Wyoming Statewide Wilderness Study Report Wilderness Study Area Specific Recommendations

Transcription

1 Utah State University All U.S. Gvernment Dcuments (Utah Reginal Depsitry) U.S. Gvernment Dcuments (Utah Reginal Depsitry) Wyming Statewide Wilderness Study Reprt Wilderness Study Area Specific Recmmendatins United States Bureau f Land Management Recmmended Citatin United States Bureau f Land Management, "Wyming Statewide Wilderness Study Reprt Wilderness Study Area Specific Recmmendatins" (1991). All U.S. Gvernment Dcuments (Utah Reginal Depsitry). Paper This Reprt is brught t yu fr free and pen access by the U.S. Gvernment Dcuments (Utah Reginal Depsitry) at DigitalCmmns@USU. It has been accepted fr inclusin in All U.S. Gvernment Dcuments (Utah Reginal Depsitry) by an authrized administratr f DigitalCmmns@USU. Fr mre infrmatin, please cntact becky.thms@usu.edu.

2 U.S. Department f the Interir Bureau f Land Management Wyming State Office September 1991 Wyming Statewide Wilderness Study Reprt Wilderness Study Area Specific Recmmendatins WILDERNESS STUDY REPORT Prepared by: U.S. Department f the Interir Bureau f Land Management Wyming State Office Cheyenne, Wyming September 1991 Vlume II -/ if COMPLETED

3 Wilderness Study Areas in Wyming TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary Analysis f WSA Recmmendatins Or... Creek/COdy studj Owl Creek Study Area Bbcat Draw Badlands Study Area 12 Sheep Muntain Study Area Red Butte Study Area. 34 McCullugh Peaks Study Area ~. I I CASPER ISTRICT Wa.bakie Study Hneycmbs Study Area Cedar Muntain Study Area Medicine Ldge Study Area. 75 Alkali Creek Study Area. 86 Trapper Creek Study Area Lauder Study Sweetwater Canyn Study Area Cpper Muntain Study Area Sweetwater Rcks (Lankin Dme) Study Area. 129 Sweetwater Rcks (Split Rck) Study Area Sweetwater Rcks (Savage Peak) Study Area Sweetwater Rcks (Miller Spring) Study Area.. 158,.33,_.34 ' =---=..::::::- A-Grass Creek/Cdy Wilderness EIS 1. Owl Creek 2. Bbcat Draw Badlands 3. Sheep Munta in 4. Red Butte 5. McCullugh Peaks B -Washakie Wilderness EIS 6. Hneycmbs 7. Cedar Muntain 8. Medicine Ldge 9. Alkali Creek 10. Trapper Creek C -WhilklY Muntain Dubis Badlands Wildern"s EIS 11. Wh iskey Muntain 12. Dubis Badlands D - Lander Wild"ness EIS 13. Sweetwater Canyn 14. Cpper Muntain 15. Sweetwater Rcks (4 Areas' E -Adbe Twn Ferrj, Munuin, Wild,rnes, EIS 18. Adbe Twn 17. Ferris Muntains F -Scab Cteek Wikl'rn,u EIS 18. Scab Creek lei 7 \ 1.1~1 \.19 \ ':.-..-~ j/ G-Gr t Divide Wilderness EIS 19. Encampment River Canyn 20. Prspect Muntain 21. Bennett Muntain "-Rck Springs Wilde,ness EIS 22. Lake Muntain 23. Raymnd Muntain 24. Buffal Hump 25. Sand Dunes 26, Alkali Draw 27. Suth Pinnacles 28. Alkali Basin/East Sand Dunes 29, Red Lake 30. Hneycmb Buttes 31. Oregn Buttes 32. Whitehrse Creek 33. Devil's Playgrund/Twin Buttes 34. Red Creek Badlands I-~~~:r~~~~ ~n~:lt~:~ 36. Nrth Frk 'n Frtificatin Creek J - Billings Wildern,n EIS 38. Pryr Muntain 39. Bighrn Tack-n Dubis BadlaDda/Wbiakey Muntain Study Dubis Badlands Study Area Whiskey Muntain Study Area Adbetwn/rerris MuntaiDs Study Adbetwn Study Area 184 Ferr is Muntains Study Area Great Divide Study Encampment River Canyn Study Area Prspect Muntai n Study Area Bennett Muntains Study Area Rck Springs District study Lake Muntain Study Area Raymnd Muntain Study Area Buffal Hump Study Area Suth Pi nnacles Study Area Sand Dunes Study Area Alkali n BaSin/East Sand DuneB Study Area Alkali Draw Study Area Red Lake Study Area Hneycmb Buttes Study Area Oregn Buttes Wh i tehrse Creek Study Area III

4 Devils Playgrund/Twin Buttes Study Area Red Creek Badlands Study Area Buffal study Gardner Muntain Study Area Nrth Frk Study Area Frtificatin Creek Study Area SUMMARY ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC WSA RECOMMENDATIONS Billing. study Pryr Muntain Study Are a Bighrn Tack-On Study Are a Appendix - Scab Creek ISA Reprt.... l - l 396 Appendix 2 - InhldingB and Acquisitins Table WORLAND DISTRICT ii jv

5 OWL CREEK WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (W5A) 1. THE STUDY AREA acres The Owl Creek WSA (WY-OIO-I04 a, b, C) cnsists f three units ttalling 710 acres (see map). The WSA is lcated in Ht Springs Cunty, apprximately 60 miles west f Thermplis, Wyming. The bundary f tract A is frmed by the washakie Wilderness t the nrth, the Suth Frk f Owl Creek and the Wind River Indian Reservatin t the west, by Klicker Creek t the suth, and private land n the east. Tract B is adjacent t the Washakie Wilderness, which frms the nrth bundary and private land surrunds the rest f tract B. The east bundary f tract C extends alng Rck Creek and the Washakie Wilderness n the west. The nrth bundary is frmed by a shrt segment f private prperty and the suth bundary is lcated alng the suth sectin line f sectin 31. BLANK PAGE The unit is c mpsed f three separate tracts lcated near the wl Creek Muntains and the Absarka Muntains near a peak called the Washakie Needles. The landscape is dminated by a majr ridge line that divides the main drainages f Rck Creek and the Suth Frk f wl Creek. Several steep, rugged spur ridges extend laterally frm the main ridge, and are sharply separated by a number f deep side-draws that drain int the relatively wide, flat bttms f the main drainages. Tracts 104a and 104c are cmpsed f mderately vegetated spur ridges that drp sharply frm abut mid-slp9 dwn t the wide bttms f the Suth Frk f Owl Creek and Rck Cree k. The steep slpes are cvered with irregular dense patches f mixed cnifers intersper sed with expsed areas f bare, rcky sil. cnifers mingle with linear patches and islated pckets f aspen alng the steeper draw bttms. Track 104b is a lng, narrw str ip lcated abve the timber line alng the crest and upper western slpes f the main ridge line dividing the Suth Frk f Owl Creek and Rck Creek. Severe weathering and ersin n the s teep rcky slpes and cliffs are accentuated by the cmplete lack f vegetatin alng the ridge line. Elevatins in the unit range frm almst 10,900 feet alng the bare ridge crest in tract 104b t 9,200 feet in the sutheast crner f tract 104c alng t he Rck Creek bttm, and 9,000 feet a l ng the Suth Frk f Owl Creek in the suthern tip f tract 104a. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPMA) and was included in the Grass Creek/cdy Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in August There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS, N Wilderness and All wilderness. The All Wilderness Alternative is the r ecmmendatin f this reprt.

6 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE acre. rec_ended fr wilderness acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderness All Wilderness is the recmmendatin fr this WSA. This is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it will r esult i n the least change frm the natural envirnment ver the lng term. The recmmendatin was based partly n the fact that the area is natural in appearance and prvides an utstanding resurce base fr wilderness-dependent pprtunities and experiences. There are a few imprints in the area but they d nt detract frm the natural character f the area. This natural setting f remte rugged tpgraphy challenges the recreatinist seeking a primitive, nnmtrized-type experience, as well as prviding utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. when added t the adjacent Washakie Wilderness, the area is large enugh t accmmdate wilderness-dependent activities and prvide experiences such as the feeling f being uncnfined. These pprtunities will remain even if recreatinal use f the area increases ' '~~~ ~~~~ +- ~ -dql~ ~~~~ Washakie '/V dl "" " '3505 N The recmmendatin was based partly n the recreatin,.l ptential f the WSA and adjacent Washakie Wilderness which is exceptinal. The scenic terrain pr vides a base fr sightseeing, hiking, hunting, trapping, wildlife bservatin and phtgraphy, backpacking, and hrseback r i ding; which cmbine t ffer a diverse, unique and high quality recreatin and wilderness pprtunity with the adjacent Washakie wi lderness. The recmmendatin was als based partly n the fact that the cnflicts with ther resurce uses f this WSA are limited. Grazing use wi ll be allwed t cntinue. Limited frestry r t i mber values exist. Develpment f il and gas resurces are nt anticipated because f t he high csts and envirnmental prtectin stipulatins designed t prtect sils, watershed, fisheries, scenery, and big game habitat. The Off-Rad Vehicle Amendment t the GrasB Creek Resurce Area Management Framewrk Plan (BLM, 1990) has designated the area clsed t mtrized vehicle use. T ~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~43 N R 4W R3W NONE Recmmended fr Wilderness Rec mmended fr Nnwilderness 1111 fffl~ IIII Spnt Estate Er«>NE@ State 1?t/~/e2j Private 4 Owl Creek Prpsal MILES 5 WY-Ol0-l04 June,1990

7 Table Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Owl Creek Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area 9LH (sl'rface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (state, private) Ttal Within the Rp'-- -:-,,:,, ~nded Wilderness Bundary BLM \ within WSI". l Br :<t (utside WSA, :split Estate (witt. in WSA) Split Estate (uts:. de WSA) Ttal BLM land recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (state, Private) Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal BLM land nt recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 710 0_ _ 710 B. Slitude: The Owl Creek WSA prvides utstanding pprtunities fr slitude and fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin nly insfar as it is a cntiguus prtin f the adjacent 704,274 acre Washakie Wilderness area. Hwever, rugged terrain brken by steep draws and the e xcellent vegetative cver and the remteness f the area prvide gd pprtunities fr slitude. C. Primitive and Uncnfined Recreatin: The Owl Creek WSA prvides ut.standing pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin nly in s far as it is cntiguus with the adjacent Washakie Wilderness Area. Visitr use is lw (less than 100 visits per year). The area ffers a scenic, high qualit ~ experience fr thse seeking primitive recreatin pprtunities such as hiking, camping, and hrse riding. The perennial streamflws f Rck Creek and the Suth Frk f Owl Creek prvide imprtant trut fishing pprtunities. Deer, elk, bighrn sheep, and mse hunting r viewing is excellent n the irregularity timbered slpes and brad drainage bttms. D. Special Features: The WSA prvides imprtant critical habitat fr deer, mse, elk, bear, and bighrn sheep. There have been uncnfirmed bservatins f Nrthern Rcky Muntain wlf and bservatins f grizzly bear in the vicinity f the WSA. The gelgy f the area is largely unexpl red and ffers excellent pprtunities fr study f tertiary vlcanics in the area. There are tw culturally significant sites which are believed t be eligible fr the Natinal Register f Histric Places. These sites are imprtant fr study f high altitude abriginal ccupatin. Diversity in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS) 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATIONS wilderness Characteristics A. Naturalness: All three units are lcated n the majr ridge line that divides Rck Creek and the Suth Frk f Owl Creek. The eastern mst unit is psitined n the steep nrtheast facing flank f the ridge drpping dwn t the Rck Creek drainage. The slpe has a dense stand f cnifers with sparsely vegetated a lpine species at higher elevatins. The western unit is n the suthwest f lank f the ridge i n the drainage f the Suth Frk f wl Creek. On this slpe, cnifers mingle with islated pckets f aspen and areas f sagebrush vegetatin. The central unit lies abve timberline astride the ridge crest. Severe weatheri ng has e xpsed extensive areas f rck utcrp and steep r ck slpes sparsely vegetated with alpine species. Elevatins in the WSA range frm 9,000 feet alng the Suth Frk f Owl Creek t 10,900 feet alng the ridge crest. The Owl Creek WSA cntains a primitive jeep trail and a f ence alng the Suth Frk f Owl Creek and a fenced r ipar ian enclsure in the Rck Creek drainage bttm. Their impact t the wilderness quality f the area is insignificant. A. Expanding the Diversity f Natural Systems and Features! As Represented by Ecsystems & Landfrms: Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld nt add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the NWPS. The Owl Creek WSA is i n the Rcky Muntain Frest Prvince ecsystem. Apprximately 10,258,000 acres f this ecsystem are already included in the NWPS. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas Dmain/Prvince/PNW Areas Acreage Dry Dmain/Rcky Muntain 18 1, 349,971 Prvince/Duglas Fir Frest NATIONWIDE WYOMING Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage ,444 Dry Dmain/Rcky Muntai n 9 851,433 Prvince/Duglas Fir Frest 199,380 6

8 B. Assessing the pprtunities fr slitude r primitive recreatin within a day'. driving time (five hurs) f majr ppulatin centers. The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 sul'm\arizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers There are n mining claims within the WSA. There is n knwn present r past prductin f cal r lcatable r salable minerals within the study area. N knwn r suspected depsits f lcatable minerals in ecnmic quantities are within the WSA. Impact. n Other Resurces The fllwing cmparative impact table (see table 4) sul'm\arized the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. NWPS areas Other BLM Studies Ppulatin Center Areas Acreage Areas Acreage Casper, Wyming Billings, Mntana 27 4,080, ,808, , ,483,717 C. Balancing the Gegraphic Distributin f Wilderness Areas ; Designatin f the OWl Creek WSA wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic distributin f \liilderness but it is a natural extensin and lgical additin t the Washakie Wilderness. Currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f designated wilderness reginally l.ncluding the fllwing larger units: Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acres), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Papa Agie (101,810 acres), Washakie (704,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The WSA is cnsidered t be manageable as wilderness, and management wuld be crdinated with the adjacent U.S. Frest Service-administered Washakie wilderness. The OWl Creek WSA wuld be an additin t the cntl.guus 704,274-acre Washakie Wilderness. The BLM wuld be capable f maintaining wilderness values ver 'the lng term. Energy and Mineral Resurce Values The U.S. Gelgical Survey and the Bureau f Mines prepared a mineral assessment fr the Creek WSA in 1989 (U.S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin ). That assessment is the primary surce fr the fllwing discussin. The prbable presence f reservir quality rcks, ptential large anticlinal traps and the prximity f il shws in ptelltial reservir rcks i nn i cate the ptential fr ccurrence f il in the WSA is high. There are n pre FLPMA leases but there are tw pst-flpma leases cvering 420 acres in the Central and Rck Creek units f the WSA. Bth leases will expire by 1991, unless they are held by prductin n any part f the lease. 9

9 Table 4 ajlparatlve SUlCARY OF I"'ACTS BY At TERIlATlVE IIi lderness Values Issue Tpics Explratin and Develpment liildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Fisheries and Riparian Habitat All liilderness (Prpsed Actin) The wilderness val ues f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and lm'lcnf ined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 710 acres. An increase f 200 visi tr use days per year after 20 years is anticipated as a result f designating the area as wilderness and the prximity f t he liashakie liilderness area. Althugh wilderness designatin wuld preclude il and gas explrat in and develpment, there wuld be n effect because n develpment is anticipated in the absence f wilderness designatin. liilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term prtectin f migratin rutes fr abut 350 elk, mule deer, and 140 Bighrn sheep; elk calving habitat; Bighrn sheep winter and spring range; and mse and mule deer spring, summer, and fall range n 710 acres. liilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term prtectin f riparian and fisheries habitat frm surface-disturbing activities. Cnstructing fences arund fur springs and maintaining abut 3 miles f fence designed t exclude livestck frm streams and r iparian areas wuld restre riparian znes and fisheries. Fish ppulatins wuld increase three-fld ver a 30- t 50-year perid. N IIi lderness The prtectin f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined re:::reatin, and special values is nt assured. Thse values are expected t remain unchanged, hwever, because restrictins n surface-disturbing activities t prtect the envirnment wuld be applied n all 710 acres in the lisa. Only slight increases in visitr use are anticipated ver the next 20 years. Due t restrictins n surface ccupancy and the high cst f directinal drilling, n il and gas explratin r develpment is anticipated. As a result f surface-use restrictins, elk, mule deer, and Bighrn sheep ppulatins; elk calving habitat; Bighrn sheep winter and spring range; and mse and mule deer spring, summer, and fall range wuld be prtected. Althugh nt assured prtectin, riparian and fisheries habitat are nt expected t be adversely affected. The restratin f riparian and fisheries habitats wuld permit a three-fld increase in trut ppulatins. 10

10 Lcal Scial and Ecnaic Effects Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character i dentif ied during the study f this WSA. Su..ary f "SA-Specific Public C_ant. Inventry: Nine cmments were received n this unit. Tw cmments disagreed with the prpsed decisin t designate the unit as a Wilderness Study Area but cited ther resurce values and philsphical arguments fr their ratinales. Five f the cmments in favr f the prpsed decisin addressed issues ther than wilderness characteristics in their ratinales. Tw cmments cited the units' wilderness characteristics in their supprt f the prpsed designatin. Based n public input received, the final decisin n this unit is t establish it as a frmally designated Wilderness Study Area. Draft EI5: The Draft Owl Creek Supplement EIS received a ttal f 45 cmments n the recmmendatins and analysis frm the i ndividuals, rganizatins, businesses, and state and federal agencies. The cmments were received either rally r in writing, thrughut a 90-day public cmment perid (May 2, 1986 thrugh July 31, 1986). One public hearing was held in Thermplis, Wyming in June 26, Five individuals attended the public hearing; nly ne individual testified. The testimny was in supprt f wilderness designatin (see Public Hearing Transcripts). Frty-fur letters were received that included: 1. Twenty-tw letters were in s upprt f wilderness 2. Furteen letters were ppsed t wilderness 3. Eight letters cncurred with the BLM ' s analysis and recmmendatins Lcal, State and Federal Agency Cmments: Thirteen letters were received frm federal and state agencies. Ten agencies either supprted r cncurred with the BLM's recmmendatin and analysis and three agencies (including the Office f the Gvernr), ppsed the BLM's recmmendatin. 1. THE STUDY AREA - BOBCAT DRAW BADLANDS WILDERNESS STUDY WA (WSA) 11«150 acre. The Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA (WY-OIO-126) includes 17,150 acres f public land administered by the Bureau f Land Management (BLM). There are 1,390 acres f state-wned lands inhldings within the wilderness study area (see map and table 1). The WSA is lcated in Washakie and Big Hrn Cunty, apprximately 25 miles west f Wrland, Wyming. The suthern, western, and eastern bundary f the WSA fllw primitive rads. The nrtheast bundary fllws a rad and then deturs arund a state-wned sectin T. 49 N., R. 97 W., sectin 36, and cntinues alng a rad t the sutheast t a tw-track trail which was used as a bundary t exclude an area lacking wilderness characteristics. A prtin f the nrthern bundary is lcated alng private land. The western prtin f the WSA is dminated by brad, grass-cvered benches r ridges that are separated by deep, wide drainages running int the Big Draw drainage t the nrth r the Flfteenmile drainage t the east. Bare, rugged desert pckets f clrful badland scenery and frmatins like hds, spires, and mushrms are predminant in the central and suthern prtins f the unit and ffer interesting attractins t recreatinists. Rich clrs f range, red, and purple are layered thrughut the brken, erded tpgraphy f this Willwd gelgic frmatin. The flat, sandy drainage f Fifteenmile Creek, thickly vegetated with sagebrush and greasewd, extends alng the nrthern fringe f the unit. The highly variable terrain and the rugged, clrful badland tpgraphy ffer a unique and interesting wilderness and primitive recreatin setting. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPMA) and was included in the Grass Creek/Cdy Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in August There were fur alternatives analyzed in the EIS: All Wilderness (17,150 acres); N Wilderness; Larger All Wilderness with additin (22,440 acres) (a.k.a. Wilderness Manageability; and All Wilderness with additin (18,540 acres) (Prpsed Actin) (a.k.a. Cnflict Reductin) which is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENPATIOH AND RATIONALE - 18,540 acre. rec_ended fr wilderne acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderness The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t designate 17,150 acres f SLM land and 1,390 acres f State land as wilderness. This alternative is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change in the natural envirnment ver the lng term. The entire 17,150 acres f federal land and 1,390 acres f state land within the WSA are recmmended fr wilderness designatin and are shwn n the Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA map. The state lands wuld be recmmended fr acquisitin t enhance the manageability f the area as wilderness. Appendix 1 lists all inhldings and split estate tracts and prvides additinal infrmatin n acquisitin f inhldings and split estate minerals

11 The principal reasns fr the suitable recnvnendatins are the diverse and interesting badland features, the exceptinal primitive recreatin and slitude pprtunities; the naturalness present in the area, the pprtuni ty t expand t he diversity f ecsystems represented in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS), and the minimal cnflicts with ther resurces. The recmmendatin was based partly n the diverse and high quality values f the WSA and it is felt that wilderness is the highest and best use in a multiple use cntext fr the WSA. The 18,540 acres recnvnended fr wilderness designatin are desert badland-type terrain lcated in the Willwd Frmatin. The study area is highly scenic and unique, with bth scenic vistas and intimate, secluded areas dminated by interesting landfrms erded by wind and water. The area ffers habitat fr the Fifteenmile wild hrse herd and falls within the wild hrse herd management area. Other features f the area include the Bcenic, cultural, gelgical, palentlgical, watershed, and wildlife (deer, antelpe, bbcats, upland game) values. In recmmending the WSA fr wilderness, the fact that it is in the Wyming Basin Prvince Ecregin and is classified a s a cmbinatin f wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe, saltbush-greasewd, and sagebrush steppe vegetatin classes, which is nt presently represented by BLMadministered lands in the wilderness system, was an imprtant cnsideratin. ~~--~~~~~~~~~~--~~---1 R98W T 47 N NONE Rec. mmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness IIII N0:~ 1111 I Spl;t Estate I Stare 13 Land utside WSA e:@~. Recmmended fr _,... _ Wilderness Bbcat Draw Badlands Prpsal tft~1a Pd'ate MILES WY-Ol0-126 JUNE,1990

12 Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Bbcat Draw Badlands Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (8LH surface nly) Inhldings (state, private) Ttal Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal 8LM land recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 11 Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness 17,150 0 ~ 18,540 17, _ 17,150 1,390 BLM 0 Split Estate _0_ Ttal 8LK land nt reclmtended fr wilderness 0 Inhldings (State, Private) (state) (state) Appendix 1 is a detailed descriptin f inhldings a nd/r split estate tracts included within the study. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING TeE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATIONS Wilderne Characteristics A. Naturalnes.: The suthwestern crner f the WSA is dminated by lng, flat-tpped, grassland ridges r plateaus that extend finger-like between badland breaks and drainages. The mst striking feature f the area is the rugged badland terrain separating these ridges frm the drainage bttms. The actin f wind and water n layers f sft clay sandstne and ancient vlcanic ash interspersed between ersin-resistant rck and shale layers has cut a maze f deep narrw draws leaving jagged angular ridges. Badland features such as range, red, tan, gray, and white striated cliffs, hds, and mushrms jut up frnl silted bttms and erded pckets thrughut the landscape. These badland breaks give way t flat, grassy drainage bttms near the eastern and nrthern edges f the area; but even this flatter terrain is interrupted by badland hillcks and ersinal features. 15 The Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA basically appears natural with negligible verall influence f human imprints. The clrful badlands prvide a natural setting that entices peple t view and explre the many varied shapes carved ut f the landscape. Many f the faint evidences f man, such as vehicle trails, fences, livestck reservirs, and cherry-stem rads, are becming even less and less distinct as time and natural prcesses bliterate them and d nt substantially detract frm natural character because f their wide dispersin ver the 18,540 acres, the tpgraphic screening, and the lw impact f the intrusins individually. The presence f numerus wildlife species enhances the area ' s naturalness and visitrs may encunter antelpe, deer, raptrs, game birds, and small animals. B. S litude, The Bbcat Draw Badlands ffers an utstanding pprtunity fr slitude. The rugged badland tpgraphy thrughut mst f the area prvides screening and a prfund sense f seclusin that is enhanced by the remte natural character f the WSA. Visitrs are prvided ample pprtunities t avid the sights and sunds f ther visitrs in the stark, rugged badlands and drainages. In areas with a vista, vast expanses surrund the viewer and the Absarka Muntains t the west and the Bighrn Muntains t the east are visible. c. Priaitive and Uncnfined Recreatins The Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA, in cmbinatin with its size, varied and rugged tpgraphy, diversity f landscape, and scenic attributes, cntains utstanding pprtunities fr a primitive and uncnfined type f recreatin. The badland setting prvides utstanding hiking, explring, and "freedm f mvement" pprtunities. Rck cllecting, wildlife viewing, hiking, hunting, hrseback riding, nncnsumptive wildlife use, phtgraphy and gelgical sightseeing are activities which ccur in this WSA. Visitr use is lw (apprximately 240 plus visitr use days per year). D. Special Feature.: The Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA ffers special features and scenic beauty which are utstanding. Terrain in the unit is highly unique and variable in land frm and clr. The study area is lcated in the Willwd gelgic frmatin famus fr its early Ecene perid vertebrate fssils. The area's uniqueness results frm the presence f hard ersin resistant rck layers spaced every few feet between layers f sft erdible material. The clrs brightly cntrast between different sil and rck layers. Weathering f these layers has created a "Devil's Garden" f arches, gblins, castles, and ther fantastic r fanciful landfrms. There are tw culturally significant sites which are believed t be eligible f the Natinal Register f Histric Places. These sites are imprtant because f their ccurrence in a badland-type setting. The WSA is within the Fifteenmile Wild Hrse Herd Management Area. This herd is managed with an average annual bjective f 100 adult hrses ver a five-year perid. It is expected that an average f apprximately 25 t 30 hrses wuld use the study area n a year-~und basis. In additin, the Natinal Park service has identified the Gseberry Badlands and the east ridge f Fifteenmile Creek (bth lcated within r near the WSA) as ptential Natinal Natural Landmarks. 16

