TransWest Express EIS Section 3.15 – Special Designations 3.15-1 3.15 Special Designation Areas SDAs are units of land managed by federal or state agencies for the protection and enhancement of specific resource values. SDAs may be Congressionally or agency-designated. Congressionally designated SDAs within the Project analysis area include NWRs, national monuments, WAs, WSAs, WSRs, NCAs, NHTs, and other similar management areas. Agency-designated SDAs include BLM ACECs and USFS IRAs and unroaded/undeveloped areas (URUD). Recreation areas and wildlife management areas identified in this section as designated land use areas are described in more detail in Section 3.13, Recreation Resources. MOAs are described Section 3.16, Transportation. 3.15.1 Data Sources Information regarding special designations within the analysis area was obtained from a review of existing published sources and agency land use management plans. SDAs (including USFS IRAs) were identified using GIS data from the USFS, the BLM, and the states of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Current land use information was obtained from available GIS data, topographic maps, and internet-based tools including GoogleEarthTM. A list of the land use plans used in the development of this section is presented in Tables 1-3 and 1-4. Vegetation species are presented in a manner consistent with the NRCS Plants Database (NRCS 2010), unless otherwise specified. 3.15.2 Analysis Area The analysis area for special designations comprises all SDAs with portions of land within the 2-mile transmission line corridors and terminal areas for the various alternatives. The 2-mile transmission line corridor was selected because it encompasses all surface disturbances from construction of the transmission line construction as well as development of access roads and other construction support facilities. In addition, noise and other disturbances from transmission line construction generally would dissipate to background levels well within the 2-mile transmission line corridor. For purposes of clarity, SDAs have been broken out into sets of four maps each; each set containing a separate figure for each region. Figures 3.15-1 through 3.15-4 depict the NCA, national monument, NRA, NWRs, research natural areas, and ACECs. Figures 3.15-5 through 3.15-8 identify the wilderness, proposed wilderness, WSA, and WSRs. NHTs, IRAs, and URUD areas are depicted on separate sets if maps and are included with the appropriate discussions in Section 3.15.3. SDAs that are near, but not within, the 2-mile transmission line corridor are depicted on the maps but are shown in grey (i.e., a “special management area” per the map legend) and are unlabeled. 3.15.3 Baseline Description 3.15.3.1 National Wildlife Refuges The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the USFWS, is a national system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants. The analysis area includes portions of two of the four refuges comprising the Desert NWR complex in Region III (see Figure 3.15-3). • Pahranagat NWR (5,380 acres): Established to provide habitat for migratory birds, especially waterfowl. • Desert NWR (1.5 million acres): Established for the protection, enhancement, and maintenance of desert bighorn sheep. Draft EIS June 2013 TransWest Express EIS Section 3.15 – Special Designations 3.15-10 As part of the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 (PL 108–424), administrative jurisdiction over approximately 8,382 acres of land along the eastern boundary of Desert NWR and west of U.S. Highway 93 was transferred from the USFWS to the BLM for use as a utility corridor. 3.15.3.2 National Monuments National Monuments, established through the Antiquities Act of 1906, may be presidentially or congressionally designated to protect “objects of historic or scientific interest.” The Dinosaur National Monument is the only national monument to occur within the analysis area. It is managed by the NPS. Per 2006 NPS Park Management Policy, per the Organic Act and the General Authorities Act, actions would not be allowed that would impair integrity of resources or values whose conservation is necessary to fulfill specific purposes identified in the establishing legislation or proclamation of the park, or key to the natural or cultural integrity of the park or to opportunities for enjoyment of the park, or identified in the park’s general management plan or other relevant NPS planning documents as being of significance. Before approving a proposed action that could lead to an impairment of park resources and values, an NPS decision-maker must consider the impacts of the proposed action and determine, in writing, that the activity will not lead to an impairment of park resources and values. Actions cannot be approved that individually or cumulatively would: • Be inconsistent with a park’s purposes or values; • Affect the attainment of a park’s desired future conditions for natural and cultural resources as identified through the park’s planning process; • Create an unsafe or unhealthful environment for visitors or employees, or diminish opportunities for current or future generations to enjoy, learn about, or be inspired by park resources or values; • Unreasonably interfere with park programs or activities, or an appropriate use, or the atmosphere of peace and tranquility, or the natural soundscape maintained in wilderness and natural, historic, or commemorative locations within the park; or NPS concessioner or contractor operations or services. Utility ROWs over lands administered by the Park Service are governed by statutory authorities in 16 USC 5 (electrical power transmission and distribution, radio and TV, and other forms of communication facilities) and 16 USC 79 (electrical power, telephone, and water conduits). If not incompatible with the public interest, rights-of-way issued under 16 USC 5 or 79 are discretionary and conditional upon a finding by the Service that the proposed use will not cause unacceptable impacts on park resources, values, or purposes. ROWs may be issued only pursuant to specific statutory authority, and generally only if there is no practicable alternative to such use of NPS lands. The Dinosaur National Monument includes more than 200,000 acres of river canyons, mountains, and basins and contains world renowned geological and paleontological resources, important prehistoric petroglyphs and pictographs, and historic-era artifacts. This area also provides habitat for more than 1,000 native species of plants and animals and provides recreational access to the Yampa River (see Section 3.13, Recreation Resources). The portions of Dinosaur National Monument within Region I are located in the far west portion of the National Monument and include the National Monument entrance from Highway 40 north of Elk Springs, Colorado, and portions of the approximately 12-mile Deerlodge access road closest to Highway 40 (see Figure 3.15-1). The ROW for the portion of the Deerlodge road that is within the analysis area is approximately 200 feet wide, and is surrounded by private land. There is an 800-foot scenic easement (400 feet on either side of the road) on portions of Deerlodge Road closer to national monument recreation areas; however, the NPS has not yet purchased the scenic easement within the analysis area. Draft EIS June 2013 TransWest Express EIS Section 3.15 – Special Designations 3.15-11 The average daily traffic using Deerlodge Road is less than 350 vehicles. Most traffic along Deerlodge Road occurs from May through September as rafters and kayakers take advantage of higher flows in the Yampa River from winter snow melt. Deerlodge Road is plowed in the winter, but may be closed during the winter months due to snow and snowdrifts (NPS 2013). The NPS is currently preparing an EA for a proposed road improvement project, which includes resurfacing, restoring, reconstructing, bank stabilization measures, and installing new drainage measures along Deerlodge Road. The proposed project may be constructed in two phases, depending on available funds. Phase I (proposed for 2013) would include bank stabilization along the Yampa River near milepost 9.5, and Phase II (proposed for 2016) would include the pavement rehabilitation and other parking area modifications (NPS 2013). The portion of Deerlodge road within the analysis area would be upgraded during Phase II. The portions of the Dinosaur National Monument within Region II comprise a very small portion of national monument lands west of the Harper’s Corner entrance road on Highway 40 near Dinosaur, Utah. 3.15.3.3 Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System and a process for federal agencies to recommend wilderness areas to Congress. Wilderness, as defined by the Wilderness Act, is untrammeled (free from man's control), undeveloped, and natural, offering outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation. Wilderness Areas have been designated within existing national parks, NWRs, national Forests, and BLM-managed public lands to be managed to preserve wilderness characteristics. Agencies typically recommend areas for wilderness designation; however, the public at large can develop its own wilderness proposal for introduction by any member of Congress. With the passage of FLPMA in 1976, Congress directed the BLM to inventory public land for wilderness characteristics including the appearance of naturalness;