventoried roadless areas within the State of Idaho. The Proposed Idaho Roadless Rule integrates local management concerns with the national objectives for protecting roadless area values and characteristics. The Proposed Idaho Roadless Rule would designate a system of lands titled Idaho Roadless Areas and would establish five management themes for individual roadless areas: Wild Land Recreation; Primitive; Special Areas of Historic and Tribal Significance; Backcountry/Restoration; and General Forest, Rangeland, and Grassland. The proposed themes span a continuum that includes at one end a restrictive approach emphasizing passive management and natural restoration approaches, and on the other end, active management designed to sustain forests, rangelands, and grasslands. This continuum accounts for stewardship of the uniqueness of each individual roadless area’s landscape and the quality of roadless characteristics in that area. The final EIS evaluates three alternatives in addition to the Proposed Action: management direction for Idaho Roadless Areas provided by the 2001 Roadless Rule, Existing Plans, and a modification of the Proposed Action, the Modified Idaho Roadless Rule. The Modified Rule is the preferred alternative. _______________________________ Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Idaho FEIS Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary......................................................................................................................................1 S.1 Proposed Action (Idaho Roadless Rule).......................................................................................1 S.2 Purpose of and Need for Action....................................................................................................2 S.3 Public Involvement .........................................................................................................................2 S.4 Issues .................................................................................................................................................3 S.5 Alternatives ......................................................................................................................................3 S.6 Comparison of Alternatives...........................................................................................................8 Chapter 1. Purpose of and need for action ............................................................................21 1.1 Document Structure ......................................................................................................................21 1.2 Background.....................................................................................................................................22 1.3 Purpose of and Need for Action..................................................................................................23 1.4 Proposed Action (Proposed Idaho Roadless Rule) ...................................................................24 1.5 Decision Framework .....................................................................................................................30 1.6 Public Involvement........................................................................................................................31 1.7 Issues ...............................................................................................................................................34 Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action.......................................................37 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................37 2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail...............................................................................................38 2.3 Consideration of Comments ........................................................................................................58 2.4 Responses to Other Questions .....................................................................................................68 2.5 Comparison of Alternatives .........................................................................................................74 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ................................87 3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................87 3.2 Vegetation and Forest Health ....................................................................................................101 3.3 Fuel Management ........................................................................................................................123 3.4 Road Construction/ Reconstruction.........................................................................................147 3.5 Minerals and Energy Resources ................................................................................................159 3.6 Physical Resources.......................................................................................................................193 3.7 Botanical Resources.....................................................................................................................217 3.8 Aquatic Species ............................................................................................................................233 3.9 Terrestrial Animal Habitat and Species....................................................................................277 3.10 Scenic Quality.............................................................................................................................319 3.11 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................329 3.12 Wilderness ..................................................................................................................................345 3.13 Recommended Wilderness.......................................................................................................351 3.14 Roadless Area Characteristics..................................................................................................357 3.15 Cultural Resources.....................................................................................................................361 3.16 Idaho and Affected Indian Tribes ...........................................................................................369 3.17 Social and Economics................................................................................................................377 3.18 Other Required Disclosures .....................................................................................................413 Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordination...........................................................................417 4.1 Public Involvement......................................................................................................................417 4.2 List of Preparers...........................................................................................................................421 4.3 Tribes and Agencies Consulted and Others Contacted .........................................................430 4.4 Distribution of the Final Environmental Impact Statement ..................................................433 Table of Contents i Table of Contents Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Idaho FEIS Index.........................................................................................................................................435