13 The ~SA cntains palentlgical resurces which are f natinal significance ~nd l.nclude: fsslls f vertebrates (fish, crcdiles and turtles), l.nve~tebrates (gastrpds, pelecypds, and abundant stracdes), and plant fss1.ls. There are tw cultura!ly significant sites which are believed t be eli gible fr the Natinal Register f Histric Places. These sites are imprtant because f their ccurrence in a badland-type setting. Diveraity in the Natinal Wilderne Pre.ervatin Sy.te. (NWPS) Ppulatin Center Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS areas Areas Acreage Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage A. Expanding the Diver.ity f Natural Sy.t nd... ture. a. Repre.ented by Ec.y.te and Landfr..1 The Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA is in the Wyming Basin Prvince Ecregin. DeSignatin f this WSA wuld add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the NWPS. Thus it wuld add cnsiderable diversity t the NWPS, bth eclgically and frm a diversity f recreatin experiences and pprtunities standpint. There currently are n representative wheatgrass needlegrass shrub steppe, aaltbush greasewd, and sagebrush steppe classificatin classes f the Wyming Basin Ecregin in the NWPS. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe, Sal tbush-greasewd Sagebrush steppe Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvi nce Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe, Saltbush-greasewd Sagebrush steppe Table Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas Areas Acreage NATIONWIDE WYOMING 17,000 17,000 Other BLH Studies Areas Acreage , ,408 B. A.aea.ing the Opprtunitie. fr Slitude r Pri.itive Recreatin within O.y. Driving '1'i (Pive Hur.) f M.ir Ppul.tin Cent.rs: The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f desi gnated areas and ther BLM study are ~ s within f i ve hurs dri ve f the ppulatin centers. Casper, Wyming B1llings, Mntana 27 4,080, ,808, , ,466,577 C. Balancing the Gegr.phic Di.tributin f wildern Are : Designatin f the Bbcat Draw Badlands wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic d i stributin f wilderness. Currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f desi gnated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units : Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,484 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acres), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Ppa Agie (101,870 acres), Washakie (104,274 acres), and Bridger (428,081 acres). Hwever, desi gnatin f Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA wuld help t balance the p!>rtuni ties t attain diverse wilderness experiences by adding a dry, "cld",jesert badland area t the system and diversify ecsystem representatin in the NWPS. Bbcat Draw is l cated clse t twns in the Bighrn Basin s that users wuld nt have t travel great distances t visit the areas. In this respect, there i s a gegraphic distributin benefit t designati ng Bbcat Draw Badlands. The majrity f designated areas are typi cal U. S. Frest Service ~reas and d nt ffer extensive ecsystem diversity r desert areas fr recreatinists, r lng seasns free frm snw. Manageability (the area must be capable f being ~ ~fec ti ve l y managed t preserve its wilderness character) The WSA is manageable as wilderness, althugh management actins such as public educatin, rute clsures, enfrcement, s i gning and cmpliance patrls will be needed in varying degrees. A wilderness management plan wuld be written identifying crdinatin and management needs. The area i s surrunded by public land which makes management f and planning f any facilities (e.g. trailheads) mre feasible. The lcatin f the tw state sectins in this WSA is such that it wuld be desirable t include these sectins in a designatin in rder t enhance management. The state f Wyming has i ndicated that it wuld want t wrk ut exchanges fr any f its lands included in an a rea recmmended fr wi lderness designatin

14 Energy and Mineral Resurce Values Frm infrmatin gathered by the U.S. Gelgical Survey and the U.S. Bureau f Mines, this study area is near the deepest structural part f the Bighrn Basin, a typical structural and tpgraphic inter-mntane basin in the Rcky Muntain Regin. The WSA has high ptential fr il and gas resurces beneath the Bbcat Draw Badlands WSA. Explratin and prductin is rated at mderate ptential cnsidering the cst f drilling and prducing these reserves versus anticipated incme which currently is nt favrable fr gas explratin. The deepest lcatins fr gas in the Bighrn Basin are fund beneath Bbcat Draw Badlands making develpment highly imprbable and unecnmical. One well, lcated 3.5 miles west f. the study area, had an initial gas prductin f 1,443 thusand cubic ft f gas per day. This prducer, ultimately drilled t a depth f ver 23,000 feet, was a reentry f an earlier hle drilled tw years befre and then abandned as a dry hle. Tw ther explratin wells have been drilled in the vicinity, ne within the bundaries f the study area (drilled t ver 18,000 feet and abandned as dry) and ne drilled abut tw miles nrtheast f the study area (drilled t ver 16,000 feet and reprted as dry but with a shw f gas). There are nfj pre-flpma r pst-flpma leases in the WSA. N knwn r suspected depsits f lcatable minerals in ecnmic quantities are within the WSA. The ptential fr lcatable and salable minerals is rated as lw. Currently, there are n mining claims within the WSA. Ptential fr cal develpment is cnsidered lw. Impacts n Other Resurces The fllwing cmparative impact table summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 19

15 TABLE 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics Cnflict Reductin (Prpsed Actin) All Yilderness Yilderness Manageability N Yi lderness (N Actin) Yilderness Values The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values wuld be assured statutry prtectin n 18,540 acres. An additinal 260 visitr use days per year are predicted by the end f 20 years. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 17,150 acres. An additinal 260 visitr use days per year are anticipated by the end f 20 years. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 17,150 acres. An additinal 260 visitr use days per year are anticipated by the end f 20 years. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin wuld be el iminated and special values impaired n 26 acres. Impai rment wuld ccur n an additinal 640 acres because f the sights and sunds assciated with deep gas explratin and develpment. Yi lderness values wuld I ikely be retained n the remainder f the WSA because n actins are anticipated which wuld cause impai rment. N increased visitr use is anticipated. Explratin and Develpment f leasable Minerals Yilderness designatin wuld preclude the prductin f apprximately 10 billin cubic feet f gas. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude the prductin f apprximately 10 billin cubic feet f gas. Yilderness designatin wuld preclude the prductin f apprximately 10 billin cubic feet f gas. Apprximately 10 billin cubic feet f natural gas wuld be recvered frm tw gas wells drilled in the WSA n 1,883 acres nt affected by envirnmental restrictins. Yater Qua l i ty There will be n change in sediment lading int the Bighrn River. Fencing the Island Reservir will increase its effective life by ten years. Fencing and guzzler develpments will maintain water quality by preventing addi tinal sediment lading int the Bighrn River. The Island Reservir's effective life wuld be extended by ten years. Sediment lading (abut 26,000 tns per year) in the Bighrn River wuld nt be affected by fencing and guzzler develpments. The Island Reservir's useful life wuld be extended by ten years. Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld increase by 40 tns per year. In cmparisn, naturally ccurring natural sediment lads f abut 26,000 tns per year riginate within the WSA. The Island Reservir's useful life wuld be extended by ten years. Yildlife Habitat Yilderness designatin wuld assure lng term prtectin f wildlife habitat fr 130 mule deer and 250 antelpe in the YSA. In additin, bird and upland game habitat quality wuld be improved by prviding mre water at critical times f the year. Yilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat fr 130 mule deer and 250 antelpe n 17,150 acres. Bird and upland game habitat quality wuld be imprved by prviding mre water during critical times f the year. Yilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat fr 180 mule deer and 325 antelpe n the 22,440 acres f the study area. Bird and upland game habitat quality wuld be imprved by prviding mre water at critical times f the year. Twenty mule deer wuld be displaced frm apprximately 1,200 acres f habitat because f the eliminatin f frage and cver n areas disturbed by deep gas explratin and develpment, and because f their avidance f human activity. Other wildlife wuld nt be affected by deep gas explratin and develpment. Bird and upland game habitat quality wuld be imprved by prviding better water availability at critical times f the year. 20

16 Lcal Scial and Ecnmic Effects Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Summary f WSA-Specific Pubic Cmments Inventry: Fifteen cmments were received n this unit, three f which addressed ther resurce values which were analyzed fr input in the multiple resurce st~dy phase f the wilderness review prcess. Five f the cmments agreed with the prpsed decisin but did nt prvide a rat inale as t why they agreed. Fur f the seven cmments that specifically addressed wilderness identificatin characteristics were in favr f a Wilderness Study Area. Tw f these cmments were lcal and generally supprted the prpsed decisin. The tw nnlcal cmments supprting WSA identificatin (ne frm ut-f-state) als questined the inventry determinatin f tw rutes as maintained rads and bundaries, and supprted the additin f tw areas that were deleted frm the area recmmended fr designatin as a result f the tw rads. Subsequent analysis f evidence f use and maintenance n these rutes has cnfirmed that their designatin as rads and bundaries was apprpriate. The three cmments that disagr eed with the prpsed decisin were all lcal. The general ratinale given by these cmments was a fundamental disagreement with the intensive inventry findings and interpretatins f naturalness and utstanding pprtunity. Additinally, tw f the cmments asserted that a vehicle way that had been determined t be a~ unmaintained tw-track trail has been used and maintained by a lcal livestck firm in its winter grazing peratins. Redesignatin f this rute wuld delete it as a ne mile cherry-stem rad extending int the unit; n additinal area wuld be deleted frm the prtin f the unit identified as a WSA. Draft EIS: The draft Grass Creek/cdy Wilderness Suitability EIS received a ttal f 181 letters and public hearing cmments n the recmmendatin and analysis frm individuals rganizatins, businesses, and 90-day public cmment perid (August 16, 1984 thru Nvember 16, 1984). Tw public hearings were held; ne in Wrland, Wyming n September 18, 1984, and the ther in Cdy, Wyming, n September 19, Six testimnies were received; tw in Wrland, and fur in Cdy. Fur f the six testified in supprt f wilderness designatin. The majrity (158), f the cmments favred wilderness designatin. 21

17 Federal, St ate, and Lcal Agency Cmments: Thirteen letters frm state and federal agencies were rece ived. Three letters expressed cncern ver the BLM's recmmendatins and the stated ratinale. These letters were primarily cncerned with the prtectin f desert badlands, scenic quality, and wilderness values. Eight letters frm the state f Wyming (including the Office f the Gvernr), cncurred with the BLM's recmmendatins and tw letters frm federal agencies had n cmment. 22

18 APPENDIX 1 ESTIMATED COST OF ACQUISITION OF NON-FEDERAL HOLDINGS YITHIN AREAS RECOMMENDED FOR DESIGNATIONS Y Legal Descriptin Number f OWners (Prir t any Ttal (I f Parcel has Surface Subdivisinal) Acreage been Subdivided) Estate Type f Ownership by Estate (Federal, State, Private, ther) Slbsurface Estate Presently Prpsed fr Acquisitin (Yes, N) Preferred Methd f Acquisitin (Purchase, Exchange ther) Estimated Cst f Acquisitin Land Csts Prcessing Csts T.48N.,R.97\1. Sectin 16 and T.49N.,R.97\1. Sectin 36 1, 390 State f Yyming State f Yyming N Exchange The standard csts in this appendix in n way represent a frmal appraised value f the land in general estate, but are rugh estimates based n sales r exchanges f lands r mineral estates with similar characteristics t thse included in the YSA. The estimates are fr purpses f establishing a range f ptential csts t the gvernment f acquiring nn-federal hldings and in n way represent an ffer t purchase r exchange at the cst estimate included in this appendix. 23

19 1. TIlE STUDy AREA - SHEEP MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS S:rtI!!Y AREA (WSA) 23,250 acre. The recmmendatin cnsidered that, while the wilderness values described in the 2 (c) criteria f the 1964 Wilderness Act are present in the WSA, these values are nt present t the degree deemed necessary fr wilderness designatin. The WSA des nt cntain any Single feature r cmbinatin f features significant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. The Sheep Muntain WSA (WY-OIO-130) includes 23,250 acres f BLM-administered public lands, and 640 acres f split estate lands (see table 1 and map). The WSA is lcated in Big Hrn cunty apprximately miles nrthwest f Wrland, Wyming and ls-20 miles west f Greybull and Basin, Wyming. State and private lands and the Burlingtn Pass Rad frm the western bundary f the WSA. The eastern bundary is alng a majr il pipeline (right-f-way W-331S1) and the Drsey Creek Rad. The suthern bundary is lcated alng the twnship line t exclude areas lacking the wilderness characteristic f naturalness and a finger f nn-wsa created by rads accessing livestck management facilities. The nrthern bundary fllws a rad and an il pipeline. The WSA cntains bare, rugged badlands created by peaks and ridges brken by irregular, sharply cut drainages radiating frm the central prtin f the area that is dminated by Sheep Muntain. The bare, red-hued sils f this area are highly erded, creating a dissected, rugged landfrm. The area is dminated by the rugged badlands frmed by irregular ersinal and drainage patterns. There are n perennial streams. Sheep Muntain and the eastern-mst prtin f Tatman Muntain are the dminant tpgraphic features. Sharply incised drainages radiate frm these muntains and cmbine t frm mderately brad, flat, grassy bttms separated by runded badland ridges alng the perimeter f the unit. Elevatins range frm 5,900 feet n Tatman Muntain t 4,500 feet in the drainage bttm. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPHA) and was included in the Grass Creek/Cdy Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in August There were fur alternatives analyzed in the EIS : All Wilderness (23,2s0 acres designated); Partial Wilde rness (14,540 acres designated) (a. k.a. Cnflict Reductin); Wilderness Enhancement {23,SOO acres designated} (a.k.a. Wilderness Manageability); and N Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) (0 acres designated), which is the recmmendatin f this reprt. The recmmendatin did tuxe int accunt the fact that the area was evaluated as appearing t retain a natural character during the wilderness inventry, but there are vehicle r seismgraph, cherry-stem rads, trails, nineteen reservirs, and 7. 5 miles f fence segments. Because f these imprints, naturalness is nt exceptinally pristine r unique, exemplary, r signi ficant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. The recmmendatin cnsidered the fact that the area was evaluated as having utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin and slitude during the wilderness inventry. The terrain des prvide a base} fr vehicle travel, hiking, hunting, trapping, wildlife bservatin, and hrseback riding. Hwever, these pprtunities are nt ttally dependent n this area, r significant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. The recmmendatin is als based n the cnflicts with ther resurce uses f this WSA. Mderate t high ptent ial fr the ccurrence f hydrcarbn resurces exists with mderate ptential fr explratin and prductin. There are n pre-flpha leases and 16 pst-flpma leases cvering apprximately 5,055 acres. The recmmendatin als cnsidered manageability cncerns regarding a split-estate sectin lcated in the interir f the WSA, which greatly increases ptential manageability prblems arising frm access, and the 25 pst-flpha leases and il and gas structures alng the nrtheastern bundary f the WSA. The n wilderness alternative wuld als allw mineral explratin t ccur in an area with il and gas ptential. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - acre. rec_ended fr wilderness 23,250 acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderness N wildernesb ia the recmmendatin f this reprt, resulting in the release f 23,250 acres fr uses ther than wilderness (map 1). All Wilderness is the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change i n the natural envirnment

20 Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Sheep Muntain Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Ests.c.e (BLM aurface nly) Inhldinga (State, Private) Ttal Within the Recmmended WildernesB Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA ) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM land recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 22, _ 23,250 0_ Within t he Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal 8LM land nt recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 22,610 ~ 23, CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WIl,DERNESS RECOMMENDATION Wildeme Cbaracteri.tic. A. Naturalne : The area is dminated by the rugged badlands frmed by the ersive actin f wind and water n the shales and sandstnes f the Willwd Frmatin. Sharp ridges and barren hills separate innumerable branches f the larger drainages. Elk Creek, Drsey Creek, and Dry Creek are the main drainages; nne f which are perennial streams. The Sheep Muntain WSA appears t retain a minimally natural character, althugh there are impacts frm intrusins such as vehicle and seismgraph trails, nineteen reservirs a nd 7.5 miles f fence. The i r.lpacts f these intrusins d nt substantially detract frm the natural cha'cacter f the WSA because they are widely distributed and well screened. [ NONE Sheep Muntain Prpsal Rec mmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness I ~NONE~ WMYjj MILES Split Estate State Private ~ WY - Ol0-130 June.1990 B. Slitude: The Sheep Muntain WSA cntains rugged badl and tpgraphy. Size, screening, and cnfiguratin in the WSA prvides pprtunities fr slitude. Public lands in th':' s area typically receive lw-use levels and slitude i s the nrm n the majrity f public lands in the vicinity. 27 :2f.f BEST COPY AVAILABLE

21 C. Priaitive and Uncnfined Recreatin: The Sheep Muntain WSA and the rugged tpgraphy prvide a resurce base fr a variety f primitive recreatin pprtunities, such as gelgic sightseeing and cllecting, hunting, trapping, phtgraphy, hiking and backpacking. These pprtunities are nt ttally dependent n this area r unique. The netwrk f ridges and drainages radiating frm Sheep Muntain prvides many islated travel rutes. The terrain is nt s rugged as t significantly restrict r cnfine travel. The erded badlands are highly scenic and add visual diversity. Ppulatin Center Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr ppulatin Centers NWPS areas Areas Acreage Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage D. Special Features: The Sheep Muntain cntains limited supplemental values, including gelgic and palentlgic resurces and ccasinal use by wild hrses. The WSA is lcated in the Willwd Frmatin and includes fssils frm the Early Ecene Perid such as Hepldn (mammal ancestral t tapirs) and Bunphws (Mammals ancestral t pigs). Diversity in the Natinal wilderne Pre.ervatin Sy.tea (HWPS) A. Expanding the Diversity f Natural Syatea. and Features. As Represented by Ecsyste and Landfl'll.: Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the NWPS. There currently are n representative BLM - administered wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe vegetatin classificatins f the Wyming Basin Prvince Ecregin represented in the NWPS. A 17,000-acre area (Frest Service-administered Nrth Absarka Wilderness) represented by this ecsystem is included in the NWPS. This ecsystem is nt represented under any ther frm f prtective management. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe Dry Dma i n/wyming Ba s i n Prvi nce Wheatgrass-need legrass shrub steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas Areas Acreage NATIONWIDE WYOMING 17,000 17,000 Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage ,004 81,408 B. A ing the Opprtunities fr Slitude r Primitive R.creatin within a pays Driving Ti (5 hr.) f Mair ppulatip C.nt.rs: The WSA is within a f i ve hur dri ve f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five h urs drive f the ppulatin centers. Casper, Wyming Billings, Mntana 27 4,080, ,808, , ,460,477 C. Balancing the Gegraphic Distributin f Wilderne Areaa: Designatin f the Sheep Muntain WSA wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphi::: distributin f wilderness. Currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f designated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units: Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acres), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Pp Aqie (101,810 acres), Washakie (704,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Hwever, designatin f Sheep Muntain Badlands wuld help t balance the pprtunities t attain diverse wilderness experiences by adding a dry, "cld" desert badland area t the system and diversify ecsystem representatin in the NWPS. Sheep Muntain is lcated clse enugh t twns in the Bighrn Basin that users wuld nt have t travel great distances t visit the areas. In this respect, there is a gegraphic distributin benefit t designating Sheep Muntain. The majrity f designated areas are typical USFS areas and d nt ffer ecsystem diversity r desert areas fr recreatinists, r lng seasns free frm snw. Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The WSA is manageable as wilderness subject t the fllwing cncerns and ptential cnflict. A split-estate sectin is lcated in the interir f the WSA, which greatly increases ptential manageability prblems shuld energy develpment ccur. The existing pst FLPMA leases pse sme manageability prblems fr the area, as well as the presence f il and gas resurces alng the nrtheastern bundary f the WSA. Energy and Mineral Resurce Values Ptential fr the ccurrence f hydrcarbn resurces is mderate (13,00-16,000 feet deep) and mderate ptential exists fr explratin and prductin. There are n pre-flpma leases and 15 pst-flpma leases cvering apprximately 5,055 acres f the WSA. Thirteen leases will expire by December 1993, and tw leases will expire by the end f Octber 1998, unless they are held by prductin n any part f the lease. One lease is currently being held by a prducing unit

22 Lw ptential exists fr lcatable and salable minerals. N knwn r suspected depsits f lcatable minerals in ecnmic quantities are within the WSA. currently there are n mining claims in the WSA. Gelgic frmatins knwn t cntain ecnmically valuable depsits f cal elsewhere in the Big Hrn Basin ccur in the subsurface beneath the study area. Their great depth (3,000 t 5,000 feet), pr grade, and lcal ~xtent (lignite in the Tatman Frmatin) preclude any present ecnmic cnsideratin. Impacts n Other Resurces The fllwing cmparative impact table (See Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 30

23 Table 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics N IIi lderness (Prpsed Actin) All liilderness Cnflict Reductin liilderness Manageability IIi lderness Values The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and pr i mi t i ve and uncnf i ned recreatin wuld be el iminated and special values impai red n 26 acres. Additinally, sl i tude wuld be impai red n as many as 640 acres surrunding il and gas develpment because f the sunds assciated with deep gas explratin and develpment. IIi lderness values wuld be retained in the remainder f the area because n impairing actins are anticipated. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and U1Cnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be assured statutry prtectin n 23,250 acres. An increase f 320 visitr days per year is anticipated by the end f 20 years. The liilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected by statute n 14,540 acres. The prtectin f thse values wuld nt be assured n 8,684 acres and wuld be lst n 26 acres. An increase f 320 visitr use days per year is expected ver 20 years. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 23,800 acres. An increase f 320 visitr days per year is anticipated by the end f 20 years. Explratin and Develpment f leasable Minerals Apprximately 6 billin cubic feet f gas and 100,000 barrels f il wuld be recvered frm tw wells drilled in the lisa n lands nt cvered by surface disturbance restrictins. liilderness designatin wuld preclude the prductin f apprximately 6 billin cubic feet f gas and 100,000 barrels f il. Apprximately 6 billin cubic feet f gas and 100,000 barrels f il wuld be recvered frm tw wells develped n lands nt designated wi lderness. liilderness designatin wuld preclude the prductin f apprximately 6 billin cubic feet f gas and 100,000 barrels f il. liater Qual i ty Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River via Fifteenmile Creek wuld increase by 40 tns per year. Current sediment lads f abut 35,000 tns per year riginate frm within the lisa. The Big Pi t Reservir's useful life extended by ten years. There will be n change in sediment lading int the Bighrn River. The Big Pit Reservir's useful life wuld be extended by ten years. Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld increase by 40 tns per year. The lisa's current sediment lad is abut 35,000 tns per year. The Big Pit Reservir's useful life wuld be extended ten years. Sediment lads f abut 35,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Big Pitt Reservir's useful life wuld be extended by ten years. 31

24 Table 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics N Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) All Wi lderness Cnflict Reductin Wilderness Manageability Wildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Twenty t thirty mule deer wuld be displaced n apprximately 1,260 acres f habitat frm the eliminatin f frage and cver n areas disturbed by deep gas explratin and develpment, and their avidance f hunan activity. Other wildlife wuld be unaffected. Bi rd and upland game habi tat wuld be enhanced by the installatin f guzzlers. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng term prtectin f wildlife habitat fr 150 mule deer, 15 antelpe, and up t 5 bighrn sheep n 23,250 acres. Bird and upland game habitat quality wuld be imprved by prviding better water availability during critical times f the year. Twenty mule deer wuld be displaced frm apprximately 1,200 acres f habitat because f hunan activity. Deer use n 26 acres wuld be eliminated because f lst frage and cver n areas disturbed by il and gas explratin and develpment. Other wildlife wuld be unaffected. Bird and upland game habitat wuld be enhanced by the installatin f ten guzzlers. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng term prtectin f wildlife habitat fr 150 mule deer, 15 antelpe, and up t 5 bighrn sheep n 23,800 acres. Bird and upland game habitat quality wuld be imprved by prviding mre water during critical times f the year. 32

