United States Department of Final Environmental Agriculture Forest Service Impact Statement Intermountain Region Appendix A – Response Wasatch-Cache National Forest to Comments February 2003 Final Environmental Impact Statement APPENDIX A Table of Contents First Page Number Appendix A....................................................................................................... A-1 Public Involvement ........................................................................................... A-1 Introduction.................................................................................................... A-1 Public Outreach.............................................................................................. A-1 Summary of Public Comment........................................................................ A-3 General Overview of Public Comment .................................................... A-3 Overview of Comment on Specific Topics .............................................. A-5 Analysis of Public Comment ......................................................................... A-25 Agency Response to Comments .................................................................... A-29 Planning and Decision Process................................................................. A-29 Public Involvement and Collaboration..................................................... A-32 Relationship to Other Planning and Rulemaking Processes..................... A-42 The Forest Planning Process..................................................................... A-44 Funding and Fees...................................................................................... A-53 Alternatives............................................................................................... A-58 Alternative Development.......................................................... A-58 Adequacy of Alternatives ......................................................... A-60 Comparison of Alternatives ...................................................... A-61 Suggestions for New Alternatives ............................................ A-62 Alternatives Considered in Detail............................................................. A-63 Forest Plan Direction................................................................................ A-67 Management Prescription Categories ....................................... A-67 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum ............................................ A-80 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum – Site Specific Designations.............................................................................. A-82 Affected Environment .............................................................................. A-83 Environmental Values General................................................. A-83 Ecosystem/Restoration Management........................................ A-87 Topic 1: Watershed Health Management ................................ A-93 Soils, Water, and Geologic Resources............................. A-93 Air Resources................................................................... A-104 Topic 2: Biodiversity and Viability Management ................... A-105 Biodiversity and Viability Management General ............ A-105 Wildlife ............................................................................ A-107 Management Indicator Species........................................ A-118 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species.............. A-120 Vegetation........................................................................ A-123 Topic 3: Roads and Access Management ................................ A-127 Wasatch-Cache National Forest 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement Infrastructure General ...................................................... A-127 Trailhead Access and Parking.......................................... A-127 Road System Management .............................................. A-130 Trail System Management ............................................... A-137 Travel Management – Planning....................................... A-142 Travel Management – Motorized Access to Forest Resources ......................................................................... A-147 Travel Management – Roads and Trails .......................... A-148 Travel Management – Motorized Seasonal Restrictions . A-154 Travel Management – Winter Motorized ........................ A-155 Travel Management – Mechanized.................................. A-162 Topic 4: Recreation and Scenery Management ...................... A-162 Recreation and Scenery Management.............................. A-162 User Conflict/Monitoring and Enforcement .................... A-170 Motorized Recreation....................................................... A-175 Motorized Recreation – Off Road Vehicles..................... A-178 Motorized Recreation – Snowmobiles............................. A-182 Motorized Recreation – Heli-skiing................................. A-188 Motorized Recreation – Watercraft ................................. A-191 Non-Motorized Recreation .............................................. A-194 Ski Areas.......................................................................... A-196 Hunting and Fishing......................................................... A-206 Outfitter-Guides/Special Use Permits.............................. A-206 Camping........................................................................... A-207 Dogs ................................................................................. A-209 Miscellaneous Activities.................................................. A-209 Scenery............................................................................. A-210 Topic 5: Roadless Areas/Wilderness Management ................. A-210 Roadless Areas/Wilderness Management General .......... A-210 Roadless Area Management ............................................ A-212 Wilderness Management.................................................. A-216 Topic 6: Suitable Timberlands................................................. A-232 Suitable Timberlands General.......................................... A-232 Adequacy of Analysis...................................................... A-233 Allow Timber Harvest ..................................................... A-236 Not Allow/Restrict Timber Harvest................................. A-237 Insects and Disease .......................................................... A-238 Topic 7: Rangeland Capability, Suitability, and Forage Production................................................................................. A-239 Rangeland Capability, Suitability, and Forage Production General .......................................................... A-239 Legal Considerations ....................................................... A-242 Rangeland Management................................................... A-242 Subsidies .......................................................................... A-251 Grazing............................................................................. A-251 Topic 8: Special Designations ................................................. A-255 Wasatch-Cache National Forest 2 Final Environmental Impact Statement Special Designations General .......................................... A-255 Research Natural Areas.................................................... A-255 Special Interest Areas ...................................................... A-257 Wild and Scenic Rivers.................................................... A-257 Topic 9: Oil and Gas Leasing .................................................. A-259 Oil and Gas Leasing General ........................................... A-259 Adequacy of Analysis...................................................... A-260 Allow Leasing.................................................................. A-262 Do Not Allow/Restrict Leasing ....................................... A-262 Topic 10: Fire Management..................................................... A-262 Fire Management General................................................ A-262 Adequacy of Analysis...................................................... A-264 Legal Considerations ....................................................... A-264 Education ......................................................................... A-264 Fuels Management........................................................... A-265 Heritage Resources ................................................................... A-267 Locatable and Salable Minerals................................................ A-268 Adequacy of Analysis...................................................... A-269 Mineral Extraction ........................................................... A-269 Social and Economic Analysis.................................................. A-270 Social and Economic Analysis General........................... A-270 Social Values ................................................................... A-271 Economic Values ............................................................. A-273 Lands, Real Estate, and Property Boundary Management ....... A-282 Lands, Real Estate, and Property Boundary Management General............................................................................. A-282 Land Purchases and Exchanges ....................................... A-283 Access .............................................................................