United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management In Coordination with: United States Fish and Wildlife Service Colorado Attorney General’s Office Colorado Department of Natural Resources Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/ Environmental Assessment for the West Creek Oil Spill, Gateway, Colorado Grand Junction Field Office McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area 2815 H Road Grand Junction, Colorado 81506 DOI-BLM-CO-N030-2016-0019-EA i January 10, 2018 The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the stewardship of our public lands. It is committed to manage, protect, and improve these lands in a manner to serve the needs of the American people for all times. Management is based on the principles of multiple-use and sustained yield of our nation’s resources within a framework of environmental responsibility and scientific technology. These resources include recreation; rangelands; timber; minerals; watershed; fish and wildlife; wilderness; air; and scenic, scientific and cultural values. Suggested Citation West Creek Oil Spill NRDAR Trustees. 2018. West Creek Oil Spill Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment. Prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Abbreviations and Acronyms BLM United States Bureau of Land Management CFR Code of Federal Regulations CAGO Colorado Attorney General’s Office CDNR Colorado Department of Natural Resources CDPHE Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment CWA Clean Water Act DARP Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan DOI U.S. Department of the Interior EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact HEA Habitat Equivalency Analysis MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act NCP National Contingency Plan NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NRDAR Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration OPA Oil Pollution Act PRP Potentially Responsible Party RP Restoration Plan DARP/EA Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan / Environmental Assessment Site Site of gasoline and diesel spill USC United States Code USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service iii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................. vii TABLE OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. viii CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ....................................................................................... 1 1.2 PROJECT LOCATION AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION ................................................... 1 1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED ....................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Summary of Spill History and Resulting Public Losses .................................................. 2 1.3.2 Restoration Goals ............................................................................................................. 4 1.3.3 Need for Restoration ........................................................................................................ 5 1.4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ................................................................................................ 5 1.4.1 Public Scoping: .................................................................................................................. 5 1.4.2 Internal Scoping: ................................................................................................................ 5 1.4.3 Issues Identified: ................................................................................................................ 5 1.4.4 Public Comment Period: .................................................................................................... 7 1.5 DECISION TO BE MADE .................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 2 – NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION ....... 8 2.1 ENVIRONMENT AFFECTED BY THE SPILL ................................................................ 8 2.1.1 Physical Environment ...................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Archeological and Cultural Resources ............................................................................. 9 2.1.4 Recreational Services ....................................................................................................... 9 2.2 INJURY QUANTIFICATION AND RESTORATION PLANNING ................................ 9 2.2.1 Quantification of Damages ............................................................................................. 10 2.2.2 Restoration Project Selection Criteria ............................................................................ 10 2.2.3 Injury Quantification and Development of Restoration Alternatives ............................ 12 2.3 DAMAGE ASSESSMENT COORDINATION ................................................................ 13 2.3.1 Coordination among the Trustees .................................................................................. 13 2.3.2 Coordination with Response Agencies .......................................................................... 13 2.3.3 Coordination with the Responsible Party ....................................................................... 14 2.3.4 Coordination with the Public .......................................................................................... 14 2.4 COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIIES ......................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Major Federal Laws ....................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1.1 Oil Pollution Act ..................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1.2 National Environmental Policy Act ........................................................................ 15 2.4.1.3 Clean Water Act (including Colorado Water Quality Control Act) ....................... 15 2.4.1.4 Endangered Species Act ......................................................................................... 16 2.4.2 Other Federal and State Laws, Regulations, and Policies .............................................. 16 2.4.2.1 Clean Air Act ......................................................................................................... 16 2.4.2.2 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act ...................................................................... 16 2.4.2.3 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act ....................................................................... 17 iv 2.4.2.4 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ..................................................................................... 17 2.4.2.5 Preservation of Historic and Archeological Data Act ............................................ 17 2.4.2.6 Executive Order 11990 Protection of Wetlands .................................................... 17 2.4.2.7 Executive Order 12962 Recreational Fisheries ...................................................... 18 2.4.2.8 Executive Order 13112 Invasive Species .............................................................. 18 2.4.2.9 Colorado Solid Waste Disposal Sites and Facilities Act ....................................... 18 2.4.2.10 Colorado Noxious Weed Act .................................................................................. 18 2.4.2.11 Nongame, Endangered, or Threatened Species Conservation Act ......................... 19 CHAPTER 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................. 19 3.1 PROPOSED ACTION AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES ............................................ 19 3.1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 19 3.1.2 Alternatives Analyzed in Detail ..................................................................................... 19 3.1.2.1 Alternative A – No Action Alternative ..................................................................... 19 3.1.2.2 ALTERNATIVE B – Proposed Action ................................................................... 19 3.1.2.2.1 Project 1: Enhanced access to West Creek ...................................................... 20 3.1.2.2.2 Project 2: Management of Tamarisk and other Invasive Species .................... 21 3.1.2.2.3 Project 3: Fish and Riverine Habitat Restoration along the Dolores River .. 26 3.1.2.2.4 Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Proposed Action ........................ 34 3.1.3 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ...................................................... 39 3.1.4 Plan Conformance Review ............................................................................................