25 Lcal Scial and Ecnaic Effects Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this W5A. Sua.ary f "SA-Specific Public Cmments Inventry: Eleven cmments were received n this unit. Only tw cnvnents were ppsed t the prpsed decisin t establish a W5A, these cmments cited ther resurce values and ratinales ther than wilderness characteristics f their ppsitin. Six f the cnvnents in f avr f the prpsed decisin were r generally philsphical in nature r cited ther resurce values such as wildlife as ratinales fr agreement with the decisin. Three cnvnents specifically cited the unit's natural character and pprtunities fr pri~itiv~ recreatin and slitude in their supprt fr the prpsed des1.gnat1.n. As a result f analysis f public cmment, the final decisin was t frmally designate this unit, as described in the prpsed decisin as a Wilderness Study Area. ' Draft EIS: The Draft Grass Creek/Cdy EIS received a ttal f 181 letters and public hearing cmments n the recnvnendatin and analysis frm individuals rganizatins, businesses, and ninety-day public cmment perid (August 16, 1984 thrugh Nvember 16, 1984). Tw public hearings were held; ne in Wrland, Wyming n September 18, 1984, and the ther in Cdy, Wyming n ~eptember 19, Six testimnies were received; tw in Wrland, and fur 1.n. Cdy. Fur f the six test ified in supprt f wilderness designatin. The majrity (150), f the cmment.s favred wilderness designatin. Lcal, State, Federal Agencies. Thirteen letters frm state and federal agencies were received. Three letters expressed cncern ver the Bureau ' s recmmendatins and the stated ratinale. These letters were primarily c~ncerned with the prtectin f desert badlands, scenic quality, and w1.1~erness values. Eight letters frm the state f Wyming (including the Off1.ce f the Gvernr), cncurred with the Bureau's reclmlendatins and tw letters frm federal agencies had n cnvnent. 1. THE STUDY AREA - RED BUTTE WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (WSA) acre. The Red Butte W5A (WY-OI0-131) is 11,350 acres f public land administered by the Bureau f Land Management (BLM). The WSA is lcated in Big Hrn Cunty apprximately 15 miles nrthwest f Wrland, Wyming (see t a ble 1 and map). All bundaries are lcated alng imprved dirt rads in an area f 100 percent blcked-up public land. The entire bundary except fr apprximately 1.5 miles f sectin line n the west side f the WSA, cnsists f dirt rads n BLM-administered public lands. Tw segments f the unit bundary, a I-mile lng sectin in the nrtheastern crner and a I-mile prtin f the western bundary, were used because f human-made intrusins immediately utside f the bundaries frmed by these segments. The WSA cntains bare, rugged badlands created by peaks and ridges brken by irregular, sharply cut drainages radiating frm the central prtin f the area that is dminated by Red Butte. The bare, red-hued sils f this area are highly erded, creating a dissected, rugged landfrm. The nrtheastern prtin exhi bits less rugged badlands intermixed with a series f small bench-like terraces verlking the flat drainage bttm f Fivemile Creek. This area exhibits a mderately dense cver f sagebrush-grass vegetatin i n cntrast with the pen ridges. In the western prtin f the unit, the badlands pen up t brad, shallw drainages and flat-t-rlling plains alng the drainages f Reservir Creek and the Nrth Frk f Fifteenmile Creek. Vegetatin i n this prtin f the uni t is predminantly a saltbush-grass assciatin. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPMA) and was included in the Grass Creek/Cdy Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in August There were three alternatives analyzed in the EI5: All Wilderness (11,350 acres), Wilderness Enhancement (a. k. a. : Wilderness Manageability) (10, 250 acres), and N Wilderness. The N Wilderness Alternative is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - acre. recmmended fr wi1derne 11,350 acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderne The recmmendatin fr this W5A LS t release 11,350 acres tr uses ther than wi derness. The All Wilderness Alternative is the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change in the natural envirnment. Implementatin f the N Wilderness Alternative will be in a manner which will use all practical means t a vid significant envirnmental impacts

26 The recmmendatin cnsidered that, while the wilderness values described in the 2(c} criteria f the Wilderness Act are present in the WSA, these values are nt pre sent t the degree deemed necessary fr wilderness designatin. The WSA des nt cntain any single feature r cmbinatin f features signif icant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. The recmmendatin did tak.e int accunt the fact that the area was evaluated as appearing t retain a natural character during the wilderness inventry, but there are ld trails frm il and gas activities, 12 reservirs, and fence segments ttalling 5 miles. Because f these imprints, naturalness is nt necessarily unique, truly utstanding, r significant enugh t warrant designatin. The recmmendatin cnsidered the fact that the area was evaluated as having utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin and ijlitude during the wilderness inventry. The terrain des prvide a base fr vehicle travel, hik.ing, hunting, trapping, wildlife bservatin, and hrseback riding; hwever, these pprtunities are nt necessarily unique r f high quality, dependent n this area, r significant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. The recmmendatin cnsidered the cnflicts with ther resurce uses f this WSA. Sme cnflicts wuld exist if designatin were t ccur, particularly with il and gas resurces since il and gas resurces are estimated t cver apprximately ne-third f the WSA. ~E Recmmended f r Wilderness Recmmended f r Nnwilderness IIIIN#:~IIII E~NE J Split Estate State Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness ~q;/e2j Private Red Butte Prpsal MILES WY - Ol June.1990

27 Table Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Red Butte Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (8LM surface nly) Inhldings (state, private Ttal Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal 8LH land recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BU! Split Estate Ttal BLH land nt recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING 1'BE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATI ON Wilderness Characteristics 11,350 11,350 0_ 11,350 0_ A. Naturalness: The study area cnsists f rugged, clrful badland ridges and peaks brken by irregular, sharply cut drainages. Red Butte dminates this central terrain at an elevatin f 5, 185 feet. The nrtheastern prtin f the WSA exhibits less rugged badlands intermixed with a series f small bench-like terraces verlking Fivemile Creek. This area exhibits a ' mderately dense cver f sagebrush-grass vegetatin in cntrast with the bare, red-hued badland ridges. In the western prtin, the badlands pen up t brad, shallw drainages and flat-t-rlling plains. The Red Butte WSA retains a minimal f natural character because f cumulative impacts frm intrusins such as ld seismgraph trails and vehicle trails thrughut the area, 5 miles f fence line extending thrugh the eastern half, and 12 reservirs scattered thrughut the WSA. The wide dispersal f intrusins detract smewhat frm the natural character f the WSA cnsidering the relatively small size and the lack f an abslute pristine character. B. slitude: The Red Butte WSA ffers an pprtunity fr slitude, which is enhanced by the badland tpgraphy and the islated character, and prvides an pprtunity t avid the presence f thers. The winding drainages and steep ridges prvide screening in the cre f the unit. Opprtunities fr slitude are nt dependent n the WSA r rated as exceptinal fr the immediate area r the regin because the area is nt highly unique r diverse, r exceptinally large. c. Primitive and Uncnfined Recreatin: The varied terrain f the Red Butte WSA prvides a resurce base fr a variety f primitive recreatin pprtunities such as gelgic sightseeing, phtgraphy, backpacking, hiking, and hrseback riding. Visitrs hiking r explring the area n hrseback can enjy the vivid clrs and interesting ersinal features. Visitr use is limited (apprximately 120 visitr use days per year) because f the area' s remteness and harsh weather. D. Special Feature.: The Red Butte WSA cntains supplemental values such as gelgical and palentlgical values and includes specimens f an extremely rare arctgnid (ancestral mammal t the trdern hfed mammals). Diversity in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin Systea (NWPS) A. Expanding the Diversity f Natural Syste.s and Features«as represented by Ecsystems and Landfras: Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the NWPS. There currently are n representative BLli-administered cmbinatin saltbush-greasewd and sagebrush steppe vegetatin classificatins f the Wyming Basin Prvince Ecregi n presently included in the NWPS. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Saltbush-greasewd and Sagebrush steppe Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Saltbush-greasewd and Sagebrush steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas Areas acreage Prvince/ 0 0 Prvince/ 0 0 NATIONWIDE WYOMING Other BLH Studies Areas Acreage , ,

28 B. A e ing the pprtunities fr Slitude r Primitive Recreatin within a Days Driving Time <Five Burs> f Majr ppulatin Centers : The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS areas Other BLM Studies ppulatin center Areas Acreage Areas Acreage Gelgic frmatins knwn t cntain ecnmically valuable depsits, f cal elsewhere in the Bighrn Basin ccur in the subsurface beneath the study area. Hwever, their great depth (at least 4, 000 t 5,000 feet) precludes any present ecnmic interest. There is n knwn present r past prductin f lcatable r salable minerals within the study area. N mining claims r mineral material sites exist in the WSA and nne are anticipated. Impact n Other Resurce. The fllwing cmparative impact table (see table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. Casper, wyming 27 4,080, ,271 Bill ings, Mntana 12 4, 808, ,472,377 c. Balancing the Gegraphic Distributin f Wilderness Areas : Designatin f the Red Butte WSA wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic distributin f wilderness. Currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f designated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units: Absarka Beartth (944,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acras), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Pp Agie (101 / ~ " ') acres), Washakie (704,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Manageability (the a rea must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The WSA is manageable as wildernes s, hwever, management csts wuld be high due t the rad access t t he bundaries f the WSA. Energy and Mineral Resurce Value. The study area is lcated near the deepest structural part f the Bighr n Basin. The BLM estimated that t here i s mderately ptential fr the ccurrence f hydrcarbn resurces and mderate pte ntial fr explratin and prductin. Almst ne-third f the WSA is in a knwn il and gas area, the area is 60 percent leased, and adjacent t the Wrland Anticline. A prducing il and gas field, the Obi e Creek field, i s lcated less than five miles east f the WSA. Cnsiderable gephysical explratin and sme wildcat drilling have taken place i n the im:nediate vicinity f the WSA i n recent years. The Fivemile Field is a current area f high interest and activity. These effrts have nt been adequate t allw definite cnclusins t be drawn abut the presence f prducible il and gas in the WSA. There are n pre-flpma leases and seven pst-flpma leases cvering apprximately 1,315 acres i n the WSA. These leases will expire by the e nd f 1993, unless they are held by prductin n a.ny part f the lease

29 TABLE 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics N Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) All Wilderness Wilderness Manageability Wilderness Values Deep gas explratin and develpment wuld eliminate the wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin n 13 acres. The sunds f that activity wuld impair naturalness and slitude in an area f 640 acres surrunding the develpment. Wilderness valup.s wuld be retained in t he remainder f the area because n impairing actins r increased visitr use are anticipated. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 11,350 acres. An increase f 180 visitr use days per year is anticipated by the end f 20 years. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be retained n all 11,350 acres because f wilderness designatin and the absence f surface-disturbing prjects. An increase f 180 visitr days per year is anticipated by the end f 20 years. Explratin and Develpment f Leasable Mineral3 Apprximately 4 billin cubic feet f gas and 100,000 barrels f il wuld be recvered frm ne well drilled in the WSA n lands nt affected by envirnmental restrictins. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude the develpment f apprximately 4 billin cubic feet f gas and 100,000 barrels f il. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude the develpment f apprximately 4 billin cubic feet f gas and 100,000 barrels f il. Water Quality Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld increase by 20 tns per year. Currently, natural sediment lads f 17,000 tns per year riginate frm within the WSA. The useful life f Jeanne's Reservir wuld be extended by ten years. Sediment lads f 17,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld rema in unchanged. The useful life f Jeanne's Reservir wuld be extended by ten years. Sediment lads f 17,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. The useful life f Jeanne's Reservir wuld be extended by ten years. Wildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Fifteen t twenty mule deer wuld be displaced frm apprximately 600 acres f habitat because f their avidance f human activity. The eliminatin f frage and cver n areas disturbed by il and gas explratin and develpment wuld cause a ttal lss f habitat n 13 acres. This is nt cnsidered significant when cmpared t the verall herd unit area. Other wildlife wuld be unaffected. Bi rd and upland game habitat quality wuld be imprved with the additin f mre water. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng term prtectin f wildlife habitat fr 100 mule deer and 50 antelpe n 11,350 acres. Bird and upland game habitat quality wuld be imprved by prviding better water availability during critical times f the year. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat fr 100 mule deer and 50 antelpe n 10,250 acres, but wuld nt assure prtectin n 1,100 acres. Hwever, habitat cnditin wuld be retained n thse 1,100 acres. Bird and upland game habitat wuld be imprved by the additin f water. 41

30 Lcal Scial and Ecnaic Effects Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue i n the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character i dentified during the study f this WSA. su_ary f WSA-Specific Public C_ents Inventry: Eleven cmments were received n this unit. Tw crrunents, which addressed issues ther than wilderness characteristics, disagreed with the prpsed Wilderness Study Area designatin. Seven f the nine cmments in favr f the prpsed decisin stated ther resurce values r did nt give a ratinale fr their agreement. Tw cmments addressed the specific characteristics f the unit in their supprt f the prpsed designatin. The decisin t designate the unit as a wilderness Study Area was made based n this public input. Draft. EISs The draft Grass Creek/Cdy Wilderness EIS received a ttal f 181 letters and public hearing cmments n the recmmendatin and analysis frm individuals rganizatins, businesses, and the 90-day public cmment perid (August 16, 1984 thrugh Nvember 16, 1984). Tw public hearings were held; ne in wrland, Wyming n september 18, 1984, and the ther in Cdy, Wyming n September 19, Six testimnies were received; tw in Wrland and fur in Cdy. Fur f the six testified in supprt f wilderness designatin. The majrity (150) f the cmments favred wilderness designatin. Lcal, State, Federal Agencies: Thirteen letters frm state and federal agencies were received. Three letters expressed cncern ver the BLM 's recmmendatins and the stated ratinale. These letters were primarily cncerned with the prtectin f desert badlands, scenic quality, and wilderness values. Eight letters frm the state f Wyming (including the Office f the Gvernr), cncurred with the BLM's recmmendatins and t w lette rs frm federal agencies had n cmment. 1. THE STUDY AREA - MCCULLOUGH PEAKS WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (WSA) 25,210 acres The McCullugh Peak WSA (WY ) includes 23,290 acres f BLM lands, 640 acres f split estate lands, and 640 acres f state-wned lands (see table 1 and map). The WSA is lcated in Park Cunty, 10 miles nrtheast f Cdy, Wyming and 8 miles suth f pwell, Wyming. The bundary alng the western prt in f the WSA ia lcated n a gas field service dirt rad (BLM rute 1211). A cmbinatin f private land and a dirt rad establish the suthern and eastern bundaries. The nrthern bundary is lcated mstly alng sectin lines and a majr pwer line which frms 2 miles f this bundary. The W5A cnsists f the badlands which frm the nrth slpe f the McCullugh Peaks. The terrain is characterized by sharp ridges and deeply erded drainages. The five majr drainages are: Deer Creek, Willwd Draw, Ran Wash, and the nrt h and west branches f Whistle Creek. Elevatins vary frm 6,400 feet at the McCullugh Peaks t 4,000 feet in the nrtheast crner f the study area. There are n perennial streams. Vegetatin in this badland WSA is a sagebrush/saltbush/grass assciatin. Riparian vegetatin (such as cttnwds and willws) grw alng the majr drainages. It has been estimated that 15 t 20 wild hrses ppulate the McCullugh Peaks WSA. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPHA) and was i ncluded in the Grass Creek/Cdy Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in August There were five alternatives analyzed in the EIS: All Wildernes s (25,210 a c res designated), N Wilderness, Parti al Wilderness I (aka: Cnflict Reductin I) (23,580 acres designated), Partial Wilderness I I (Prpsed Actin) (aka : Cnflict Reductin II) (8,020 acres designated), and Wilderness Enhancement (aka: Wilderness Manageability) (29,590 acres designated). 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - 8,020 acres recmmended fr wilderness 16,550 acre. recmmended fr nnwi1derness The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t designate 8,020 acres as wilderness and release 16,550 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. All Wilderness is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change frm the natural envirnment ver the lng term. Hwever, the Partial Wilderness II alternative wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. The fllwing pints wer e key cnsideratins in recmmending the suitable prtin f the WSA fr wilderness

31 The recmmendatin fr the suitable prtin f the WSA was based partly n the fact that the WSA is classified as a sagebrush steppe and/r wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe within the Wyming Basin Ecregin. Presently, this cmbined ecsystem is nt represented by BLM administered land in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin system. A prtin (17,000 acres) f the Frest Service-administered Nrth Absarka Wilderness cnsists f this ecsystem and is included in the NWPS. The WSA is natural in appearance and prvides an utstanding resurce base fr wilderness-dependent pprtunities and experiences. There are a few imprints in the area but they d nt substantially detract frm the natural character f the area. This natural setting f remte rugged badland tpgraphy challenges the recreatiniat seeking a primitive, nn-mtrized type experience, as well as prviding utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. The recreatinal pprtunities i n the WSA are exceptinal. The area prv ides pprtunities fr sightseeing, hiking, hunting, rckhunding, trapping, wildlife bservatin, phtgraphy, and hrseback riding. Cnflicts with ther resurces and uses are minimized. Grazing use will be allwed t cntinue. N frestry r timber values exist. The suitable prtin cntainp a mre lgical physical bundary and was adjusted t reduce cnflicts with established mtrized use and the ptential fr develpment f il and gas resurces. Oil and gas ptential in the area recrmlended suitable itl lwer than the surrunding area. Mtrized and mechanized (that is, muntain bikes) recreatin use within the suitable recrmlendatin wuld be curtailed by wilderness designatin, pssibly affecting sme trapping, hunting, rckhunding, and ORV r muntain bike use, but this is thught t be insignificant since nly a minr disruptin r displacement f mtrized recreatin is anticipated. The recmmendatin fr the nnsuitable prtin f the WSA (16,550 acres) was based n the need t alleviate cnflicts with vehicular access t rckhunding areas in the eastern prtin f the WSA; the pen, gentle terrain which wuld be difficult t manage; and an analysis f anticipated mineral prductin and assciated manageability cncerns. 44 I II Recmmended f r Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Rec mmended fr Wilderness pl;t Estate E±8 State ~pr jva t e McCullugh Peaks Prpsal WY June, 1990 BEST cpy AVAILABLE

32 Table 1 Land Statue and Acreage Summary f t he McCullugh Peaks Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) 23,930 split Estate (BLM surface nly) 640 Inhldings (state, private) ---2!Q Ttal 25,210 Within the Recmmended wilderness Bundary 8LM (within WSA) 8,020 BLM (utside WSA) 0 Split Estate (within WSA) 0 Split Estate (utside WSA) 0_ Ttal BLM land recmmended fr wilderness 8,020 Inhldings (state, Private) 0 within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness 8. Slitude: The McCullugh Peak WSA ffers pprtunities fr slitude. The rugged badland tpgraphy f the unit cmbined with its size, cnfiguratin and substantially natural character prvide pprtunities t avid evidence f human activity. The five separate drainages within the WSA branch int a maze f smaller, winding badland canyns; ensuring bth dispersal f use and visual screening. The study area has apprximately ~OO visitr use days per yt:!ar, ccurring primarily during the fall and spring frm hunters, hrseback riders, and rckhunds frm the Pwell and Cdy areas. c. Prl.itive.nd Uncnfined Recreatin: The WSA has attributes (interesting tpgraphy, scenic vistas, and wildlife) that attract peple. A variety f recreatin pprtunities can be fund thrughut the WSA including hiking, hunting, hrseback riding, rckhunding, nature study, and phtgraphy. Game ppulatins supprt upland bird and limited deer hunting. The vividly clred and highly erded ridges and hills have utstanding scenic quality. Opprtunities fr wild hrse viewing are p r esent. The McCullugh Peaks area has been knwn fr its palentlgical and gelgic interest fr sme time. 8LM Split Estate Ttal BLM land nt r.ecmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 15,910 ~ 16, D. Sp.cial F.ature.: The McCullugh Peak WSA is lcated in the nrthern prtin f the Big Hrn Basin, within 10 miles f Cdy and Pwell. The prximity t Cdy and Pwell are a special benefit t the lcal recreatinist wanting t use the area. The terrain is highly scenic and rugged with the characteristic clrs f the Willwd gelgic frmatin. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDEJUfESS RECOMMENDATIONS Wilderne.. Charact eristics A. Natural ne : The McCullugh Peak WSA retains a substantially natural character. The scale, steepness, and cmplexity f the maze f dendritic drainages tgether with the distant vi3tas prvided by the higher ridges cntribute t t he areas unique character. Human activity is evidenced by the Deer Creek trail, vehicle trails in the nrthwest prtin f the WSA and in the Ran Wash and the nrth and west branches f Whistle Creek, and a small number f seismgraph trails. Several reservirs are scattered thrugh the WSA. The vehicle trails, reservirs, and a few shrt segments f gap fenci ng are BO small in the Bcale f this landscape and are s sparsely scattered their effect n naturalness is i nsignificant. The dendritic drainage patterns and substantial terrain variatin within the WSA prvide ample natural screening thrughut. This tpgraphic diversity enhances the naturalness f the WSA and prvides many interesting views and scenic vistas. Natinally significant palentlgical values, including fssils f reptiles, malmla!s, and birds are cnunn within the area, as are 15 t 20 wild t.:>rses that reside in the area. In additin, the WSA has been identified by the Natinal Park Service as a ptential Nati nal Natural Landmark. Diversitv in the N.tinal Wilderne Pre.ervatin Svate. (HWPS) A. ElIII:pandinq the DiverSity f N.tural S,.t and... tur «.s R.presented by Ec.yst nd Landfraa: Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add a new dry, "cld" desert badland area ecsystem r landfrm t the NWPS. The McCullugh Peak WSA is in the Wymi ng Basin Ecregin, sagebrush steppe and/r wheat grass needlegrass shrub steppe vegetatin class. This new ecsystem wuld diversify the NWPS, bth eclgically and frm a recreatinal experience and pprtunity standpint. Currently, there is nly ne ther representative sagebrush steppe and(r) wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe vegetatin class (17,000 acres f the Frest Service-administered Nrth Absarka Wilderness) within the Wyming Basin Prvince Ecregin in the NWPS

33 Bailey-Kuc hler Clas sificatin Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/ wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/ wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Rep r e sentatin NWPS Areas Areas Acreage 17,000 17,000 NATIONWIDE WYOMING Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage 73,348 73, 348 B. A e ing the Opprtunitie. fr Slitude r Priaitive Recreatin within a Day. Drivi ng Ti.e (5 Br. ) f Majr Ppulatin Centar.: The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. designated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units : Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acres), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Pp Agie (101,870 acres), Washakie (704,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Manageabi lit y (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The r ecmmended suitable prtin f the study area is manageable as wilderness. The nnsuitable prtin f the study area is als manageable as wilderness, althugh extensive management actins such as public educatin, rute c l sures, enfrcement, signing, and cmpliance cntrl will be needed. Reasns fr deleting prti ns f the WSA under the Partial wilderness I I Alternative are: (1) t retain mtrized access t histric rckhunding areas; and (2) the difficult manageability prblems near the eastern and central bundaries because f ORV cnflicts, lack f definable bundaries; and knwn il and gas reserves n the eastern side. Energy and Mineral Resurce Value. The u.s. Gelgical Survey and u.s. Bureau f Mines cnducted a mineral assessment f the McCullugh Peaks WSA in 1986 (U.S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin 1756-Fl990). The results f that reprt prvide the basis fr the fllwing discussin. Ppulatin Center Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr ppulatin Centers NWPS areas Areas Acreage Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage The u.s. Gelgical Survey and the u.s. Bureau f Mines cnsider the ptential fr the ccurrence f il and gas beneath the WSA as high with mderate ptential fr explratin and develpment. With the Cnflict Reductin II Alternative (Prpsed Actin) (partial wilderness, 8,020 acres), there are n pre-flpma and ne pst-flpma il and gas lease that cvers apprximatel y 80 acres in the McCullugh Peaks WSA. The east side f the WSA is within knwn il and gas reserves. Casper, Wyming Bi 11 ings, Mntana ,080, 891 4,808, ,449 3,458,517 c. Balancing the Gegraphic Diltributin f Wilderne Areal: Designatin f the McCullugh Peaks as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic distributin f wilderness. Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a dry, "cld" desert badland a r e a t the system and help diversify ecsystem representatin i n the NWPS. The WSA is lcated clse enugh t twns in the Bi ghrn 8aai n that users wuld nt have t travel great distances t v i sit the area. I n this respect, there ia a gegraphic distributin benefit t designatin. currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f N knwn r suspected depsits f lcatable minerals in ecnmic quantities are within the WSA. "One cal prspect was fund alng Dear Creek, but the cal is thin and is enclsed mstly by shale. Based n examinatin f the Deer Creek prspect and surface inspectin f the entire study area, cal resurces are estimated t be lw. Hwever,. n the basis f subsurface acustic and density lg data, the sum f measured and indicated subbi tuminus cal resurces beneath the study area is estimated t be 52 millin tns." The ptential fr any energy r critical mineral resurces within the recmmended alternati ve is cnsidered t be lw by the BLM. Currently, there are n mini ng claims within the recmmended alternative and ptential is lw fr lcatable and salable minerals. Impacts n Other Relurces The fllwing cmparative impact table (see Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all t he alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignati n f t he enti re a r ea a s wilderness

34 Table 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics Cnflict Reductin II (Prpsed Actin) Cnflict Reductin I All liilderness liilderness Manageability N liilderness IIi lderness Values The wilderness values f m:turalness, sl itude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 8,020 acres because f wilderness designatin. In the remainder f the lisa, wilderness values wuld be lst n apprximately 4,000 acres because f deep gas explratin and develpment, and because f ORV activity in the Deer Creek, Ran liash, and IIhistle Creek areas, and the nrthwest prtin f the lisa. Althugh nt assured, wilderness values wuld likely be retained n apprximately 11,500 acres where n impairing activities are anticipated. An increase f 125 V1s1tr use days per year is anticipated. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 22,940. On 640 acres f split estate land, prtectin cannt be assured. liilderness values wuld be impaired r lst n the remaining 1,630 acres. The wilderness values f naturalness, sl itude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 24,570 acres. The values n the 640 acres f split estate are nt expected t be affected, but prtectin cannt be assured. liilderness values including naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 28,950 acres. The prtectin f thse values n the 640-acre split estate sectin is expected, but n assured. Slitude wuld be lst n the 1,630 acres n the nrth side f the lisa. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin wuld be eliminated n up t 1,280 acres. Slitude wuld be impaired n 3,630 acres in the nrthwestern and eastern prtins f the lisa. Special values wuld cntinue t be prtected. liilderness values wuld likely remain unchanged n the remaining 20,300 acres f the lisa. s

35 TABLE 4 (Cnt inued) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics Cnf 1 i ct Reduct i n II (Prpsed Actin) Cnflict Reductin I All Wilderness Wi lderness Manageability N Wilderness Explratin and Develpment f Leasable Minerals Apprximately 2 billin cubic feet f gas and 5,000 barrels f i 1 wuld be recvered frm tw wells develped n lands nt designated wi lderness, where drill ing is nt precluded by envirrnental restrictins. Wi lderness designatin wuld preclude the prduct in f apprximately 2 billin cubic feet f gas and 5,000 barrels f i 1. Wi lderness designatin wuld prec 1 ude the prductin f apprximately 2 bi llin cubic feet f gas and 5,000 barrels f il. Wi lderness designatin wuld preclude the prductin f apprximately 2 billin cubic feet f gas and 5,000 barrels f il. Apprximately 2 billin cubic feet f gas and 5,000 barrels f i 1 wuld be recvered frm tw wells drilled in the lisa n lands nt affected by restrictins. Recrea inal Off-Rad Vehicle Use Recreatinal ORV use wuld be allwed n apprximately 20 miles f designated vehicle rutes in the lisa. Access t rckhunding areas and ppular ORV turing areas wuld remain available and use wuld cnt i nue at 300 visitr use days per year. Apprximately 200 vi s i tr use days per year f ORV t uring, hunting, and rckhunding pprtunities wuld be el iminated frm the eastern prtin f the lisa. The 100 annual visitr use days f recreatinal ORV turing in the nrthwestern prtin f the lisa wuld be unaffected. Wi lderness designatin wuld eliminate mtr vehicle use f apprximately 300 visitr use days per year assciated with ORV turing, hunting, and rckhunding. Wilderness designatin wuld eliminate apprximately 200 visitr use days per year f ORV turing, hunting and rckhunding in the study area. Recreatinal ORV use f 300 visitr use days per year in the lisa wuld remain unchanged. Water Qual i ty Sediment discharged int the Shshne River wuld increase by 40 tns per year. Current natural ly ccurring sediment lads f abut 38,000 tns per year riginate frm within the lisa. Fencing will maintain water quality by preventing additinal sediment lading int the Shshne River. Sediment lads f abut 38,000 tns per year int the Shshne River wuld remain.jnchanged. Fencing will maintain water quality by preventing additinal sediment lading int the Shshne River. Sediment lads f abut 38,000 tns per year int the Shshne River wuld remain unchanged. Fencing will maintain water quality by preventing additinal sediment lading int the Shshne River. Sediment lads f abut 38,000 tns per year int the Shshne River wuld remain unchanged. Sediment discharged int the Shshne River wuld increase by 40 tns per year. Current sediment lads f abut 38,000 tns per year riginates frm within the WSA. 51

36 TABLE 4 (Cntinued) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics Cnflict Reductin II (Prpsed Actin) Cnflict Reduct in I All ~i lderness ~ilderness Manageability N ~ilderness Wi ldl He Habitat and Ppulatins ~ilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term habitat prtectin n 23,580 acres. Develpment is nt expected n the remaining 1,630 acres; therefre, wildlife habitat values wuld be p, tected. Twenty-five mule deer wuld be displaced n apprximately 1,260 acres f habitat frm the eliminatin f frage and cver n areas disturbed by deep gas explratin and develpment, and their avidance f human activity. This displacement wuld ccur n ~SA lands nt suitable fr wilderness designatin_ ~i lderness designatin wuld assure lng-term wildlife habitat prtectin n 24,570 acres. N impacts n r displacement f deer, sage gruse, r raptrs wuld be expected. ~i lderness designatin wuld assure lng-term pr tectin f wi ldlife habitat n 28,950 acres. All wildlife, especially game animals, wuld benefit in the lng term frm imprved security. Twenty-five mule deer wuld be displaced n apprximately 1,260 acres f habitat frm the eliminatin f frage and cver n areas disturbed by deep gas explratin and develpment. These 25 displaced mule deer can easily be accnmdated in areas nt disturbed by gas explratin. Livestck Grazing There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas in the Ran Wash and Deer Creek drainages because f anticipated range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,742 AUMs wuld cntinue_ Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,742 AUMs wuld be maintained. Riparian areas in Deer Creek wuld be prtected. The pprtuni ty t prvide better distributin f livestrk and wild hrses in the Ran ~ash drainage wuld be fregne. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,742 AUMS wuld be maintained_ Riparian areas in Deer Creek wuld be prtected. The pprtuni ty t prvide better distributin f livestck and wild hrses wuld be fregne in the Ran Wash drainage. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 2,114 AUMs wuld be maintained in the designated area. Riparian areas in Deer Creek wuld be prtected. The pprtuni ty t prvide better distributin f livestck and wild hrses wuld be fregne in the Ran ~ash drainage. Range develpment prjects wuld imprve livestck distributin and enhance riparian areas in the Ran Wash and Deer Creek drainages. Livestck grazing use allcatins will remain at 1,742 AUMs. 52 BEST COpy AVAIlABLE

37 Lcal Scial and Ecnmic Effect.s Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Sua.ary f MSA Specific Public Cmment. Inventry: A ttal f 51 cmments were received n this unit. Ap!,rximately tw-thirds f these cmments came fem lcal residents. Only seven were frm utside the State f Wyming. Of the 16 respnses expressing disagreement with the prpsed decisin, 11 based their psitin n a general ppsitin t wilderness designat i n r n cncerns regarding resurce use cnflicts. Five respndents disagreeing with the prpsed decisin were f the pinin that the unit lacked naturalness r utstanding pprtunities. Twenty-tw lcal residents and six frm ther areas f Wyming favring the prpsed decisin were generally philsphical in nature r cited ther resurce values such as wildlife as ratinales fr agreement with the decisin. Several cmments specifically cited the unit 8 natural character and pprtunities fr primitive recreatin and slitude in their supprt fr the prpsed designatin. As a result f analysis f public cmment, the final decisin was t frmally designate this unit, as described in the prpsed decisin, as a Wilderness Study Area. In the Cdy Resurce Area a planning update was accmplished examining nly the issue f ptential wilderness designatin f the McCullugh Peaks WSA. In the curse f this update, i ndividual BLM staff members made a number f cntacts with interested individuals r grups, and an pen huse public meeting was held in the Cdy Resurce Area ffice n Nvember 17, Letters requesting cmments were als sent t the same types f i nterested rganizatins and individuals that received the Grass Creek letter. The respnses btained were cnsidered in selecting the EIS alternatives fr the McCullugh Peaks area. Draft lis: The Draft Grass Creek/Cdy EIS received a ttal f 181 letters a nd public hearing cmments n the recmmendatin and anal:tdis frm individuals rganizatins, businesses, and ninety-day public cmment perid (August 16, 1984 thru Nvember 16, 1984). Tw public hearings were held; ne in Wrland, Wyming n September 18, 1984, and the ther in Cdy, Wyming n September 19, Six testimnies were received; tw in Wrland, and fur in Cdy. Fur f the six testified in supprt f wilderness designatin. The majrity (150), f the cmments favred wilderness designatin. Lcal, State, Federal Agencies - Thirteen letters frm state and federal agencies were received. Three letters expressed cncern ver the BLM' s recmmendatins and the stated ratinale. These letters were primarily cncerned with the prtectin f desert badlands, scenic quality, and wilderne values. Eight letters frm the State f Wyming (including the Offi ce f the Gvernr), cncurred with t he BLM ' s recmmendatins and tw letters frm Federal agencies had n cmment. 1. THB STUDY AREA - BONBYCOMBS WILDERHESS STUDY ARE/I IWS/I) 21, 000 acre. The Hneycmbs WSA (WY ) is lcated in Washakie Cunty, sixteen miles sutheast f Wrland (see Map). The WSA cntains 21,000 acres f BLM-admini stered lands, and 260 acres f split-estate lands (see table 1) with minerals held by the state f Wyming. The WSA ia bunded n the nrth and east by the BLM's Blue Bank imprved dirt rad, state, and private lands. The suthern and western bundaries are tw-track trails, ne sectin f state lands and Nwater Creek (See Map 1). The Hneycmbs WSA cnsists f sharply erded, strngly dissected badlands and rlling t steep hills. Elevatins in the unit range frm abut 5,000 feet t;l abut 4,400 feet where the western bundary crsses the East Frk f Nwater Creek. Sagebrush and grasses are the mst cmmn vegetatin. Drainages exhibit substantially mre greasewd and scattered rabbitbrush, leaving mst h i llsides and ridge tps sparsely vegetated. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPMA) and was included in the Washakie Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in Nvember There were three alternatives analyzed in the EIS: All Wilderness (21,000 acres); N Wilderness (Prpsed Actin); and Wilderness Enhancement (22,036 acres). The N Wilderness Alternative is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RAtIONALE - 0 acre. rec_ended fr wilderne 21,000 acre. rec_ended fr nnwildern The recrnnendatin is t release the 2LOOO-acre Hneycmbs WSA fr uses ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness Alternative is cnsi dered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment ver the lng term. Hwever, the N Wilderness recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize significant envirnmental impacts. While the wilderness values described in the 2 (c) criteria f the Wilderness Act are present in the WSA, these values are nt present t the degree deemed necessary fr wilderness designatin. The WSA des nt cntain any aingle feature r cmbinatin f features significant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. While, the verall impact n the naturalness f the WSA is slight, the miles f bladed trails and t he 21 reservirs reduces the naturalness t a pint where it is nt necessarily unique, truly utstanding, r significant enugh t warrant designatin

38 The WSA ha. utstanding pprtunities fr sli tude, pri mi t ive and uncnfine d recreatin. The t errain des prvide an excellent base f r hre.:e bac k r iding, hudnq, hunting, and wildlife baervatin. The terrain and i t a a ssciated 80ila are nt cnducive t mtr vehicle r bicycle use. Hweve r, these qualities and pprtuniti es are nt dependent n thi s area, r s igni f icant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. "~--~~~~--~~---M~~~~~r-~{-~~~--~--f+--~T 45 N 55 Hneycmbs Prpsal NONE I@~I Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended f r Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wi lderness 0 I ~r.e~ Spli t Estate State ~~/e2j Private MILES 5& ~ WY - Ol June BEST COPY AVAILABLE

39 3. Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Hneycmbs Study Area Within the Wilderness Study Area BLM. (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM. surface nly ) Inhldings (State, Private) Ttal Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BUI (within WSA) BLM. (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM land recmmended f r wilderness Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BUI Split Estate Ttal BLM land nt recmmended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) CRItERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATION Wilderne.. Characteri.tic. 20, _ 21,000 0_ 20, 740 ~ 21,000 A. Naturalness, The Hneycmbs cnsists f tw land frms. The cre area is cmprised f sharply erded, strngly dissected badlands. ''J:he area arund the cre is rlling t steep h i l l s. Elevatins in the WSA range frm a but 5,000 fee t abve sea level alng t he eastern bundary t abut 4,400 feet where t he western bundary crsses East Frk Nwate = Creek. The density f vegetatin decreases as the badland tpgraphy becmes mre prevalent. Sagebrush and grasses are t he mst c mmn vegetatin. Drainages exhibit substantially mre greasewd and scattered rabbitbrush, leaving mst hillsides and ridge tps sparsely vegetated. The verall impact f i ntrusins n the naturalness f the WSA is slight. Surface disturbance by humans i s substantially unnticeable because f their dispersal, thei r size, the natural screening prvided by very rugged terrain, and the n~tural healing f scars thrugh ersin and revegetatin. The mst cmmn human-made features in the WSA are bladed trails and reservirs. The majrity f these trails are the result f il and gas explratin during and prir t the 1960s. Others undubtedly resulted frm reservir cnstructin which was intensively undertaken in the early 1960s. As a result f time, the ersive nature f th sil and natural revegetatin, mst f these trails are nt usable by mtr vehicles. ThRe that remain are used by ranchers and recreatinists t access reservirs and fence lines. Twenty-ne reservirs are lcated in the WSA, they range in siz.e frm small stckpnds t substantial catchments that may apprach an acre in area with dikes up t 200 feet lng. Many f the reservirs were dry at the time f the intense inventry, but a surprising number held water with seemingly little maintenance. B. slitude: Hneycmbs WSA cntains utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. Much f the WSA is rugged sharply erded, strngly dissected badlands. slitude exists because f limited use within the WSA and its size. Livestck grazing and mst frms f recreatin use are seasnal. Oil and gas activity is cmmn arund the perimeter f the WSA, but has nt penetrated the interir f the WSA. c. Priaitive and Uncnfined Recreatin: Hneycmbs WSA cntains utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin which range frm passive activities t thse requiring much physical exertin and endurance. The pprtunities fr trapping furbearers and hunting deer and ante lpe are widespread in the WSA. The quality f deer hunting is greater because the tpgraphy and vegetatin creates habitat mre favrable t deer. Outstanding pprtunities fr slitude exist because the rugged terrain, steep-sided hills, and winding drainages limit sight distances. Resurces in the WSA als supprt passive activities such as nature study, phtgraphy, rckhunding, bird watching, reflectin a nd c ntemplatin, and s ightseeing. The clrful and heavily erded Willwd Frmatin prvides an excellent pprtunity fr gelgic study. D. special Features: The expsures f the Willwd Frmatin prvide an excellent pprtunity t study sceni c ersinal patterns. The sil clrs vary frm reds, p i nks, and purples t numerus shades f b:wns a nd tans. The badland character f mst f the WSA, with its abrupt tpgraphic changes, increases the visual interest f the area. The area is als knwn t have the ptential fr depsits f large mammalian fssils frm the Tertiary Perid. Diversity in the Natial Wilderne Pre.ervatin Sy.tea (NWPS) 57 58

40 A. Expanding tb. Div.raity f Natural ST.t and P.ature. a. Represented by Ec.yste and LandfrWI. J Wilderness desi gnatin f thi s WSA wuld nt add t the ecsystem d i versity currently i n the NWPS. The Hneycmbs WSA i s representati ve f the Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem in the Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince ecregin. The Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem is the ptent ial natural vegetatin representatin classi ficatin fr this WSA. Sixt een ther study areas currently represent this ecsystem. Several f these have been recnunended as suitable fr wilderness designatin including the Med i cine Ldge, Alkali Creek and Trapper Creek WSAs. Within thi s ecregin, a prtin f the Clud Peak Wilderness represents 27,125 acres f the sagebrus h ste ppe e csystem. This infrmatin is summarized in table 2. Ba iley-kuchler Classificatin Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/Sagebrush Steppe Dry Dmain /Wyming Basin Prvi nc e/sagebrush Steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representati n NWPS A,eas Area s Acreage NATIONWIDE WYOMING 67,026 67,026 Other BLM Studies Areas Ac reage , , 0 31 B. A ing the Opprtunities fr Slitude r Pri.itive Recreatin Within a Day. Driving Ti.e (Pive Sura> f Majr Ppulatin Center. : The WSA is within a f ive hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the numbe r and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas withi n a five hur s drive f t he ppulati n centers. Ppulatin Center ca8per, Wyming Billing8, Hntana Table 3 Wi lderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS areas Ar e a s Ac,eage 2 7 4, 080, , 808,142 Other BLM Studies Areas Ac reage , ,462,727 C. Balancing the Gegraphic Di.tributin f Wilderne Area.: Designatin f Hneycmbs as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic d i stributin f wilderness. Currently, there are ver 4 millin acr es f designated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units : Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acres), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Pp Agie (101, 870 acres), Washakie (704,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a dry, "cld" desert badland area t the system and diversify ecsystem representatin in the NWPS. Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The WSA i s manageable as wilderness. There are n private inhldings r mining claims currently in the WSA. While the WSA des have a mderate ptential f il and gas develpment, explratin t date has nt discvered any substantial reserves. Only ne active well is currently wrking and several il fields have been shut-in within a cuple f miles f the WSA. Existing ORV use alng bladed trails and pen slpes culd easily reduce r eliminate the BLM's ability t maintain existing levels f slitude and s cenic values. Hwever, the ersive nature f the sils, and natural r evegetati n wuld act t reduce the impacts returning the WSA t its natural state. Maintenance f existing reservirs wuld cause a cnflict thrugh the use f heavy equipment that wuld be "walked" int a reservir. Impacts wuld include the creatin f lw water crssings and placement f sediments frm the maintenance wrk. Energy and Mineral Re.urce Value. The U. S. Gelgical Survey and Bureau f Mines prepare d a mineral a ssessment fr the Hneycmbs WSA in 1988 (U. S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin l 7 S6-C). Tha t assessment is the primary surce fr the fllwing discussi n. Three wells have been drilled in the WSA and ver 100 wells have been d r illed within 3 miles f the WSA. All f the wells in t he WSA and all but tw wells utside the WSA were dry. Se veral wells in the area, includi ng ne f the wells in the WSA, have had shws f il. These are t race amunt s f il in the well bre and d nt indi cate prducible amunts f il. There i s cnsidered t be mderate ptential fr the discvery f c a l deps its which is based n fur adjacent histric undergrund c a l mi nes and the presence f c al s e ams encuntered by a BLM drilling p r gram at tw adj a cent l catins. I t is nt anticipat ed that thes e ca l depsits wil l be de ve lped because f their margi nal quality and h i gh devel pment csts. The Hneycmbs WSA is cns ide r ed t have mder a t e ptential fr t he discvery f titanium, nibium, tantalum, a nd rar e e arth element s (f critical and strategic natinal cncer n ) in black sandstne. The largest black sandstne depsit i n Wymi ng is lcated abut 3 mi l es s uthe ast f t he WSA. Similar sandstne depsits are suspected i n t he WSA. Titanium, nibium, and tantalum are imprtant a l lying metals but t hey are c urrent l y mre ecnmical t mine 59 60

41 elsewhere. Existing infrmatin prjects titanium t be f little ecnmic interest. The rare earth elements have ptential fr super-cnductr fabricatin but n black sands in Wyming have been systematically examined fr them. The WSA lands d nt cntain any mining claims. There are n recgnized salable mineral values n r adjacent t the WSA. ptential fr salable minerals in the WSA is lw. The I_pact. On ther Re.urce. The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 61

42 Table 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics N Wi lderness (Prpsed Actin) All Wi lderness Wi lderness Enhancement Wi lderness Values The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin wuld be teqx>rarily lst n up t 1,750 acres. Special values wuld cntinue t be prtected. Wilderness values wuld likely remain unchanged n the remaining 19,250 acres f the WSA_ The wilderness values f naturalness, sl itude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 21,000 acres. The values n the 260 acres f split estate are nt expected t be affected, but prtectin cannt be assured. Wi lderness values including naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 21,776 acres_ The prtectin f thse values n the 260-acre split estate tract is expected, but nt assured. Mineral Explratin and Prductin Since recvery f il and gas resurces is nt expected, there will be n effect n mineral prductin. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude explratin fr il r gas resurces n 21,000 acres. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude explratin activity fr il and gas n 21,776 acres, hwever, n impact is expected as n prductin is anticipated. Recreatinal Off Rad Vehicle Use Recreatinal ORV use f 450 visitr use days per year in the lisa wuld remain unchanged. Wilderness designatin wuld displace mtr vehicle use f apprximately 100 visitr use days per year assciated with recreatinal ORV use. Wilderness designatin wuld eliminate apprximately 100 visitr use days per year f ORV turing, hunting, and rckhunding in the study area. Water Qual ity Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld increase by 34 tns per year. Current sediment lads f abut 32,000 tns per year riginates frm within the WSA. Fence, well, and reservir maintenance will cause n additinal sediment lading int the Bighrn River. Naturally ccurring sediment lads frm the lisa f abut 32,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Fence, well, and reservir maintenance will cause n additinal sediment lading int the Bighrn River. Sediment lads f abut 32,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Wildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Fewer than five mule deer wuld be teqx>rarily displaced n up t 1,700 acres f habitat as a result f human activity and disturbance f frage and cver n areas were il and gas explratin ccurs. These can easily be accmmdated in areas nt disturbed by il and gas explratin. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng -term wildlife habitat prtectin n 21,000 acres. N impacts n r displacement f deer, sage gruse, r raptrs wuld be expected. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat n 21,776 acres. All wildlife, especially game animals, wuld benefit in the lng term frm imprved security. Livestck Grazing Maintenance f range prjects wuld imprve livestck distributin and grazing ccurrence thrughut the WSA. Livestck grazing use allcatins wil remain at 1,503 AUHs. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,503 AUHS wuld be mai ntained. The pprtunity t prvide better distributin f livestck wuld be fregne where new reservirs r fences might accmplish this bjective. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,576 AUHs wuld be maintained in the designated area. The pprtunity t prvide better distributin f livestck wuld be fregne in thse areas where new fences, water wells, and reservirs wuld meet this bjective. 62

43 Lcal Scial and Ecn.ic Cnsideratins Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. 1. THE STUDY ARl!:A - CEDAR MOUNTAIM "ILDERHESS STUDY ARl!:A /"SAI acr Su.aary f KIA-Specific Public C"eDts Inventn, Public invlvement has ccurred thrughut the wilderness review prcess. Certain cmments received during the inventry prcess and early stages f the EIS preparatin were used t develp significant study issues and varius alternatives fr the ultimate management f thse lands fund t have wilderness values. During the intensive inventry phase, 28 cmments were received n the Hneycmbs WSA. Nineteen cmments supprted wilderness study designatin based n wilderness characteristicl. 13 f these 19 cmments were duplicate cpies received frm wilderness advcates in Ohi. Nine cmments ppsed wilderness study designatin, these were based n an absence f visual screeni ng, naturalness and slitude. Draft BIS, Duri ng the frmal public review f the draft Washakie RHP/EIS and the draft Washakie Wilderness EIS cnducted frm Nvember 21, 1986 t February 19, 1987 ; a ttal f 169 cmments, bth ral and written, were received. Tw ral cmments were received at public hearings held in Thermpl i s, Wrland, and Greybull Wyming; the remaining 167 cmments were written r espnses t the draft EIS. During the cmment perid, tw interest grups issued a "Wilderness Alert" t their members. These alerts urged their members t write and express their supprt fr wilderness designatin. One hundred twenty-ne f the written cmments supprted the "Wilderness Alert". Of the 169 coltl11ents received 78 percent supprted recmmending addi tinal wilderness designa.tin. These cmments favred designatin t prtect unique resurce values and ecsystems. Apprximately 22 percent f the cmments received said nne f the WSA's shuld be recmmended fr wilderness designatin. These cmments favred mineral explratin/develpment and the need fr cntinued mtr vehicle access. A ttal f fifteen letters frm lcal, state, and federal agencies were received. These the letters did nt supprt wilderness designatin that might restrict develpment r limit future pti ns. Tw letters favred wilderness designatin citing enhanced pprtunities fr hunting and fishing. Ten letters frm these agencies cmmented but made n recmmendatin fr r against wilderness designatin. The Cedar Muntain WSA (WY ) includes 21,560 acres f BLM lands with n private r state inhldings (see table 1). The WSA is lcated in Washakie Cunty, 2 miles east f Kirby and 8 miles suthwest f Wrland Wyming, alng the east side f the Bighrn River. The bundary alng the western and nrth western prtin is lcated alng private land and the Bighrn River. Part f the eastern bundary is lcated alng a natural gas pipeline right-f-way, rads and state lands prperty lines. The suthern bundary is lcated mainly alng a rad and private prperty bundary (see map 1). The WSA is an area f rugged tpgraphy characterized by deep, steep-aided drainages flwing nrth r west tward the Bighrn River. Cedar Muntain is the dminant visual feature f the unit. Elevatin in the WSA ranges frm abut 4,200 feet abve sea level at the WSA's nrthern edge t 5,500 feet n Cedar Muntain. Vegetatin cnsists mainly f the belt f junipers n cedar Muntain, sagebrush and grasses with rabbitbrush in drainages, and arund reservirs. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the washak.ie Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (ElS) filed in Nvember There were fur alternatives analyzed in the EIS: All Wi l derness (21,560 acres designated) 1 N Wilderness; Partial Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) (10,223 acres designated) 1 and Wilderness Enhancement (22,171 acres designated) which adds 611 acres t the WSA. The Partial Wilderness alternative is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - 10, ~~3 acre. rec_end.d fr wildern 11,337 acre. rec_ended fr nodwilderne The recnunendatin is t designate 10,223 acres as Partial Wilderness fr th!.s WSA, and release 11,337 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The Wilderness' Expansin alternative wuld be the envirnmentally preferable recmmendatin as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment ver the lng term. Hwever, the partial wilderness recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. There are n private r state inhldings within the WSA and all subsurface values are held by the United States

44 The fllwing pints were key cnsideratins in recmmending the suitable prtin f the WSA fr wilderness. The 10,223 acres recmmended fr wilderness designatin is a rare example f dry "cld" desert badlands which brders a large river. The WSA is especially scenic with the Cedar Muntain escarpments as the dminant feature, ffering utstanding pprtuniti es fr slitude and wilderness dependent recreatin. The area is in a natural state with few intrusins. Mst f the man caused impacts; reservir, seismic and tw track trails have been substantially reclaimed by nature. Hwever, while these intrusins have altered vegetatin patterns and are slightly nticeable frm the air r high vistas, they d nt effect nes perceptin f wilderness r slitude. The cnflicts with ther resurce uses are minimal. Livestck grazing wuld be allwe<.. t cntinue and the ptential fr il and gas develpnent is lw. There are n knwn mineral values. While there is sme vehicle use in the area mst f the ways and trails are currently impassable, becming impassable r culd be easily reclaimed t halt vehicle use making the area very manageable as wilderness. The fllwing pints were key cnsideratins in nt recmmending the remainder f the WSA fr wilderness. Cnflicts with ther resurce uses is higher especially with anticipated il and gas explrat ~.:m. There is an extensin f a knwn il and gas prducing gelgic structure which crsses the nrtheastern part f the WSA. Explratin fr il and gas has caused a higher level f intrusins within this area mainly frm ld seimgraph lines, tw track trails, and il and g4s drilling sites. While mst f these intrusins have been reclaimed the visual scares still exist in the frm f trails and cmpsitinal changes in the vegetatin. Mre ORV use ccurs near the Tie Dwn Flats area due in part frm its prximity t hmes. The lack f drainages and vertical relief, als makes this area mre susceptible t indiscriminate mtr vehicle use. J Recmmended fr Wilderness RecC' rnmended fr L... '-? Nn ilderness IIII N#~ IIII Spl ;1 Estate EOONE@ Stale 6S Land utside WSA Itfj@'~:fi Rec mmended fr _ " '" "_ Wilderness Cedar Muntain I Prpsal ~~~ Pd,ate MILES WY- Ol June,1990 Bl;ST r.:npv AV Ail AD. Ir!

45 Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f th9 Cedar Muntain Study Area Within the Wilderness Study Area BLK (surface Ilnd subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldlng8 (State, Private) Ttal 21, ,560 B. Slitude I The unit's size and tpgraphy prvide an utstanding pprtunity fr slitude. It is cnducive t seclusin because it is essentially badlands. The steep-sided drainages limit ne's awa r eness t a small, immediate area. The tpgraphy and vegetatin act as a screen ~ reduce the pssibility f seeing int mre than the adjacent drainages and help maintain the feeling f seclusin. The best pprtunities fr slitude can be fund in the suthern half f the WSA where the tpgraphic relief is the greatest. Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLH (within WSA) BLH (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM land recmmended fr wilderness Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLH Split Estate Ttal BLM land nt recrrwnended fr wilderness Inhldinga (State, Private) 10, ,223 11, ,337 C. Pri.itive and Uncpfined Recreatinl The size f the WSA and the verall lack f human-made cnstraints are cnducive t uncnfined recreatin activities. Naturally ccurring physical cnfinements such as the bluffs abve the Bighrn River, the Cedar Muntain escarpment, and the generally rugged terrain d exist but they enhance the recreatin experience by prviding challenge and diversity. The area prvides pprtunities fr backpacking, primitive camping, hiking, hrseback riding, trapping, hunting fr deer, upland birds, small game, and predatrs. Opprtunities fr nntechnical rck climbing and repelling are limited mainly t the Cedar Muntain escarpment. Snwsheing and crss-cuntry skiing has ccurred in the winter when there is adequate snwfall. D. Speci.l r tur... Petrified wd and reptilian fssils are fund in the Lance and Meeteetse frmatins in the suthern end f the WSA. Mammalian f&si18 are fund in the Frt Unin Frmatin nrth f Cedar Muntain. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATION Wildlrn Charlet.riatle. A. H.tur.ln : The Cedar Muntain WSA La an area f rugged tpgraphy characterized by deep, steep-sided drainages flwing nrth r west tward the Bighrn River. Cedar Muntain i s the dminant visual feature f the WSA. It is unusual in the vicinity because f its elevatin, the vegetatin grwing n it, and the impsing rck escarpment which frms its suthern side. The landscape rises fairly unifrmly in a suth-sutheasterly directin frm the Bi ghrn River t Cedar Muntain where it drps abruptly near the suth bundary f the WSA. An exceptin f the gradual rise frm nrth t suth ccurs i n the extreme western prtin f the WSA where bluffs twer abve the Bighrn River and deep drainages fall steeply t the river. Div.r.ity in the Natinal Wild.rn Pre.erv.tin Sy.t (NWPS) A. Expanding th. Div.r.ity f Natural Sy.t. and F.ature., as Repre.ented by,;c.y.te and Landfm.1 Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld expand the diversity f natural systems and features, as represented by ecsystems and landfrms. This WSA is representative f the Wheatgrass-Needlegras9 Shrub steppe ecsystem in the Wyming Basin Prvince ecregin. Within this ecregin, the Nrth Absarka Wilderness, administered by the Frest Service, has 6,880 acres f the wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe ecsystem in its bundaries. Five ther study "reas (15,185 acres) currently represent this ecsystem in the Wyming Basin Prvince ecreg10n. Tw f these WSAs, Bbcat Draw Badlands and McCullugh PeaKs, have suitable recmmendatins. This infrmatin is summarized in Tale 2. Althugh bladed trails influence the area ' s naturalness their precence is mit1.gated t an extent by tpgraphic screening, by the unusable cnditin f abut half the tr3ils i n the segment, and by the natural rehabilitatin which has ccurred. The WSA's western half has apparent marginal naturalness with gd ptent ial fr a return t a higher degree f naturalness. The apparent naturaln s f the eastern half f the WSA is mderate

46 Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNW NWPS Areas Areas Acreage Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince Wheatgrass-needlegrass Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince Wheatgrass-needlegrass NATIONWIDE 1 17,000 WYOMING 9 17, , ,988 B. Assessing the pprtunities fr Slitude r Primitive Recreatin within a Days Driving Time (Five Hurs) f majr ppulatin centers: The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within a five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS areas Other BLM Studies Ppulatin Center Areas Acreage Areas Acreage Casper, Wyming 27 4,080, ,099 Billings, Mntana 12 4,808, ,462,167 c. Balancing the Gegraphic Distributin f Wilderness Areas: Designatin f the Cedar Muntain WSA as wilderness wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). Currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f designated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units: Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,037 acres), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Pp Agie (101,870 acres), Washakie (704,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a dry, "cld" desert badland area t the system and diversify ecsystem representatin in the NWPS. 69

47 Managaability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) Th~ prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wilderness designatin can be managed as wilderness t preserve values r.w present in the area. There are n State r private inhldings which wuld preclude management. The physical bundaries f the recmmended area including the Cedar Huntain escarpment, Bighrn River, and fenced private land hldings all frm a frmidable barrier. The tw track tra.ils which frm the nrth and east bundary between the prtin f the WSA recmmended and the prtin nt recmmended fr wilderness designatin has erded t the pint where it is barely passable and limits mst vehicle access. The WSA has n ptential fr Band and gravel resurces r fr gethermal energy resurces. The fllwing cmparative impact table (see table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. This table f cmparative summary f impacts is als stated in the Washakie Wilderness EIS. The part f the WSA nt recmmended fr wilderness designatin culd be managed as wilderness but at very high csts. There are prblems near the east and nrthern brder with ORV use, and knwn il and gas reserves. Energy and Mineral Reaurce Vaiuea The U. S. Gelgic Survey and Bureau f Hines prepared a mineral assessment fr Cedar Huntain WSA in 1988 (U.S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin ). This reprt is the primary surce fr the fllwing discussin. There are n mines r prspects lcatec. within the WSA, and it has n identified lcatable mineral resurces. The resurce ptential fr cal is lw in the suthern mst part f the study area; the remainder f the area has n ptential fr cal resurces. Hwever, cal was mined frm a thin discntinuus cal seams 2 miles sut h f the drea. This seam is cvered by as much as 1200 feet f the Meeteetse and Lance Frmatins beneath Cedar Huntain. Gld was identified in three stream-sediments samples cllected near Tie Dwn Flats, indicating a mderate ptential fr gld resurces in thse small drainages. The WSA has n ptential fr gld resurces utside these three drainages, and n ptential fr resurces f ther metals, including uranium. An extensin f a knwn il and gas prducing gelgic structure crsses the nrtheastern part f the area, and anther prducing gelgic structure, is " miles suthwest f Cedar Huntain. Based n the prximity f these str1jctures, inferred faulting beneath the central part f the area, and il and gas shws in dry wells drilled within the area, the ptential fr il and gas resurces is cnsidered mderate fr tw areas in the nrth and central parts f the WSA, and lw fr the remainder f the WSA

48 TABLE 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics Partial Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) N Wilderness (N Actin) All Wilderness Wi lderness Enhancement Wi lderness Values The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 10,213 acres because f wilderness designatin. In the remainder f the WSA, wi lderness values wuld nt be assured n apprximately 11,347 acres because f i I and gas explratin activity, and because f CRV activity n apprximately 19 miles f existing rads and trails in the nrthern prtin f the WSA. N increase in visitr use is anticipated. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin wuld be eliminated n up t 1,750 acres. Special values wuld cntinue t be prtected. Wi lderness values wuld likely remain unchanged n the remaining 19,810 acres f the WSA. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 21,560 acres. Wi lderness values including naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 22,171 acres. Mineral Explratin and Develpment N il and gas resurces are el(pected t be recvered frm three explratry wells drilled n lands nt designated wi lderness. N il and gas resurces are expected t be recvered frm five explratry wells drilled in the WSA n lands nt affected by restrictins. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude explratin fr il and gas resurces n 21,560 acres. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude explratin activity fr il and gas n 22,171 acres; hwever, n impacts are expected as n prductin is anticipated. Recreat ina l Off Rad Vehicle Use Recreatinal ORV use wuld be allwed n apprx imatel y 19 miles f existing rads and trails in the WSA. Access t rckhvnding areas and ppular ORV turing areas wuld remain available and use wuld cntinue at fewer than 500 visitr use days per year. Recreatinal CRV use f apprximately 300 visitr use days per year in the WSA wuld remain unchanged. Wilderness designatin wuld eliminate mtr vehicle use f apprximately 300 visitr use days per year assciated with ORV turing, hunting, and rckhunding. Wilderness designatin wuld displace apprximately 300 visitr use days per year f recreatinal ORV turing, hunting, and rckhunding frm the study area. 72

49 TABLE 4 (Cntinued) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics Partial Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) N Wilderness (N Actin) All Wi lderness Wilderness Enhancement Water Quality Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld increase by 34 tns per year. Current naturally ccurri ng sediment lads f abut 32,000 tns per year riginate frm within the WSA. Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld increase by 34 tns per year. Current sediment lads f abut 32,000 tns per year riginates frm within the WSA. Fence, well, and reservir maintenance wi II cause n additinal sediment lading int the Bighrn River. Naturally ccurring sediment lads frm the WSA f abut 32,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld rema i n unchanged. Fence, well, and reservir mai ntenance will cause n additinal sediment lading int the Bighrn River. Sediment lads f abut 32,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Wildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng term habitat prtectin n 10,213 acres. Oil and gas prductin is nt expected n the remaining 11,347 acres; therefre, wildlife habitat values wuld be prtected. Fewer than five mule deer wuld be tel!1)orari ly displaced n up t 1,700 acres f habitat as a result f human activity and disturbance f frage and cver n areas where il and gas explratin ccurs. These mule deer can be easily accmmdated in areas nt disturbed by il and gas explratin. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng term wildlife habitat prtectin n 21,560 acres. N impacts n r displacement f deer, sage gruse, r raptrs wuld be expected. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng term prtectin f wildlife habitat n 22,171 acres. All wildlife, especially game animals, wuld benefit in the lng term frm imprved security. Livestck Grazing Livestck distributin and riparian areas in the WSA wuld remain unchanged as n new range imprvement prjects are planned. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,751 AUMs wuld cntinue. Maintenance f existing range prjects wuld imprve livestck distributin and grazing ccurrence thrughut the WSA. Livestck grazing use allcatins will remain at 1,751 AUMs. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,751 AUMs wuld be maintained. The pprtunity t prvide better distributin f livestck wuld be fregne where reservirs r fences might accmplish this bjective. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 1,787 AUMs wuld be maintained in the designated areas. The pprtunity t prvide better distributin f livestck wuld be fregne in thse areas where new fences, reservirs, and water wells wuld meet this bjective. 73

50 Lcal SOcial and Ben.ie Cn.iderati n. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsiderati ns were nt an issue in the EIS. Ther\: were n impacta t the l ca l ecnmy r scial character identified during the etudy f thie WSA. SURfn f WSA-Speeific Public C_ent. Ip nt.nl Publi c invlvement haa ccurred thrughut the wilderness review prcea.. Certain cmments received during the inventry prcess and early atagee f the EIS preparatin were used t develp significant study issues and variue alternatives fr the ultimate management f thse lands fund t have wilderness values. During the intensive inventry phase, 19 cnvnents were received n the Cedar Muntain WSA. Twelve ppsed inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and seven supprted inclusin. Thse wh ppsed wilderness study area atatue believed that the area did nt have all the prerequisite wilderness characteristics, that mineral values wuld be lst and that the area shuld be left as it is. Thse favring additinal wilderness studies fr Cedar Muntain cited that the area did meet all the prerequisites fr wilderness etudy. Draft. EISI During the frmal public review f the draft Washakie RMP/EIS and the draft Washakie Wi lderness EIS cnducted frm Nvember 21, 1986 t February 19, 1981; a ttal f 169 cmments, bth ral and written, were received. Tw ral cmments were received at public hearings held in Thermplis, Wrland, and Greybull Wyming; the remaining 167 cmments were written respnses t the draft E1S. During the cmment perid, tw interest grups issued a "Wilder ness Alart.. t their members. These alerts urged their members t write and express their supprt fr wilderness designatin. Abut 121 f the writte n cmments appeared t supprt the "Wilderness Alert". Of the 169 cmments received 78 percent supprted recmmending additinal wilderness designatin. These cnvnents favred designatin t prtect unique rasurce values and ecsystems. Apprx imately 22 percent f the cmments Iacaived.aid nne f the WSA' 8 shuld be recnvnended fr wilderness designatin. Thse cnvnents favrea Lneral explratin/develpment and the need fr cntinued mtr vehicle access. A ttal f fifte.n letters frm lcal, state and federal agencies were received. The.e the letters did nt supprt wildernsss designatin that might r trict devalpment r limit future pti ns. Tw letters favred wilderness d ignatin citing enhanced pprtunities fr hunting and fishing. Ten letter. frm these agencies cnvnented but made n recmmendatin fr r againet wilderne designatin. 1. THE STUDY AREA - MEDICINE LODGE WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (NSA) 7«7 40 acre. The Medicine Ldge WSA (WY ) includes 7,740 acres f BLM-administered lands with n private r atate inhl ings (8ee table 1). The WSA is lcatpd i n Big Hrn Cunty, 5 miles nrtheast f Hyattville, Wyming alng the west slpe f t h BighCJrn Huntains. The WSA is bunded mainly by the Cld Springs Rad n the suth, the Black Butte Rad n the nrth and the west, and the Bighrn Natin'll Frest n the east (see map 1). The WSA cnsists f spectacular canyn walls twering 1,000 feet abve Medicine Ldge Creek. The remainder f the WSA cnsists f steeply slping shrubsteppe and brken rugged areas with shallw canyns and unusual knbby rck utcrps. Elevatins range between 5,100 and 8, 500 feet. Vegetatin is diverse; the warm ledges supprt grasses and muntain mahgany while the cl slpes are frested with Duglas fir. Vegetatin within the brken rugged areas, alng the canyn rims, and i n the pen areas includes sagebrush, grasses, and juniper. The WSA was studi ed under sectin 603 f the Federal Land plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPMA) and was i ncluded in the Washakie Wilderness Envi rnmental Impact Statement (E1S) filed in Nvember There were fur alternatives analyzed in the E1S: All Wilderness (7,740 acres); N Wilderness; Partial Wilderness (3,600 acres) (Prpsed Actin); and wilderness Enhancement (9,796 acres) adding 2,056 acres t the WSA. The Partial Wilderness alternative is the recnvnendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - 3,600 acre. rec_ended fr wi1derne 4,140 acr rec_ended fr nnwi ld.rne The recnunendatin is t designate 3,600 acres as wilderness and relea s e 4,140 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The Wilderness Enhancement Al ternat ive is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative a8 it wuld result i n the least change t the natural envirnment ver the lng term. Hwever, the Partial Wilderness alternative wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld ut i lize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. There are n private r state inhldings within the WSA and all subsurface values are held by the United States

51 The fl l wing pints were key cnsideratins in recmmending the suitable prtin f the WSA fr wilderness. The 3,600 acres recmmended fr wilderness designatin is essentially a pristine canyn and its assciate rims. The cnfiguratin and cmpsitin f the area recmmended suitable fr wilderness were key cnsideratins in the prpsal. There are excellent pprtunities fr slitude at the bttm f the canyn where sight distances are limited, vegetatin is thick and use is limited by the inhspitable terrain. Cnflicts with ther resurces are nnexistent, there is a lw ptential fr mineral resurces and grazing usa currently des nt take place. The terrain restricts the use f mtrized vehicles. N develpment is prjected t take place in the freseeable future. Recreatin use is limited, but pprtunities are utstanding fr wildlife viewing, hiking, big game hunting and trut fish i ng. Part f the area is crucial elk winter range and is manage in cnjunctin with the Wyming Recreatin Cnvnissin and the w'yming Game and Fish Department. Scenic values in the area are utstanding, with the rich cl r cmbinatins, the vertical r nearly vertical cliffs, spires and frmatins. The presence f sinking stream segment s in the upper prtin f the canyn, becming free-flwi ng cascading water in the lwer prtin, adds t the relative uniqueness f the WSA. The fl lowing pints were key cnsiderat lns in nt recmmending the remainder f the WSA fr wilderness. Cnflictll with ther resurce uses i8 greater, range imprvement prjects such as spring develpments, small reservirs, fences, pipeli nes, and range enclsures require acces8 which has traditinally been by mtrized vehicle ma k i ng the area difficult t manage as wilderne. Other i ntrusi ns such all t w track trails, timber sale area., and cabin ruins detract frm the area. The shrubsteppe area abve t he canyn r i m, lacks the vegetatin and tpgraphic screening t be cnducive t sl itude, this becmes especially evide nt during heavy u8e perid8 (hunting 8ea80n). 76 1\;$11 MOO ici ne Ldge Prpsa l Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wildern ess Split Estate IIII fffl~ IIII ~ ~NONE~ State PrIvate tft'*~ WY - OIO MilES June '7 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

52 Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Medicine Ldge Study Area Within the Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BUt surface nly) Inhldings (state, Private) Wi thi n the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary SLM (within WSA) SLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM land recmmended fr wilderness Ttal Wi thi n the Area Nt Recmmended fr wilderness SLM Split Estate Ttal BLM land nt recmmended fr wilderness I nhldings (state, Private) 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATION Wild. r D'" Charact.ri,ti c, 7,740 0_ 7,740 3,600 0_ J,600 4, 140 0_ 4, 140 IL Haturaln : The Medic i ne Ldge WSA i s predmi nantly nat ural with negligible human impr i nts. Med i c i ne LdgE. Cany n i s t he uni t ' s dminate feature. The average elevatin dif f e rence between the cany n ' s r im a nd Medicine Ldge Creek is abut 1, 000 f eet. The uni t c nsists f s teepl y Ii\ping.9hrubsteppe and brken rugged areas with sha llw canyns a nd unusual kn\")bby rck utcrps. Intru,in. in the unit are minimal i n terms f density, v isual impact, and extent. Tw-track trails, apr ing develpments smal l r eser vir s, shr t.egmenta f tence, a small timber 8ale, and cabin ruins a r e the majr intrusin.. Hedicine Ldge Canyn has n intrusins and is pristine. 8. ~: Outstanding pprtunities fr slitude exist in the WSA. The beat pprtunity exists in Medicine LC'ldge Canyn where activity n the bttm f the canyn is remved frm activity n t he rims. Sight distances are llmited by the canyn and vegetatin. Inhspitable terrain, the lack f trai18, thick vegetatin alng the water curses, and t he blckages f falle n timber and bulder. is characteristic f the canyn btt m. Limited use als e nhances the slitude in the canyn. Livestck uee is nnexistent in mst f the canyn and recreatinal use f the canyn is extremely limited because f the difficult access. The shrubsteppe is nt cnducive t slitude. The lack f vegetative and tpgraphic screening is especially evident during heavy use perids (hunting seasn). The rugged character in the juniper belt prmtes sc'litude, by reducing access and limiting the number f users. These pl-'c.ctunities fr slitude are nt affected by the size and cnfiguratin f the WSA. Outside sights and sunds have little effect n slitude. C. Primitive and Uncnfined Recreatin: Medicine Ldge WSA cntains utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin. Opprtunities fr hiking and climbing exist in Medicine Ldge Canyn. Medicine Ldge Creek i s a trut fishery f reginal imprtance. Opprtunity fr fishing appears greatest in the lwer reaches f the creek. Excellent wildlife viewing and hunting pprtunities exist thrughut the WSA. The juniper belt prvides cver and frage fr deer. The shrubsteppe area s draw elk in the fall and winter mnths. Bth species are hunted heavily. Opprtunities fr viewing and hunting small game, predatrs and upland bird!" are als present thrughut the unit. In additin, the utstanding Bcenic quality f this WSA enhances the recreatinal value. O. Special Feature. : Medicine Ldge WSA is extremely imprtant fr wildlife. Nearly the entire WSA is crucial elk winter range. The area is cperatively managed by the Wyming Game and Fish Department (WGFO) a nd the BLM as winter and crucial winter range f r elk. Crucial deer wint er range exists just t the east f the WSA. The entire WSA serves as deer wi nter range. Bighrn sheep, which were rei ntrduced in the Paint R c k Canyn area s evera l years a g, may use par ts f the Medicine Ldge WSA a s s ummer range. Med icine Ldge Canyn rates e xtremely hi gh in scenic value which is based n the rich cl r cmbinatins, the vert ical r nearly vertical c l i ffs, spires a nd frmat i ns; t he vari a t i n i n fr m, pattern, text ure, and type f vegetatin; the p resence f f r e e - flwi ng, c a scad i ng water; t he freedm frm undesir abl e r d i scrdant Sight s and sunds res u l t i ng frm human activities; a nd its relative uniqueness i n the regin. The s upplemental values inherent i n the WS A definitely e nhance the wilderness values f the WSA. The expsed gelgic features in the steep walls f the canyns prvide the ppr tunity t study t he gelgic histry f the area. The Madisn Limestne Frmatin i s a strehuse f fssils such as brachipds, crals, bryzans, and cr inid stems. The WSA is als knwn t cntain a high density f imprtant cultural materials frm early human ccupatin

53 Diversity in th Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS) A. Expanding the Diversity f Natural Systems and Features. as Represented by Ecsystems and Landfrms: Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld nt add t the ecsystem diversity currently in the NWPS. The Medicine Ldge WSA is representative f the Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem in the Wyming Basin Prvince ecreg i n. Fifteen ther study areas currently represent this ecsystem. Several f these have Deen recmmended as suitable fr wilderness designatin including the Alkali Creek and Trapper Creek WSAs. Within this ecregin, a prtin f the Frest Service administered Clud Peak Wilderness represents 27,125 acres f the sagebrush steppe ecsystem. Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin NWPS Areas Areas Acreage Other BLM Studi es Areas Acreage Dry Dmain/Wyming Basi n Prvince/Sagebrush Steppe Dry Dmain/Wyming Basi n Prvi nce/sagebrush Steppe NATIONWIDE 1 67,026 WYOMING 1 67, , ,291 B. As.essing the Opprtuni ties fr slitude r Primitive Recreatin within ~ ays Driving Time (5 Hrs.) f Majr Ppulatin Centers: The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within a five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers Ppulatin Centers Casper, Wyming Billings, Mntana NWPS Areas Areas Acres 27 4,080, ,808,142 Other BLM Studies Areas Acres ,449 S4 3,462,727 80

54 C. Balancing the Gegraphic Distributin f wilderness Areaa: Designatin f Medicine Ldge as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic distributin f wilderness. Currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f designated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units: Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Pe ak. (189, 039 acres), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Pp Agie (101,870 acres), washakie (704,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a dry, "cld" desert badland area t the system and diversify ecsystem representatin in the NWPS. Iapacta OD ther Reaurce. The fllwing cmparati ve impact table (8ee table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including des i gnati n r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. This table f cmparative summary f impacts is als stated in the Washak.ie Wilderness ElS. Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve i ts wilderness character) The prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wilderness designatin can be managed as wilderness t preserve values nw present in the area. There are n state r private inhldinga which wuld preclude management. The physical bundaries f the recmmended area including Medicine Ldge Canyn, the Black Butte Rad, and the rim rck between Medicine and Dry Medicine Ldge Canyn frm a frmidable barrier. There are n resurces cnflicts within the canyn that wuld effect manageability. The prtin f the WSA nt recmmended fr wilderness designatin is ala manageable as wilderness. Hwever, cnflicts with ther resurces include range imprvement prjects such as spring develpments, small reservirs, shrt segments f fence, and the assciated use needed t maintain these prjects which has been traditinally accessed by mtrized vehicle. The tw-track trails assciated with the timber sale and the range imprvement prjects prvides access alng the rim f the canyn and thrugh the sagebrush ateppe are ala used by recreatinist and livestck peratrs making the area difficult t manage. Energy and Mineral Re.urce Value. The U. S. Gel gi cal Survey and Bureau f Mines prepared a mineral assessment fr Medicine Ldge WSA in 1989 (U.S. Gelgi cal Survey Bulleti n l756-a). That assessment is the primary surce fr the fllwi ng discussi n. The Medicine Ldge WSA is cnsidered t have lw ptential fr the ccurrence f il r gas in prduci ble quantiti es. The WSA is cnsidered t have lw ptential fr the discvery f tar sand depsits. N mining claims are lcated within the WSA. The WSA ha s lw ptential fr minr vein-type s ilver mineralizatin, baae meta.l sulfides, and rare-earth elements. The WSA is cnsidered t have mderate ptentia.l fr "Little Muntain-type" uranium mineralizatin (McEldwney et a!. 1977). There i8 n knwn ptential fr salable mi neral values i n the Medicine Ldge WSA and n activ ity i8 anticipatnd

55 Issue Tp ics Partial Wi lderness (Prpsed Act in) Table 4 COMPARATIVE SU MARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE N Wilderness All Wilderness IIi lderness Enhancement wi lderness Values The wi lderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnf i ned recreat in, and the special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 3,600 acres because f wilderness designatin. In the remainder f the \/SA, wi lderness values wuld be lst alng apprximately 6 miles (r 2,400 acres) f des i gnated rads and trai ls, because f ORV activity. Althugh nt assured, wilderness values wuld likely be retained n apprximately 2,740 acres where n irrpai ring activities are anticipated. An increase f 100 visitr use days per year is anticipated. The wi lderness values f naturalness, sl i tude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin culd be impaired n up t 4,000 acres. Special values wuld cnt inue t be prtected. Wilderness values wuld l i kely remain unchanged n the remainder f the \/SA. The wi lderness va lues f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the spec i al values, wuld be prtected n 7,740 acres. Wi lderness values including naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 9,796 acres. Slitude wuld be temprarily lst n range imprvement lcatins where peridic maintenance is required. Mineral Explratin and PrckJc:tin N il and gas explratin r develpment activity is anticipated either within r utside the designated area; therefre, n irrpacts are expected. N il and gas explratin r develpment activity is anticipated, therefre, n irrpacts are expected n leasable minerals. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude explratin f 7,740 acres; hwever, n il and gas explratin is prjected t ccur and n irrpacts wuld result. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude leasing, explratin, and develpment fr il and gas n 9,796 acres. Rec reatinal Off -Rad Veh icle Use Recreatinal ORV use wuld nt be affected in the prtin f the \/SA des i gnated wi lderness because there are n veh icle rutes in that area. Recreatinal ORV use wuld be allwed n apprx imately 6 miles f des i gnated rads and t rails utside the designated area. Access t ppu lar ORV tur ing areas utside the designated area wuld remai n ava i lable and use wuld cntinue at 250 visitr use days per year. Recreatinal ORV use f 250 visitr use days per year in the \/SA wuld remain unchanged. liilderness designatin wuld displace mtr vehicle use f apprximately 250 visitr use days per year n 6 mi l es f des i gnated rads and trails. Wilderness designatin wuld el iminate apprximately 250 visitr use days per year f ORV turing and hunting in the study area. 83

56 Issue Tpics Water Qua l i ty Wildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Fisheries Riparian/Wetlands Livestck Grazing Partial Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld increase. Current naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 4,000 tns per year riginate frm within the WSA. Wi lderness designatin wuld assure lng-term habitat prtectin n 3,600 acres. Develpnent is nt expected n the remaining 4,140 acres; therefre, wildlife habitat values wuld be prtected. Fisheries habitat and ppulatin levels wuld receive lng-term prtectin. There wuld be little change in existing riparian/wet land cnditins as a result f implementing the Partial Wilderness Alternative. There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f existing range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 92 AUMs wuld cntinue in the Medicine Ldge HMU. Table 4 (Cntinued) COMPARArlVE ~ UMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE N Wi lderness Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld nt increase. Current naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 4,000 tns per year riginates frm within the WSA. Whi Ie there wuld be n assurance f lng-term habitat prtectin n 7,740 acres, develpnent is nt expected; therefre, wildlife habitat values wuld be prtected. The Medicine Ldge Creek trut fishery wuld be maintained; hwever, ptential surface-disturbing activities culd increase sediment lads. Apprximately 5.9 miles f riparian/wetlands alng Medicine Ldge Creek wuld be retained. Riparian/wetlands in the upper 1.5 miles f Captain Jack Creek wuld be slightly impacted by livestck use. There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f existing range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use al lcatin levels f 558 AUMs wuld cntinue in the Medicine Ldge HMU. All Wi lderness Sediment lads discharged int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Current naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 4,000 tns per year riginate frm within the WSA. Wilderness designatin wuld assure lng-term wildlife habitat prtectin n 7,740 acres. N impacts n r displacement f elk, deer, sage gruse, r raptrs wuld be expected. Fisheries habitat and ppulatin levels wuld receive lng-term prtectin frm mineral and frest develpnent. The fishery wuld be able t maintain itself thrugh natural reprductin. There wuld be little change in riparian/wetland habitat frm the existing situatin. There wuld be an additinal emphasis n riparian/wetland habitat restratin and imprvement. There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f existing range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 558 AUMS wuld cntinue in the Medicine Ldge HMU. Wilderness Enhancement Range imprvement prject maintenance will maintain water qual ity by preventing additinal sediment lading int the Bighrn River. Existing sediment lads in the designated area f abut 5,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Wi lderness designatin wuld assure lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat n 9,796 acres. All wildlife, especially game animals, wuld benefit in the lng term frm imprved security. The Medicine Ldge Creek trut fishery wuld receive lng-term prtectin fr 3.0 miles. The riparian zne alng 5.9 miles f Medicine Ldge Creek, 3.5 miles alng Captain Jack Creek, and 0.2 mile in Allen Draw wuld receive lng-term prtectin. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 558 AUMs wuld be maintained in the designated area. The pprtunity t prvide better distributin f livestck wuld result frm maintenance f existing range imprvement prjects. 84

57 Lcal Scial anel Een_ic Cn.ielerat.ina Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratin were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Sua.ary f WSA-Speeifie Public C.. ent.. Inventry: Public invlvement has ccurred thrughut the wilderness revie w prcess. Certain cmments received during the inventry prcess and early stages f the EIS preparatin were used t develp significant study issues and varius alternatives fr the ultimate management f thse lands fund t have wilderness values. During the intensive inventry phase, 20 cmments were received n the Medicine Ldge WSA. Five ppsed inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and fifteen supprted inclusin. Thse wh ppsed wilderness study area status did nt elabrate n wilderness character r why the area shuld nt be studied. Thse favring additinal wilderness studies fr Medicine Ldge cited that the area did meet all the prerequisites fr wilderness study and that the area culd and shuld stand alne, irrespective f the decisin n the adjacent Frest Service RARE II unit. Draft EIS: During the frmal public review f the draft Washakie RMP/EIS and the draft Washakie Wilderness EIS cnducted frm Nvember 21, 1986 t February 19, 1981; a ttal f 169 cmments, bth ral and written, werq received. Tw ral crrrnents were received at public hearings held in Thermplis, Wrland, and Greybull Wyming; the remaining 161 cmments were written respnses t the draft EIS. During the cmment perid, tw interest grups issued a "Wilderness Alert.. t their members. These alerts urged their members t write and express their supprt fr wilderness designatin. Abut 121 f the written cmments appeared t supprt the "Wi lderness Alert... Of the 169 cmments received 18 percent supprted recmmending additinal wilderness designatin. These cmments favred designatin t prtect unique resurce values and ecsystems. Apprximately 22 percent f the cmments received said nne f the WSA' s shuld be recmmended fr wilderness designatin. These cmments favred mineral explratin/develpment and the need fr cntinued mtr vehicle access. A ttal f fifteen letters frm lcal, state and federal agencies were received. These the letters did nt supprt wilderness designatin that might restrict develpment r limit future ptins. Tw letters favred wilderness debiqnatin citing enhanced pprtunities fr hunting and fishing. Ten letters frm these agencies cmmented but made n recmmendatin fr r against wilderness designatin. TBB STUDY AJU!:A - ALKALI CREEIt WILDERHI!SS STUDY AREA (WSAI 10«100 acre. The Alkali Creek WSA (WY-Ol0-241) is lcate in Big Hrn Cunty, 1 miles nrth f Hyattville Wyming alng the west slpe f the Bighrn Muntains. The WSA includes 10,100 acres f BLM lands surrunding an island f private lands ttaling 680 acres (see table 1). There are n private lands in the WSA and access t the private sectin is prvided fr thrugh a cherry-stem rad. The WSA bundaries fllws the Alkali and Red Gulch rads n the east and nrth, a tw-track trail alng the western bundary. The suthern bundary fllws alng state, private prperty lines and the Alkali rad (see map 1). The WSA is lcated in a transitin zne between the lwer west slpes f the Bighrn Muntains and the flr f the Bighrn Basin. Elevatins range frm abut 4,850 t 1,000 feet abve sea level. The WSA is an extensin f the juniper cvered slpes and canyns which characterize the lwer reaches f the west slpe f the Bighrn Muntai ns. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Washakie Wilderness Envirnmental Impact statement (EIS) filed in Nvember There were fur alternatlves analyzed in the BIS, including All Wilderness; N Wilderness; Partial Wilderness (Prpsed Actin); and Wilderness Expansin (enhancement) adding 680 t~ acres t the WSA. The Partial Wilderness alternative is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - 8,181 acre. rec_ended fr wilderness 1,913 acre. rec.. eneled fr nnwilderne The recmmendatin is t designate 8,181 acres as Wilderness and release 1,913 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The wilderness Expansin (enhancement) alternative wuld be the envirnmentally preferable recmmendatin as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment ver the lng term. Hwever, the partial wilderness recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t a vid r mini mize envirnmental impacts. The 8,181 acres recmmended fr wilderness designatin represents a rare pristine example f the transitin zne between the desert flr a nd the muntains t the east. The WSA cntains highly scenic canyns, brightly clred sils and unusual rck f rmatins. On the rims f these canyns, scenic vistas prvide an unencumbered view f the basin flr and the majestic muntains. The WSA is knwn t cntain pictgraphs, rck shelters, and ther imprtant cultural values f early ccupatin. The WSA als prvides critical winter range fr habi tat elk and mule deer «85 86

58 The area is in a natural state, relatively unencumbered by human- made features. The terrai n and vegetative screening i n cmbi natin with the WSAs natural state prvi des utstandi ng pprtuni ties fr sli tude and primitive recreatin. The fllwing pints were key cnsideratins in nt recmmending the remainde r f the WSA f r wilderness. Th i s area, while fairly pristine cntains mst f the man-caused intrusins reducing the naturalness t a pint where it is nt necessarily unique, truly utstanding, r s i gnificant enugh t warrant designatin. The lack f vertical relief and vegetative screening, in cmbinatin with the tw majr travel rutea intersecting alng the bundary reduces the pprtunities fr uncnfined, primitive recreatin and slitude t a pint where it is nt necessarily unique, truly utstanding, r significant e nugh t warrant designatin. Recmmended f r Wilderness Recmmended f r N nwilderness fffl~1111 Split e state ~M)NE~ State, 87 Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness ~ Pri vate Alkali Creek Prpsal 0 I M ILES WY- Ol June.1990 ~g BEST COPY AVAILABLE

59 3. Table 1 Land Status and Acreage sunvnary f the Alkali Creek Study Area Within the Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) 10,100 Split Estate (BLM surface nly) 0 Inhldings (State, Private) 0 Ttal 10,100 Within the Recmmended Wilder ness Bundary BLM (within WSA) 8,187 BLM (utside WSA) 0 Split Estate (within WSA) 0 Split Estate (utside WSA) 0 Ttal BLM land recrrmended fr wilderness 8,187 within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal BLH land nt recrrrnended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, Pr i vate) C!!ITIlIIA COMSIDE1tED 1M DEVIILOPIMG TBI MIL!IIIU!!!SS PCOMME!!!!ATIOM 1, ,913 B. slit.ude: Outstanding pprtunities fr slitude exist in the WSA. Vegetative and tpgraphic screening are majr features f the area ' 8 character. The stands f juniper and muntain mahgany help limit sight distances and reduce the visibility f activities in the area. Rck utcrps enhance the pprtunity fr slitude by prviding additinal screening. The ruggedness f the drainages enhances slitude by reducing ease f travel thrugh the unit. pprtunities fr slitude are enhanced by the relative absence f use, r at least, evidence f use. c. Pri.it.ive and Uncnfined Recreat.in: Alkali Creek WSA cntains utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin. The land in the WSA is relatively unencumbered by human-made features, ne culd expect t use the area withut cnstantly encuntering reminders f human presence. The size f the unit may be smewhat cnfining fr sme recreatinal pursuits; hwever, the rugged character f the landscape, the tpgraphic and vegetative diversity f the area, and the lack f human-made cnfinements such as fences tend t cunter the ptential restrictin f activity due t size. In additin, the utstanding scenic vistas f the surrunding muntains and the basin enhance the recreatinal values. D. Special Value.: The entire WSA falls within an elk wintering area where mre than 300 elk winter and is critical winter range fr mule deer The WSA encmpasses at least tw sage gruse strutting grunds. Glden eagles and ther raptrs are knwn t inhabit the unit. Wildern... Characteristic. A. Naturaln s: The Alkali Creek WSA is lcated in the transitin zne between the lwer west slpes f the Bighrn Muntains and the flr f the Bighrn 8<:.sin. Tw majr land frms are fund in the WSA, escarpments, deep, steep-sided drainages and gently rll t almst flat areas. Rck utcrps are linear in nature, resulting in distinct layers r shelves. Sil clrs range frm beige t pinks and reds. Vegetatin is diverse. Juniper, sagebrush, grasses, and muntain mahgany are corlnn; and limber pine is fund in sme drainages in cnjunctin with the juniper. Drainage bttms which are mre msaic in character exhibit cttnwds, skunkbush, and grasses. The Alkali Creek WSA is predminantly natural with a few human imprints, such as fences and vehicle rutes. These intrusins are visually insignificant, few in number, and sufficiently dispersed s as nt t be a majr impact n t he naturalness f the unit. A rad that prvides access t an inhlding f private lands and the private inhlding were excluded frm the WSA during the wilderness inventry prcess because, they did nt cntain wilderness values. The atudy unit is knwn t have archelgical values including pictgraphs and rck shelters. Diversit.y in the Natinal Wildernes. Pre.ervatin Sy.te. (NWPSl A. Expanding the Diversit.y f Natural Syate and Peature., as Represented by Ec.yat.e and Landfr..: Wilder ess designatin f this WSA wuld n t add t the ecsystem diversity currently in the NWPS. The Alkali Creek WSA is representative f the Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem in the Wyming Basin Prvince ecregin. Fifteen ther study areas currently represent this ecsystem. Several f these have been recmmended as suitable fr wilderness designat i n including the Hneycmbs, Medicine Ldge, and Trapper Creek WSAs. Within this ecregin, a prtin f the FS-adminiatered Clud Peak Wilderness represents 27,125 acres f the sagebrush steppe ecsystem. This infrmatin is summar ized in table EST COPY AVAILABLE

60 Bailey-Kuchler class if icatin Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince Sagebrush steppe Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince sagebrush steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas Areas Acreage NATIONWIDE WYOMING 67,026 67,026 Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage , ,291 B. A e ing the pprtunities fr slit.ude r Pri.itiva Recreatin wit.bin a Day. Driving Tag (5 Br ) f Majr Ppulatin Cent.er. : The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within a five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Ppulatin Center Casper, Wyming Billings, Mntana Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers Areas NWPS areas Acreage 27 4,080, ,808,142 Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage , ,462,727 c. Balancing the Gegraphic Distributin f Wilderne Areas: Designatin f Alkali Creek as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic distributin f wilderness. Currently, there are ver 4 millin acres f designated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units : Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acres), Pitzpatrick (198,525 acres), pp Agie (101,870 acres), Washakie (104,274 acres), and Bridger (428,087 acres). H\!ever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a dry, "cld" desert badland area t the system and diversify ecsystem representatin in the NWPS. Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The prtin recmmended fr wilderness designatin can be managed as wilderness t preserve the values nw present in the area. There are n State r private inhldings which wuld preclude management. The steep sided drainages, and cliffs frm a barrier that prevents intrusins frm vehicles and prmtes slitude. The prtin f the WSA nt recmmended fr wilderness designatin is als manageable as wilderness. While the rad and a private inhlding were excluded fr the WSA because, they did cntain wilderness values. The cnflicts assciated with this inhlding reduce the manageability f this area. Cnflicts with ther resurces include range imprvement prjects such as spring develpments, small reservirs, shrt segments f fence and the assciated use needed t maintain these prject.s which has been traditinal by way f vehicle access. These tw-track trails assciated with range imprvement prjects prvides access thrugh the sagebrush steppe are then used by recreatinist and livestck perat.rs making the area difficult t manage. Energy and Mineral Resurce Values The U. S. Gelgical Survey prepared a mineral assessment fr Medicine Ldge, Alkali Creek, and Trapper Creek WSAs (U.S, Gelgical Survey Bulletin l756-a) in That assessment is the primary surce fr the fllwing discussin. The Medicine Ldge WSA is cnsidered t have lw ptential fr the ccurrence f il r gas in prducible quantities. The WSA is cnsidered t have mderate ptential fr the discvery f tar sand depsits with, five ptentially recverable depsits having been identified within the WSA. Frty unpatented mining claims are in r within apprximately 0.5 mile frm Alkali Creek WSA. These claims are fr silica type depsits. Recnnaissance indicates a high irn-xide cntent and fine granularity which wuld make them suitable nly fr fundry sands. The quality and remteness f the depsits indicate that they wuld be f lw ecnmic value. The claimants tk exceptin t these results stating that the sand culd be made ecnmical. There are als strng indicatins f vein-type silver, sulfides, and rare-earth element mineralizatin. The WSA is cnsidered t have mderate ptential fr "Little Muntain-type" uranium mineralizatin (McEldwney et al. 1977). The fllwing cmparative impact table (see Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered i ncluding designatin r nndesignatin f the entire araa as wilderness. This table f cmparative summary f impacts is als stated in the Washakie Wilderness EIS

61 Table 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNAT IVE Issue Tpics Partial Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) N Wi lderness All Wi lderness Wi lderness Enhancement Wilderness Values The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be assured prtectin n 8,187 acres because f wi lderness designatin. In the remainder f the WSA, wilderness values wuld be lst n apprximately 3.7 miles f designated rads and trai ls because f ORV activity in the nrtheastern prtin f the WSA. Althugh nt assured, wilderness values wuld likely be retained n apprximately 1,913 acres where n illlplli ring activities are anticipated. N increase in annual visitr use days is anticipated. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin culd be impaired n up t 8,000 acres. Special values wuld cntinue t be prtected. Wilderness values wuld likely remain unchanged n the remaining 2,100 acres f the WSA. The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 10,100 acres. Wi lderness values including naturalness, slitude, and primitive and uncnfined recreatin, and special values, wuld be assured prtectin n acres. The prtectin f thse values n the 40-acre private mineral estate tract is expected. but nt assured. Sl itude culd be temprarily lst n range imprvement prject lcatins where peridic maintenance is required. Mineral Explratin and Pr~tin N il and gas explratin r develpment activity is anticipated; therefre, n impacts are expected n leasable minerals. N impact is anticipated t slid leasable minerals (cal) r lcatable r salable minerals. N il and gas explratin r develpment activity is anticipated; therefre, n significant i~ct t il and gas, cal, r lcatable r salable minerals is anticipated with this alternative. A slight ecnmic impact culd ccur frm the lss f ryalties if lease stipulatins precluded explratin and develpment f the ptential tar sand depsits. Wilderness designatin wuld preclude explratin f 10,100 acres, hwever, n il and gas explratin is prjected t ccur. N impacts are anticipated t il, gas, cal, lcatable, r salable minerals. Under this alternative, wilderness designatin wuld preclude leasing, lcatin r sale n 10,740 acres. N impact is anticipated t slid leasable minerals (cal), nr lcatable r salable minerals. 93

62 Issue Tpics Partial Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) Table 4 (Cntinued) COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE N wi lderness All Wilderness Wi lderness Enhancement Recreatinal Off-Rad Vehicle Use Recreatinal OIIV use wuld be allwed n apprximately 3_7 miles f des i gnated rads and trails in the nndesignated prtin f the WSA. Access t ppular CRV turing areas NOUld remain available and use NOUld cntinue at 60 vi s i tr use days per year. Recreatinal CRV use f 1,800 visi tr use days per year in the WSA NOUld remain unchanged. Wi lderness designatin NOUld displace mtr veh icle use f apprximately 400 visitr use days per year n 12.0 mi les f designated rads and trails. Wi lderness designatin NOUld eliminate apprximately 400 visitr use days per year f CRV turing, hunting, and rckhunding in the study area. Water Qual ity Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River NOUld nt increase_ Current naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 5,000 tns per year riginate frm within the WSA. Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River NOUld nt increase. Current naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 5,000 tns per year riginates frm within the WSA. Sediment lads discharged int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Currently, naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 5,000 tns per year riginate within the WSA. Range imprvement prject maint~nce will maintain water quality by preventing additinal sediment lading int the Bighrn River. Existing sediment lads in the designated area f abut 5,000 tns per year int the Bighrn River wuld remain unchanged. Wildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Wilderness designatin NOUld assure lng-term habitat prtectin n 8,187 acres. Develpment is nt expected n the remaining 1,913 acres; therefre, wildlife habitat values NOUld be prtected. WIli le there NOUld be n assurance f lng-term habitat prtectin 10,100 acres, develpment is nt expected, therefre, wildlife habitat values will be prtected. Wi lderness designatin wuld assure lng-term wildlife habitat prtectin n 10,100 acres. N impacts n r displacement f elk, deer, sage gruse, r raptrs NOUld be expected. Wilderness designatin NOUld assure lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat n 10,780 acres. All wildlife, especially game animals, NOUld benefit in the lng term frm imprved security. Livestck Grazing There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f existing range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 704 AUMs wuld cntinue. There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use allcatins will remain at 811 AUMs. There wuld be imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f existing range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 811 AUMS wuld cntinue. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 811 AllMs wuld be maintained in the designated area. The pprtunity t prvide better distributin f livestck wuld result frm maintenance f existing range imprvement prjects. 94

63 Lcal Scial and Ecnaic Cn.id.. ratin. The Bcial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Suaaary f WSA-Sp.. cific Public C... nt. A ttal f fifteen letters frm lcal, state and federal agencies were received. These the letters did nt supprt wilderness designatin that migrt restrict develpment r limit future ptins. Tw letters favred wilderness designatin citing enhanced pprtunities fr hunting and fishing. Ten letters frm these agencies cmmented but made n recmmendatin fr r against wilderness designatin. 1nyentry: Public invlvement has ccurred thrughut the wilderness review prcess. Certain cmments received during the inventry prcess and early stagea f the EIS preparatin were used t develp significant study issues and varius alternatives fr the ultimate management f thse lands fund t have wilderness values. During the intensive inventry phase, sixteen cmments were received n the Alkali WSA. Twelve supprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and fur ppsed inclusin. Alkali Creek was nt recmmended suitable fr further study after the initial inventry. Thse wh supprted inclusin f Alkali Creek AS a WSA cited that the initial criteria fr nt prpsing the area WAS in errr. They maintained that the "Suicide Rad" was incrrectly identified as a rad and as a result, the area shuld receive wilderness study status. The fur cmments ppsing WSA status ffered n specific cmments and were philsphical in nature. As a result f the cmments received, a subsequent n-the-grund review and review f Bureau guidelines and principles cncerning rads was undertaken. It was determined that nly a prtin the "Suicide Rad" was cnstructed. Subsequently, that prtin f the rad was cherry-stemmed in rder t allw access t the island f private land and the remainder f the i nventried area waa determined eligible fr further study. The trail has cntinued t be t used in ame degree in cnjunctin with livestck management and hunting use in the fall Draft E1S: During the frmal public review f the Draft Washakie RMP/EIS, Draft WashAkie Wilderness EIS cnducted frm Nvember 21, 19B6 t February 19, 1987; a ttal f 169 cmment s, bth ral and written, were received. Tw ral cmments were received at public hearings held i n Thermplis, Wrland, and Greybull, Wyming; the remaining 167 cmments were written respnses t the draft EIS. During the cmment per id, a tw interest grups issued a "Wilderness Alert" t their members. These alerts urged ~ heir members t write and express their supprt fr wilderneel:t designatin. Abut 121 f the written cmment a appeared t supprt the "Wilderness Alert". Of the 169 cmments received 78 percent aupprted recnvnending additinal wilderness designatin. These cmments favred designatin t prtect unique reaurce values and ecsystems. Apprximately 22 percent f the colmlents received said nne f the WSA' s shuld be recmmended fr wilderness desi gnatin. These cmments favred mineral explratin/develpment and the need fr cntinued mtr vehicle access

64 1. THE STUDY AREA - 7«200 acres TRAPPER CREEK "ILDERHI!SS STUDY AREA,"SA) The Trapper Creek WSA (WY-OIO-242) includes 7,200 acres f BLM-administered public lands with n private r state i nhldings (Bee table 1 and map). The WSA is lcated in Big Hrn Cunty, 5 miles sutheast f Shell Wyming, alng the west slpe f the Bighrn Muntains. The bundary alng the western and nrthern prtins fllw the Black Muntain Rad, physical bundaries, and state and private landa. The eastern and suthern bundary is the Trapper Rim Rad, private land, and legal bundaries (see Hap l). Trapper Creek is ne f the mst spectacular canyns n the west slpe f the Bighrn Muntains. The canyn is characterized by the dramatic vertical relief f the cliffs, spires, and massive rck utcrps f the canyn walls, the presence f a clear cascading stream, and the rich clr cmbinatins. A riparian vegetative cmmunity is fund alng the length f Trapper Creek. A cnifer zne dminated by Duglas fir is lcated n higher elevatin nrth-facing slpes in the canyn. The suth-facing slpes supprt muntain mahgany and juniper, as d the lwer elevatin nrth-facing slpes. Sagebrush and grasses are the dminant vegetatin n the canyn' s rims. Elevatin within the WSA ranges frm 4,700 feet at the west end t 8,400 feet at the east end. The variety f supplemental values enhance the significance f the WSA. During a recent Wyming Natural Area Needs Wrkshp, Trapper Creek and canyn were given the highest pssible recmmendatin fr special management. The area was recmmended because it typifies a natural aquatic/wetldnd area and pristine frest/wdland habitat (Evert, et a!. 1985). Tra.pper Creek cntains a natinally significant cave resurce with high ptential fr additinal significant discveries. The WSA is als knwn t cntain imprtant cultura l values f early human ccupatin. The WSA cntains imprtant habitat fr rare and endangered species such as bald eagles and peregrine falcns. Trapper Canyn prvi des elk and deer crucial winter range and is a calving area fr elk. Cnflicts with ther resurces are nnexistent. There is a lw ptential fr mineral resurces, and timber peratins and livestck use des nt take place. The terrain restricts mtrized vehicle use. N develpment is prjected t take place in the freseeable future. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act f 1976 (FLPMA) and was included in the Washakie Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in Nvember There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS: All wilderness (7,200 acres); and N Wilderness; The All Wilderness Alternative is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOlOlEHDATION AHD RATIONALE: 7,200 acre. rac_ended fr wilderness a acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderness The recmmendatin is t designate the entire area as wilderness. This i'3 cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it will result in the least change in the natural envirnment ver the lng term. There are n private r state inhldings within the WSA and all subsurface values are held by the Un i ted States. The ar e~ recmmended fr wilderness designatin represents a spectacular c a nyn, its assci ated stream and rims. This highly scenic ca.nyn is essent i a l ly pristine in nature, and prvides a unique pprtunity fr pri mitive uncnfi ned recreatin and slitude. These values alne are s i gn i f i cant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin

65 Table 1 Land status and Acreage Summary f the Trapper creek Study Area Within the wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (State, Private) Ttal Within the Recmmended Wilderna Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utaidu WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM land recrrrnended fr wilderna" 7,200 0_ 7,200 7,200 ~ 7,200 Within the Area Nt Racnwnended fr Wildern'l. BLM split Estate 0_ Ttal BLM land nt recmmended fr wildernesl a Inhldinga (State, Private) 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DJYILOPIIIQ TIl NILPIMISS RlCmmm UION Wilderne Characteri.ticI A. Naturalne'la Trapper Creek WSA ie predminantly natural with evidence f past human activity being very limited. Trapper Creek is cntained in the mst spectacular canyns n the west elpe f the Bighrn Muntains. The canyn is characterized by the dramatic vertical relief f the cliffs, spires, and massive rck utcrps f the canyn walla, the presence f a clear cascading stream, and the rich clr cmbinatinl. A riparian vegetative cmmunity is fund the length f Trapper Creek. A cnifer zne dminated by Duglas fir is lcated n higher elevatin, nrth-facing slpes in the canyn. The canyn'e suth-facing slpe. lupprt muntain mahgany and juniper, as d lwer elevatin nrth-facing elpel. Sagabrulh and gra.ees are the dminant vegetatin n the canyn'. rims. Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwi Iderness 1111 fffl:~ 1111 Split Estate FtOE J State Within the canyn, man-made intru.ine are virtually nnexistent. Intrusins are limited t tw-track trails leading frm the main bundary rads t the rim f the canyn, and a small water pump and pipeline. The verall i nfluence f these human i mprints are s few in number that they will nt be perceived by the average visitr. Trapper Creek Prpsal land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness I ~Y:?JI Private MILES 3 I WY - Ol0-242 June,

66 B. ~1 Althugh the WSA is small in terms f acreage and is lng and slender, the pprtunities fr slitude are utstanding. The values f tpgraphic and vegetative Bcreening cunteract any ptential affects n slitude resulting frm size and cnfiguratin. Additinally, the cnstraints n physical acce.s prvided by the canyn rims wuld make it pssible t cntrl use in rder t maintain use levels at a pint that wuld prtect utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. pprtunities fr slitude in the WSA are als enhanced by the general absence f U8e. Live.tck use in the canyn has nt been allcated and has nt ccurred in mst f the canyn, and recreatinal uae haa als been extremely limited. As a result, there are virtually n trails r ther remains f previu8 us. t intrude n a perceptin f slitude. This lack f use reflects the difficulty f acceas t and thrugh the unit. Travel thrugh the canyn ia extremely difficult. There ara n trails except thae made by game. These game trails may b. blcked by fallen timber, crosb steep talus slpes, and invlve wading the cr k. Access t the canyn is limited t a very few rutes by tha unbrkan cliffa f the canyn walla. Thse rutes which are pssible t negtiate require craaing privately wned land. Since the majr prtin f the unit i8 in the canyn, the presence f utside sighta and sunds will nt affect much f the use f the unit and will have l ittle r n affect n the use f the canyn prtin. Hwever, uses which may CC"iAr n the canyn rima culd be minimally affected. The area arund Trapper Crl"!ek i. uninhabited. Develpnent in the frm f fences, livestck water res~rvirb, vehicle trail. exist in the area but are essentially unintrusive. c. 'riaiti add UpcDfiPtd craatipa The Trapper Creek unit prvides utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin. The types f activities that culd be engaged in and the.etting f the WSA are essentially a1milar t thse traditinally aasciated with a.. typical" wilderne Betting and experienca. The setting f the canyn, its utstanding scenic value., the eclgical diversity, the gelgic features, and the wealth f wildlife wuld prvide an excellent resurce base fr a variety f activities. These Activities culd include hiking, spelunking, muntain climbing, hunting, fishing, and supplemental activities such as phtgraphy, nature study and wildlife bservatin. cave in the United States. It is expected that intensive explratin f Trapper Creek will yield new discveri.a f caves in the canyn. Strng interest in Great X amng spelunkers will undubtedly result in additinal discvery f passages. The Trapper Creek landscape cntain. high quality scenic values. These values are based n the dramatic vertical relief f the cliffs, spires, and massive rck utcrps f the canyn walla, the rich variety vegetatin, the presence f sinking stream segments turning int clear cascading stream, and the rich clr cmbinatins. This exceptinally high scenic quality rating enhances ther wilderness values f the unit. Fur t five hundred elk and tw t three hundred deer uee prtins f the Trapper Creek WSA as crucial winter and winter habitat. Elk als calve near the cnfluence f Jack and Trapper creeks. Glden eagles and prairie falcns use and nest in the Trapper Creek WSA. Three r fur bald eagle. use the Trapper Creek WSA fr winter hunting territry. Several peregrine falcns have been bserved in this WSA during the spring and sullln8r perids. Bbcats, muntain lin, and black bear frequent lands within the WSA yearlng as well. Div,r.ity ip th. Natinal Wild,m,s. pra.,natip Sy.t.. 'II!fPS) A. BKpaDdinq tb. Divar.ity f Natural Stat_a add P,atur. A. Repr ented by Bc.tlt and Landfra.: Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld nt add t the ecsystem diversity currently in the NWPS. The Trapper Creek WSA is representative f the Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem in the Wyming Basin Prvince ecregin. While, the WSA is classified by Bailey-Kuchler as Sagebrush Steppe the real unique value is the pristine riparian zne cntained within the canyn. Fifteen ther study areas currently represent this ecsystem. Several f these have been recmmended as suitable fr wilderness designatin including the Hneycmbs, Alkali Creek and Trapper Creek WSAs. within this ecregin, a prtin f the Frest Service administered Clud Peak wilderness represents 27,125 acres f the SAgebrush steppe ecsystem. This infrmatin is surrunarized in table 2. Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin D. Sp.eial F'atur I A variety f supplemental values enhance the wilderness characteristics f the Trapper Creek WSA. These include gelgie, eclgic,.cenic values, and wildlife. The gelgic value. as.ciated with this WSA are derived frm the expsure f features and frmatins revealing the gelgic histry f the regin as well as frm examples f gelgic prces8es At wrk. In additin, a secnd gelgic value relates t palentlgy f the unit. Anther value relating t the gelgy f the WSA i. the lwer entrance t Great Expectatin. Cave (Gr.at X) i. lcated in the WSA. The lwer entrance i. apprximately 4 mile. dwnstr.am frm the upper entrance. The elevatin differ.nc. betwe.n entranc.s i. 1,403 feet, making Great X the third deepest Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/sagebrush Steppe Dry Dmain/Wyming Basi n Prvince/Sagebrush Steppe NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies Areas Acreage Areas Acreage NATIONWIDE 67, ,831 WYOMING 67, ,

67 B. A ing th. Opprtunitie. fr slitude r Pri.iti ve Recreatin within a Day. Dri",inq '1m 'Fiy. Bura> f Majr Ppulatin Center.: The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 s ummarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within a five hur. drive f the ppu lat in centers. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS areas Other BLM Studies Ppulatin Center Areas Acreage Areas Acreage Caaper, Wyming 27 4,080,891 J2 440,449 Billing8, Mntana 12 4,808, ,462,727 Trapper Creek. WSA is cnsidered t have lw ptential fr minr silver, base metal sulfides, and rare-earth metals. It is als cnsidered t have mderate ptential fr Little Muntain-type uranium mineralizatin (McEldwney, et a ). Silica sand depsits, pssibly industrial grade, exist near and pssibly in the WSA. One silica sand mi ning claim i s adjacent and apprximately 14 claims are lcated just suth f the WSA bundary. There are n recgnized salable mi neral values in r adjacent t the WSA ; therefre, the ptential fr salable minerals is lw. Iapact. n ther Resurce. The fllwing cmparative impact table (aee table 4) summarizes the effect s n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. This table f cmparative summary f impacts is als stated in the Washakie Wilderness EIS. c. Balapcing t.h. Gegraphic Di.trihutiD f Wilderu Are.s : Designatin f Trapper Creek as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic distributin f wilderness. There are currently 2,923,375 a c res f wilderness in the vicinity. Currently, there are ver 4 milli n acres f desi gnated wilderness reginally including the fllwing larger units: Absarka Beartth (943,610 acres), Nrth Absarka (350,488 acres), Clud Peak (189,039 acrea), Fitzpatrick (198,525 acres), Pp Agie (101,810 acres), Washakie (704,214 acree), and Bridger (428,087 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a pristine riparian zne and its assciated canyn t the system and d i veraify ecsystem representati n in the NWPS. Map.gaability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character ) The WSA is mc_nageable as wilderness. There a re n State r private inhldings which wul d preclude management. There are n il and gas leases in the WSA. The physical bundaries f the recmmended area including Trapper Canyn, and the rim rck abve the canyn frm a frmidable barrier. There are n reauree. cnflic t s within t he canyn that wuld effect manageability. harn.nd Minar.l Ra,urce Valu The U.S. Gelgic Survey and Bureau f Mines prepared a mineral assessment fr Trapper Creek WSA in 1989 (U.S. Gelgical Survey Bulleti n l 756-A). That aaaeaament ia the primary aurce fr t he fllwing d i scussin. The Trapper Creek WSA is cnsidered t have lw i l and gas ptential. The Trapper Creek WSA ia cnsidered t have mderate ptential fr the ccurrence f tar sand depaits. Althugh n depaits have been lcated t date, the gel09y in the WSA is aimilar t that auth f t he WSA where tar s ands depaita d exiat

68 Table 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE Issue Tpics Wi lderr-.ess Values Mineral Explratin and P rcijc: t i n Recreatinal Off-Rad Vehicle Use ljater Qua Ii ty ljildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Fisheries Riparian/Wetlands Livestck Graz ing Ti~r Prductin All ljilderness The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and LrlCnfined recreatin, and the special values, wuld be prtected n 7,200 acres. ljilderness designatin wuld preclude explratin f 7,200 acres; hwever, n il and gas explratin is expected t ccur and n i~cts wuld resul t. Explrat i n fr il and gas wuld be prhibited. The ptential fr the ccurrence f ther mineral resurces is lw, s n prcijc:tin wuld be fregne. lji lderness designatin wuld displace mtr vehicle use n all 7,200 acres which includes 4.6 miles f designated rads and trails. Apprximately 100 visitr use days per year utilize the designated rads and trails assciated with CRV turing, h~ting, and rckhunding. Sediment lads discharged int the Bighrn River wuld remain LrlChanged. Currently, naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 4,000 tns per year riginate within the IJSA. ljilderness designatin wuld assure lng term wildlife habitat prtectin n 7,200 acres. N i~cts n nr displacement f elk, deer, sage gruse, r raptrs wuld be expected. ljilderness designatin wuld prvide lng term prtectin fr 10 miles f trut fishery waters. Trut habitat preservatin wuld be emphasized in rder t sustain a high quality stream fishery. The pprt~ity t catch trut wuld be preserved. Lng term prtectin f 12.5 miles f mstly pristine riparian/wetland vegetatin will be ensured as a result f designatin under this alternative. Current livestck grazing use allcatin levels f 498 AUMS wuld cntinue. There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f existing range imprvement prject. N impacts are expected frm the remval f 1,324 acres f cmmercial frestland and 276 acres f wdlands frm the timber harvest base since n timber sales are planned in the near future. In the lng term, apprximately 80 MBF per year f timber prduct i n wuld be lst. N lji lderness The wilderness values f naturalness, slitude, and primitive and LrlCnfined recreatin culd be i~ired n up t 3,000 acres. Special values wuld cntinue t be prtected. ljilderness values wuld likely remain LrlChanged n the relll8ining 4,200 acres f the lisa. Neither leasable, lcatable, r salable.ineral activity nr il and gas explratin r develpment activity is anticipated; therefre, n i~cts t any f these resurce uses wuld result. Recreatinal CRV use f 100 visitr use days per year in the \/SA wuld remain LrlChanged. Sediment discharged int the Bighrn River wuld nt increase. Current naturally ccurring sediment lads f abut 4,000 tns per year riginates frm within the \/SA. While there wuld be n assurance f lng term habitat prtectin n 7,200 acres, develpment is nt expected; therefre, wildlife habitat values will be prtected. Trut fishing pprt~ities will cntinue t be available n 10 miles f Trapper Creek. Excellent fishery cnditins are expected t be maintained. Pristine riparian/wetland vegetative cnditins adjacent t Trapper Creek are expected t be maintained. There wuld be an imprvement in livestck distributin and an enhancement f riparian areas because f maintenance f range imprvement prjects. Current livestck grazing use allcatins will rema in at 498 AUMs. Based n current prescriptins apprximately 80 MBF f timber culd be prduced annually frm the Trapper Creek lisa under this alternative. Under current frest management prescriptins n treatments are anticipated n a majrity f this area fr at least 30 t 50 years because f steep slpes and access cnstraints. 105

69 Lc,l Sci'l.nd Icn.ic COnaider.tina Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r acial character identified during the study f this WSA. Su.a" f lisa-specific Public CO_ent. Ip."t"~ Public invlvement has ccurred thrughut the wilderness review prcess. Certain crrrnents received during the inventry prce.s and early at ages f the EIS preparatin were used t develp significant study issues and variue alternatives fr the ultimate management f thse lands fund t have wilderness values. During the i n'.ensive inventry phase, 32 carrrnenta were received n Trapper Creek WSA. Only five ppsed i nclusi n f this unit as a wilderness study area and twenty-seven supprted inclusi n. Thse wh ppsed wilderness study area status beli eved that wilderness designatin wuld destry the values inherent in the WSA by causi ng veruse. Thse favring additinal wilderness studies fr Trapper Creek. cited that the area did meet all the prerequisites fr wilderness study. praft. lis: Duri ng the frmal public review f the draft Washakie RMP/EIS, draft Washak.ie Wilderness Suitability EIS cnducted frm Nvember 21, 1986 t February 19, 1987; a ttal f 169 c Ol'l'l'M!nts, bth ral and written, were received. Tw ral crrments were received at publi c hearings held in Thermplis, Wrland, and Greybull Wyming; the remaining 167 crrmenta were written respnses t the draft EIS. During the cnvnent perid, tw interest grup. issued a "Wilderness Alert.. t their members. These alerta urged their members t write and express their supprt fr wilderness designatin. Abut 121 f the written cnvnents appeared t supprt the "Wilderness Alert". BLANK PAGE Of the 169 crrrnents received 78 percent supprted recnvnanding additinal wilderness designatin. These cnvnents favred designatin t prtect unique resurce value. and ecsystems. Apprximately 22 percent f the crrments received said nne f the WSA's shuld be recnwnended fr wilderness designatin. These cnwnents favred mineral explratin/develpment and the need fr cnt i nuad mtr vehicle acceaa. ~ ttal f fifteen lettera frm lcal, state a nd federal agencies were received. The.e the letters did nt supprt wilderness designatin that might r trict develpment r limit future ptins. Tw letters favred wilderness designatin Ci ting enhanced pprtunities fr hunting and fishing. Ten letter. frm th.se agencies cmmented but made n r ecnmendatin fr r against wilderne designatin. 106 /01

70 SUMMARY ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC WSA RECOMMENDATIONS BLANK PAGE RAWLINS DISTRICT WSAs 108

71 SWI!I!TIIATER Cl\HYON WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (WSAI 1. THE STUDY AREA acr The Sweetwater Canyn WSA (WY ) encmpasses 9,056 acres f BLK-administered public lands. There are n split estate r private inhlding lands within the bundaries (Bee table 1). The WSA is lcated in Fremnt Cunty, apprximately 15 miles east f Suth Pass City, Wyming, n the Sweetwater River. The WSA is bunded n the nrth be a cmbinatin f r ads, private land, and state land; n the west by rads and state land; n the Buth by rads, state land, and private land; and n the east by rads and private land (see Map 1). The Sweetwater Canyn WSA liea alng the sutheastern flank f the Wind River Range in the high plains desert. The 5, 538 acres recmmended fr wilderness includes the cre area. f the Sweetwater River canyn which is rughly 7 miles lng and averages 500 deep. The Sweetwater River drps frm an elevatin f 7,150 feet t 6,720 feet, r a drp f ver 60 feet per mile as it passes thrugh the WSA. Vegetatin in the canyn cnsists primarily f willws, cniferus trees, and aspens. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Lander Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in April, There were three alternatives analyzed i n the EIS including partial wilderness which is the recmmendatin i n thi s reprt, N Wi lderness, and All Wilderness. Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness IIII fffl:~ IIII Spl;t Estate ENONE: J State 110 l and utside WSA.**'~::u Recmmended fr _"...,.,_ Wilderness Sweetwater Canyn Prpsal ~-E2 I Pr;yate MILES WY J une, 1990 /I I BEST COPY AVAILABLE

72 TABLE 1 - Land Status & Acreage Summary f the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area elm (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (state, private) Ttal Within the ReeQn'lDended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utbide WSA) Split EBtate (within WSA) Split EBtate (utbide WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recnrnended Fr Wilderness Within The Area Nt Recmmended Fr Wilderness BLM Split EBtate Ttal BLM Land Nt Recrrrnended Fr Wilderness 9,056 9,056 5,538 5,538 3,518 3, MctOIIJ!I)ATIOJf AND MTIQJfALI - 5,538 acr.. r.c_.nd,d fr "ild.rn 3,518 acr.. r.c_.nd.d fr nn"ild.rn The recnwnendatin fr this WSA is t designate 5,538 acres as wilderness and release 3,518 acres fr uses ther than wilderness (Map 1). The All Wilderness alternative is cnsidered t be t he envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. The recmmendatin wuld be i mplemented in a manner which wuld use all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. There are n inhldings r split estate tracts within the prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wildern in this reprt. In recmmending this prtin f the WSA fr wilderness, the high quality f the area'. wilderness values was a key cnsideratin. The 5,538 acres recnvnended fr wilderness designati n includes the "cre area" f the canyn which cntains the mst utstanding wilderness values and is least affected by human activity. Because f the lack f man-made intrusins in this prtin f the WSA, it. naturalness is cnsidered exceptinal. The river canyn is nearly s.ven miles lng and 500 feet deep. Except fr the Strawberry Creek cr lng, the canyn is virtually inaccessible t mtrized traffic, and there i. n evidence f mdern man. The wilderness inventry judged this prtin f the WSA t be natural in appearance. Outstanding pprtunities fr slitude are available thrughut the area recmmended fr wilderness. The river canyn with its dense riparian vegetatin and numerus tributary drawb prvide utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. Visitrs wuld be able t easily escape frm the sights and sunds f thers in numerus secluded places alng the river r in ne f its side canyns. The recreatin values f the prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wilderness are utstanding. This prtin f the WSA includes the river canyn and ffers exemplary pprtunities fr hiking, backpacking, fishing, hunting, nature study, and phtgraphy. In additin, the prtin f the WSA recnvnended fr wilderness is within clse prximity t tw natinal histric trails. The natural appearance f the WSA prvides a wide expanse f undisturbed landscape similar t that Been by pineers f the Great American Migratin. All these attributes cmbine t ffer a diverse recreatin pprtunity. Designatin f this prtin f the WSA as wilderness wuld add an ecsystem nt currently represented in the wilderness system. The 5,538 acres recnunended fr wilderness designatin are eclgically diverse representing t w transitin znes, the Wyming Basin/Wheatgrass-Needlegrass Shrub Steppe, and the Wyming Basin/Duglas-Fir Frest. Neither f these ecsystems are currently represented in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin Syste m. A wilderness designatin wuld nt result in unmanageable cnflicts with ther resurce uses in the 5,538 acres recmmended ~r such a designatin. Livestck grazing wuld cntinue, and bth grazing use and recreatin use wuld be cncentrated in the river canyn. Ptential cnflicts may ccur in the frm f requests frm visitrs t reduce the level f grazing in the canyn bttm, and als frm livestck peratrs t reduce visitr use in rder t minimize disturbance t livestck which is inevitable given the narrw canyn in prtins f the area. These ptential cnflicts culd be managed thrugh fairly intensive mnitring and management f the livestck and wilderness related recreatin uae. The remaining 3,518 acres f the WSA nt recmmended fr wilderness are abve the rim f the canyn and cnsist f rlling hills and prairie. It des nt include the Sweetwater River r canyn and is nt exemplary f the wilderness values fund in the canyn. This area is less natural than the area prpsed fr wilderness designatin and is affected mre by existing intrusins such as vehicle ways that run t the canyn rim. It is als mre influenced by the sights and sunds f mtrized vehicles, and has less screening than the area prpsed fr wilderness designatin. Because there are n physical barriers t vehicle use in this prtin f the WSA, it is likely that unauthrized vehicle use wuld cntinue in the area. Managing this prtin f the WSA as wilderness wuld thus be extremely difficult

73 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPINO TIlE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATIONS wild.rn Characteriat.ic. A. Naturaln : Significant human influence is substantially unnticeable in the WSA. This is particularly true in the river canyn itself. The nly intrusins are tw-track trails and an abandned mineral explratin aite near the river at the western edge f the WSA. There are tw b Asic types f tpgraphy in the WSA: the canyn with its tributary draws, and the gently rlling hills that surrund the canyn. The canyn, which is nearly 1 miles lng, is a water-carved grge nearly 500 feet deep. In places, the walls are nearly vertical Bare rck exists thrughut the grge. Outcrps alng the canyn walls are interspersed with sagebrush, grasses, ther shrubs, and pckets f aspen and willw, all f which prvide cnsiderable variety in the landscape. vegetatin in the bttm f the grge and alng the river tributaries cnsists f willw, limber pine, aspen, cttnwds, and juniper. The cntrast between the Sweetwater River Canyn and the surrunding hills is abrupt and striking. The terrain abve the grge is mstly flat with lw, gently rlling hills and a few mderately scattered rck utcrps. The area abve the canyn is less natural, cntaining numerus tw-track ways. B. slitude: The river canyn, cupled with dense riparian vegetatin and numerus tributary draws, prvides a high degree f slitude. The canyn fllws the meanders f the Sweetwater River, creating numerus secluded places t escape frm the sights and sunds f ther visitrs. The vegetatin alng the flr f the canyn and the tpgraphy f the canyn screen visitrs frm ne anther. There is less pprtunity fr slitude utside the canyn. Lack f vegetative screening and relatively flat tpgraphy cntribute t less than utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. C. Pri.itiv. and Uncnfined Recr.atin, The river canyn cntains utstanding pprtunities fr a primitive and uncnfined type f recreatin. Of all the pprtunities fr recreatin, the river itself is by far the mst imprtant. Typically, fishing pprtunities attract mst visitrs t the area. While fishing, visi trs usually take advantage f ther benefits such as the utstanding slitude, scenery, and camping pprtunities alng the river. The r iver ffers high quality brwn, rainbw, and brk trut fishing. Mule deer are hunted within the canyn. Sage gruse are als hunted, and antelpe are hunted n the areas abve the canyn. D. Special Feature., The prtin f the WSA recrrvnended fr wilderness prvides an imprtant Bcenic backdrp fr tw natinal histric trails and cntain. an imprtant fur trade era campsite. The campsite was used by the Jedediah Smith fur brigade prir t their discvery f suth Pass i n 1824, an event that literally pened up the west. Later the Oregn Trail and Hrmn Pineer Trail were bth lcated thrugh Suth Pass. These t w trails l ie i n clee prxi mity t the WSA. Thus, the natural appearance f the WSA prvides histric trail buffs with a wide expanse f relatively undisturbed landacape similar t that seen by the pineers f the mid 1800 # II. The canyn als has high IIcenic values with a great d i versity f clr and texture which cntrasts sharply with the surrunding desert envirnment. Div.r.ity in the Katinal Wild.rn Pr natin 5y.t A. Expanding th. div.r.ity f patur,l.y.te 'nd f.,tur.. 'I r.pr pted by.cay.t 'nd 1.ndf,..1 Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add ne ecsystem nt presently represented in the Natinal Wildernes. Preservatin System and wuld add anth.r r.pr.sented by nly ne NWPS unit in Wyming. Only ne ther BLM study area cntains the Dry Dmain/Wyming Baain Prvince/Duglas-Fir Fre.t ecsystem (the Ferris Huntaina WSA). There i s ne NWPS unit (the Nrth Absarka, 17,000 acrea) and six ther BLM study areas (all in Wyming) which cntain the Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/Wheatgrass-Needlegra sb Shrub Steppe ecsystem. This infrmatin is summarized in table 2. Bailey"Kuchler classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/Duglas-Fir Frest Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvi nce/wheatgrass Needlegrass Shrubsteppa Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/Duglas-Fir Frest Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/Wheatgrass Needlegrass Shrubsteppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Are.s areas.cra. NATION WIDE 0 17,000 17,b ther BLM Studies area. acre. 22, , sse 22, ,

74 B. A ing the pprtuniti fr.litude r prj.itive recreatin within a day'. driving ti.e (five hur.) f.. 10r ppulatin c.nt.r.: The WSA is within a five hur drive f ne majr ppulatin center. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin center. Ppulatin Centers Casper, WY Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas ther BLM Studies areas acres areas acres 27 4,080, ,603 c. Balancing the gegraphic di.tributin f wildem... ar.a., This WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the NWPS. There are many wilderness pprtunities thrughut Wyming. There are six designated U.S. Frest Service wilderness aras that date back t the 1964 Wilderness Act. These cmprise 2,194,080 acree. In 1984, the Wyming Wilderness Act added 14 mre wilderness areae cnsisting f 884,049 acres. The neareat wilderness areas are the Washakie, Fitzpatrick, Bridger, and Clud Peak. All fur are within 3 hurs driving time frm the Sweetwater Canyn WSA area. Manag.ability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wildernesb character). The prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wilderness wuld be manageable as wilderness. Because this area includes nly t he canyn itself with its steep walls and rugh terrain, there is little pprtunity fr vehicle use within the partial wilderness bundary. As nted earlier, there are cnflicts between livestck grazing and recreatin uses within the canyn. Althugh theae cnflicts will make management f the area mre difficult, they will nt re.ult in degradatin f wilderness values s as t make the area unmanageable as wilderness. There are abut 720 acres cvered by placer claims within the prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wilderness. It is assumed that these claims wuld hld valid di.cveries. If it can be shwn that the claims were valid as f the date the area i s designated wilderness, then develpment wrk, extractin, and patenting culd ccur. The result culd be an impairment f wilderness values n and adjacent t the claims that wuld reduce BLM'. ability t manage the area a. wilderne. Hwever, the nly activity that is expected n these claim. wuld be the annual a essment wrk, which wuld disturb less than 5 acr ver the lng term. Thus, the impact wuld b. insignificant because t he.urface disturbance wuld be apread ut ver 720 acr and wuld ccur ver the cur f.everal years. The remaining 3,518 acres f the WSA wuld be d i fficult t manage as wilderness. The tpgraphy f this prtin f the WSA is such that cntrlling vehicle use wuld be extremely difficult, if nt impssible. The area is generally flat with n natural barriers t vehicles. Intrusins by vehicles wuld be fairly cnunn thrughut hunting seasn. There are abut 280 acres f lde and placer claims in the prtin recnvnended fr nnwilderness. Hwever, n large scale develpment is expected n the claims and annual assessment wrk wuld disturb a maximum f 5 acres ver the lng term. The impacts n wilderness values wuld be negligible because the disturbance wuld be spread ver 280 acres and wuld ccur ver the curse f several years. There is n ptential fr il and gas s n explratin r develpment wuld be expected. Energy and Mineral Re.urce value. The U. S. Gelgical Survey and the U. S. Bureau f Mines prepared a mineral assessment fr the Sweetwater Canyn WSA in 1988 (U. S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin , 1988). The results f that reprt prvide the basis fr the fllwing infrmatin. The western-mst part f the Sweetwater Canyn WSA was identified in this assessment as having a high ptential fr lde gld depsits. The U.S. Bureau f Mines identified fur quartz veins in this area. The veins varied frm abut 2 inches t 2. 8 feet thick. Samples we r e analyzed fr gld and the samples ranged frm les8 than unces per tn t unces per tn. The size f any such lde gld depsits wuld likely be small. Due t a change i n gelgy the remainder f the area is nt judged t have lde gld ptential. The gravels f bth Strawberry Cz:eek and the Sweetwater River were identified as having high ptential fr lw grade and lw tnnage placer gld depsits. Five f the ten samples panned by the U.S. Bureau f Hines cntained visible fine gld particles and further analysis shwed that all ten sampl e s cntained gld. Preliminary calculatins suggest the grade is Bubecnmic under present cnditins. The entire Sweetwater Canyn WSA was identified as having a lw ptential fr tin, tungsten, and uranium i n additin t hav '..ng n ptenti al fr il, gas, r gethermal energy. Iapacta OR Other Re. urce. The fllwing cmparative table sununariz9s the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness and implementatin f the c!xisting management alternatives

75 TABLE 4 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS Sweetwater' Canyn WSA Issue Tpics Prpsed- Actin (Partial Wilderness) Alternative 1 (N Wilderness) Alternative 2 (All Wilderness) Wi lderness Assessment wrk n apprx. Assessment wrk n 1, acres f mining claims wuld disturb less than 5 acres ver the lng term. Impacts t naturalness wuld be negligible. Wilderness values enhanced n 5,538 acres due t el iminatin f CRVs: slitude and primitive recreatin adversely affected by cntinued ORV use n 3,518 acres, but impact is minimal because CRV use levels are lw. Assessment wrk n 1,000 acres f mining claims wuld disturb less than 10 acres ver the lng term. Impacts t naturalness wuld be negligible. Slitude and primitive recreatin wuld be adversely affected by cnt i nued CRV use n acres, but impact is minimal because CRV use levels are lw. acres f mining claims wuld disturb less than 10 acres ver the lng term. Impacts t naturalness wuld be negl igible. Slitude and primitive recreatin enhanced by el iminatin f CRV use. Energy and Mineral Resurces clsed t further mineral A ttal f 5,538 acres mineral entry and leasing. entry and leasing: 3,518 acres wuld be pen t mineral entry and leasing. N significant impacts. All 9,056 acres pen t further entry and N significant impacts. wuld cntinue n abut 1,000 acres f existing clai ms. N significant impacts. All 9,056 acres clsed t leas i ng. Assessment wrk Recreatin Resurces A ttal f 100 visitr days amually displaced frm 2 miles f vehicle trail n 5,538 acres; n significant impact. CRVs limi ted t apprximately 3-1/2 miles f existing trails n 9,056 acres. N significant impacts. A ttal f 250 visitr days amually displaced frm 3-1/2 miles f vehicle trails n acres: N significant impact. 118

76 ..tocal Scial and Ecna.ic Cn.iderat.in. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impact.. t. t.he lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. SUIOIARY OF "SA - SPECIPIC PUBLIC COMMENTS Inyent.ry; During the inventry phase, 21 cmments were received n the Sweetwater Canyn WSA. Twenty supprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area, and ne was ppsed. Nearly all f the cmmentrs pinted ut the need fr prtectin f the reaurce values in the WSA, but they were nt aure if a wilderness designatin wuld prvide that prtectin. N federal agency cmmented specifically n the Sweetwater Canyn WSA. Hwever, ne agency, the Natinal Park Service, did ffer sme general cmments n the draft wilderness supplement. Tw state agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department and the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, agreed with the prpsed actin fr Sweetwater Canyn, which is partial wilderness designatin. One state agency, the State Engineer's Office, ppsed any designatin f wilderness in Sweetwater Canyn. The Office f the Gvernr did nt specifically cmment n the Sweetwater Canyn WSA, but indicated a decisin wuld be made n the varius recnunendatins when the ttal statewide picture became available. Cmments were received frm three lcal gvernments--dubis, Rivertn, and Lander. They all ppsed any wilderness designatin fr Sweetwater Canyn WSA. Draft SIS: The draft EIS was released in Nvember Tw public hearings were held in Lander and Dubis in December A ttal f 716 cmments were received during the frmal public review f the BIS; 4 were ral cmments, and 712 were written. Cnwnents were general in nature, either favring r ppsing wilderness designatin fr the entire Sweetwater Canyn WSA and the ther five WSAa that were addressed in the EIS. The cawne nts against wilderness generally viced the pinin that Wyming already has t much wilderness in the natinal frests and natinal parks. They were cncerned that federal lands are being lcked up and that nnwilderness u s e s will be lst by mre wilderness designatin. They felt that wilderness i8 t detrimental t the state and lcal ecnmies because it reduces develpment in industries such as the timber and mineral-related bueinesses, and adversely affecta such spin-ff values auch as jbs and tax base. They a180 generally expressed the feeling that wilderness is restricted t nly thse yung enugh and ecnmically able t enjy the benefits, and public land. shuld nt be set aaide fr such a small segment f the public. Further cncern a were expressed that wilderness wuld draw mre peple t a particular area and i ncrease the scial prblems invlved such as trespass n private lands, litter, and vandalism. Thse cmments i n favr f wilderness prtectin generally viced cncern that t hese va l uabl e lands and reaurces wuld nt get deserved prtectin withut wi l derne designatin. They expressed the pinin that Wyming already has t much develpment such a. a prliferatin f rads, cleared frests, scenic degradat i n thrugh mi ning and mineral leasing, and lss f wildlife and habitat t t hese devel pment.. They feel that the All Wilderness Alternative ahuld be recnrnended fr Sweetwater Canyn. They feel that the WSA is de.erving f wilderness status as a last remaining vestige f the envirnment which c nta i n epec a l resur ce val ues, and that these values which qualify t he araa f r wilder ne.s study shuld be prt ected frm develpment

77 COPPER MOUNTAIN IIILDERNESS STUDY AREA (lisa) 1. TIl STUDy ARIA -,«858 acr The Cpper Muntain WSA (WY ) encmpasses 6,858 acres f BLM-administered public lands. There are n split estate r private inhlding lands within the bundariea (8ee Table 1). The WSA is lcated in Fremnt Cunty, apprximately 10 miles nrth f Shshni, Wymi ng. The WSA is bunded n the west by the Wind River Indian Reservatin, n the suth and nrth by private and state lands and n the east by a cunty rad (see Map 1). The cpper Muntain WSA is situated at the upper end f Wind River Canyn. It is part f the Cpper Muntain Range als knwn as the Bridger Muntains. It is dry, muntainus with scattered limber pine and juniper n rcky slpes. The elevatin ranges frm S,OOO feet t 6,400 feet. Steep canyns and rcky utcrps have & ttal rel i e f f 1,400 feet. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Lander Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in April, There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS; N Wi lderness, which is the recmmendatin, and All Wilderness. TABLE 1 - Land Status & Acreage Summary f the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM aurf ace and subsurface Split Eatate ( BLM surface nly) Inhlding (state, private) Ttal Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary au! (within lisa) Ttal BLM Land Recmmended fr Wilderness Within the Area Nt Recrrl'l'lended fr Wilderness 8LM Ttal BLM Land Nt Recmmended Fr Wilderness 6,858 6,858 6,858 6,858 NONE Rec mmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness 1111 N#:~ 1111 Split Estate FNONE@ State 121 am : ~ Land utside WSA mtt1ffl tm Recmmended fr _, _ Wilderness Cpper Muntain Prpsal I ~q;/e%a Mi les Pd'ate WY I June, 199O BEST COPY AVAILABLE

78 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - acr reca_ended fr wilderness 6,858 acre. rac_ended fr nnwildt!jrness The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t release 6,858 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness alternative ia the envirnmentally ~referable alternative as i t wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. The recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. In recmmending this area fr nnwilderness, the cnflicts between wilderness and mineral extractin were f primary cncern. The area has mderate ptential fr discvery f gas resurces. A field with fur wells i s prjected fr develpment within the WSA bundary, namely in the suthern prtin f the WSA. The ther principal factr in recmmending nnwilderness fr this WSA was the lack f exemplar y wilderness values, particularly slitude and primitive and uncnfined recreatin. The pprtunities fr utstanding slitude are marginal due t the small size f the area and the unavidable sights and sunds related t surrunding facilities such as U.S. Highway 220 and Bysen Dam and Reservir. In additin, utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin are marginal. N ne recreatin pprtunity is uts tanding and the diversity f activities is smewhat limitp.d due t the small size f the area and n water resurces. Big game hunting is the nly real use f the area and it is nt cnsidered utstanding. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDERlfESS RBCOIOlENDA'l'IONS D. Special Feature. : The Wind River Basin and Bysen Reservir, which are suth and west f the WSA, ffer spectacular views. Frm the ridge tps ne can see a distance f 10 t 50 miles. The view includes the Wind River Huntains and Beaver Rim. Gd pprtunities exist fr the educatinal and scientific study f the eclgical cmmunities within the area. A variety f gelgical features can be studied in the WSA. Diy.r.it.y in t.h. Nat.inal Wild.m Pr rvat.in Sy.t A. Expanding th. diyer.ity f natural.y.te and feature. a. repr ented by ec.yat.e and landfrwal Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld nt add t the ecsystem diversity f the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. One unit f the NWPS cntains nearly 17,000 acres f this ecsystem (part f the Bridger Wilderness all f which ie in Wyming). Als 5 BLM study areas in Wyming cntain a ttal f 91,700 acres f the same ecsystem. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2.) Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas areas acres NATION WIDE ther BLM Studies areas acres Wildeme Characteri.tic. A. Naturalne : Fr all practical purpses, the Cpper Muntain WSA is natural. Thb WSA i s muntainus, with numerus rck utcrps and canyns, with juniper cvered slpes lcated thrughut the area. Few man-made features exist in the WSA. A. small fenceline and sme rundwn drift fences are lcated in tw munt ain passes, but they are nt readily nticeable and d nt detract frm the area' s naturalness. There are n rads in the WSA. Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/Wheatgrass, Needlegrass shrubsteppe 17,000 17,000 91,700 91,700 B. Slitude, The cpper Huntai n WSA ffers utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. The rugh tpgraphy, steep drainages, rcky utcrps, and tree cver i n sme areas screen visitrs frm ne anther, making it easy t find seclusin. Prm the tps f the muntain and ridges, Bysen Reservi r is visible. C. Pri.itiy. and Uncnfined Recreatin: The ptential fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin i s smewhat utstanding based n diversity f activities; it includes h i king, hunting, and sightseeing fr gelgical features. N ne activity is truly utstanding. The tpgraphy ffers a challenge and a s trenuus walk fr day hikers r backpackers as well as fr nntechnical rck climbers. Bth large and small game species i nhabit the area. B. A ing the pprt-unitie. fr.lit.ude r prt_it.ive recreat.in within a day'. driving ti.e (five hur.) f ir ppulatin centeral The WSA is within a five hur drive f ne majr ppulatin center. Table 3 summarizes the numdar a nd acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drlve f the ppulatin center. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers Ppulatin Centers Casper, WY NWPS Areas areas acres 27 4,080,891 Other BLM Studies areas acres ,

79 C. Balancing the gegraphic distributin f wilderness areasi The Cpper Muntain WSA wuld nt significantly cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wildernesa Preservatin System. Fur existing areas are within three hurs driving time f the cpper Muntain WSA. These include the Washakie, Fitzpatrick, Bridger, and Clud Peak wilderness Areas and tgether they cmprise 1,526,781 acres. Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The area wuld be manageable as wilderness. N changes in existing uses wuld be anticipated ver the lng term if the area were designated as wilderness. There are n existing il and gas leases and the nly activity expected n the mining claims wuld be the annual assessment wrk. Energy and Mineral Resurce Value. The Cpper Muntain WSA has ptential fr the ccurrence f il and gas resurces. A discvery well was drilled adjacent t the WSA. Accrding t Spencer and Pwers (USDI, GS 1983), the lands in the Cpper Muntain WSA have a lw ptential fr il and gas. On the basis f experience with the CIG! well N , these lands prbably shuld be rated mderate. Since this well is the nly ne t have penetrated the thrust fault in this area, subsurface cntrl can be cnsiqered sparse. The well tests frm the cdy and Mesaverde Frmatins shw that the envirnment is highly favrable fr the ccurrence f gas. Hwever, the area is nt in line with existing prductin frm similar traps, and accrding t the USGS (1983), the WSA cannt be put int the high-ptential categry. The Lander Resurce Area RMPjEIS rates the il and gas ptential fr the area as high and mderate n the basis f the presence f frmatins highly favrable fr the accumulatin f hydcarbne. There are n il and gas leaees in the WSA. Limestne frm the Madisn Limestne is suitable fr cement r industrial and agricultural lime, but availability f the limestne elsewhere, distance t ptential markets, and inaccessibility in this area make the develpment ptential lw. Inactive uranium prspects and mines are fund in bth Ecene sediments and Precambrian rcks t the east f the WSA in T.40N., R.92W., 6th P.M. Uranium in the Teepee Trail Frmatin is assciated with hematinic alteratin hals and carbn trash (Yellich, Cramer, and Kendall 1978). uranium ccurrences in the Precambrian rcks are fund at gechemical interfaces between descending uranium-carrying xidizsd water systems and underlying reducing systems (Yellich, Cramer, and Kendall 1978). 125

80 Precambrian rcks are nt expsed in the Cpper Muntain WSA. Hwever, Precambrian rcks t the east f the WSA cntain a brad variety f mineral resurces such as irn, cpper, gld, silver, tungsten, feldspar, tantalum, beryl, lithium, and rare earth elements. Several mines, sme within the past 10 years, have been develped t extract these minerals. I_pact. n th.r R urc The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr the tw alternatives cnsidered including designatin f the entire area as wilderness. Table 4 cmparative Summary f the Impacts by Alternative Cpper Muntain WSA Issue Tpic. prpsed Actin (N Wilderness) All Wilderness Wilderness Values Lss f naturalness, slitude and primitive recreatin wuld ccur n 840 acres thrugh il and gas explratin and develpment. Assessment wrk wuld cntinue n existing claims. N significant impact n wilderness values. Wilderness values prtected n 6,858 acres. Assessment wrk wuld cntinue n existing mining claims; n impacts n wilderness values. Energy and Mineral Resurces Recreatin Resurces All 6,858 acres pen t mineral entry and leasing. Prjected il field develpment wuld nt ccur. This is cnsidered t be a significant impact ORVs limited t 2 miles f rads and trails cnstructed fr mineral explratin; n significant impact. All 6,858 acres clsed t mineral entry and leasing. All 6,858 acres clsed t ORVs; n impact because n ORV use is ccurring nw. 126

81 Lcal Scial and Bcn.ic Cn.ideratin. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impact a t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Su.aary f WSA - Specific Public C.. ent. Inventry I During the inventry phase, 22 cmments were received n the Cpper Muntain WSA. Seventeen supprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and 5 were ppsed. Thse wh favred wilderness study believed that a wilderness designatin wuld prtect the area ' s untuched nature, alng with its wildlife and scenic values. Thse ppsed cited the area's ptential fr il and gas prductin as reasn fr the area nt being recnrnended fr wilderness designatin. N federal agency cnwnented specifically n the Cpper Muntain WSA. Hwever, ne agency, the Natinal Park Service, did ffer sme general cmments n the draft wilderness 8upplement. Tw state agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department and the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, agreed with the prpsed actin fr Cpper Muntain, which ia n wilderness designatin. One state agency, the State Engineer's Office, ppsed any designatin f wilderness in Cpper Muntain. The Office f the Gvernr did nt specifically cmment n the Cpper Muntain WSA, but indicated a decisin wuld be made n the varius recmmendatins when the ttal statewide picture became available. Cmments were received frm three lcal gvernments -- Dubis, Rivertn, and Lander. They all ppsed any wilderne designatin fr cpper Muntain WSA. Draft BIS: The draft EIS was released in Nvember Tw public hearings were held in Lander and Dubis in December A ttal f 716 cmments were received during the frmal public review f the EIS; 4 were ral cmment, and 712 were written. Cmments were general in nature, either favring r ppsing wilderness designatin fr the entire Cpper Muntain WSA and the ther five WSAs that were addressed in the EIS. The cmments against wilderness generally viced the pinin that Wyming already has t much wilderness in the natinal frests and natinal parks. They were cncerned that federal landz <:::re being lcked up and that nnwilderness uses will be lst by mr.e wilderness designatin. They felt that wilderness is t detrimental t the state and lcal ecnmies because it reduces develpment in industries such as t he timber and mineral-related businesses, and adversely affects such spin-ff values such as jbs and tax base. They als generally expressed the feeling that wilderness is restricted t nly t hse yung enugh and ecnmically able t enjy the benefits, and public lands shuld nt be set aside fr such a small segment f the public. Further cncerns were expressed that wilderness wuld draw mre peple t a particular area and increase the scial prblema invlved such as trespass n private lands, litter, and vandalism. Thse cmments in favr f wilderness prtectin generally viced cncern that these valuable lands and resurces wuld nt get deserved prtectin withut wilderness designatin. They expressed the pinin that Wyming already has t much develpnent such as a prliferatin f rads, cleared frests, scenic degradatin thrugh mining and mineral leasi ng, and lss f wildlife and habitat t these develpments. They feel that the All Wilderness Alternative shuld be recmmended fr Cpper Muntain. They feel that the WSA is deserving f wilderness status as a last remaining vestige f the envirnment which cntain special resurce values, and that these values which qualify the area fr wilderness study shuld be prtected frm devel pment

82 LAHltIN DOMB WILDERNESS STUDY ARBA (MSAl 1. TIIB STUDY AREA acr The Lankin Dme WSA (WY-030-l20) encmpasses 6,316 acres f 8LM-administered public lands, including 360 acres f surface split estate lands within the bundaries (see Table 1). The WSA is lcated in Fremnt Cunty, abut 10 miles east f Jeffrey City, Wyming. The WSA is bunded n the west by a rad, and n the nrth, east and suth by private r State lands (see Hap 1). Lankin Dme WSA cnsists f tw basic landfrms: the uplifted muntains f reddish grani te rcks, slabs and exfliated dmes, and the flats f Nlen Pcket nrth and west f the rcks. The rcks supprt little vegetatin, but the drainages cntain pckets f limber pine, juniper, aspen, and sagebrush. At 7,700 feet i n elevatin, Lankin Dme has lng been an attractin t rck climbers. It has a rck climbing h i stry which dates back t the 1950's and has been featured in natinal magazines such as ~. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPKA) and was included in the Lander Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in April, There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS; N Wilderness, which is the recnvnendatin in this reprt, and All Wilderness. NONE Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness IIII fffl~ IIII Split Estate EM:>Ne@ State 129 Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness 1?t/~t1a Privat e Sweetwater Rcks I Lankin Dme Prpsal MILES WY June, 1990 /?fj

83 TABLE 1 - Land Status & Acreage SUrmlary f the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLK (a\.!rface and subsurface) Split Eatate (BLM aurface nly) Inhldi nga (atate, private) Ttal Within the R.crmlended wilderneas Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Eatate (utaide WSA) Ttal BLK Land Recmmended fr Wilderne.a Within the Area nt Recnrnended fr Wilderne., BLM Split Estate Ttal BLH Land Nt Recnwnended fr Wilderness 1/ The state wns the subaurface eat ate fr the 360 acre. f "BLK aurface nly depicted abv 5, ' 6,316 5, ' 6, ltlco!!!!z!!dlltio!!!\lid RAtIORlILI - acr.. rec..e1lded fr wi14.rn 6 I 316 acr.. rec..ed4ed fr DODwll4.rne The recnmendatin fr this WSA i. t r.l 6,316 acre. fr u ther th.n wildernea.. The All Wilderne.s alternative i. the envirnment.lly pr.ferable a l tern.ti ve a. i t wuld re.ult in the lea.t change t the natural envirnment. The recnmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld u all pr... cti cal mean a t avid r minimize envirnmental impact L.ndwnerahip waa a majr factr in determining the nnwild.rne recnmendati n fr the Lankin Dme WSA bec.u it i nti.lly.urrunded by pri va t e l y wned l.nd.. Al thugh phy.ic.l.nd leg.l.cce xi.t. t the WSA, mre direct rute a t t he majr.ttractin. within the WSA cr priv.te l a nds. In recrrrnendi ng nnwi ldernea. fr this WSA, it w.a felt th.t m.n.gement f the are. aa wil derneas wuld reault in incre ed treapa nt.djac.nt private land.. A alight (5\) i ncreaae in vi.it.tin wuld b. expected fr thia WSA under wil derne management becau.e the WSA lie. adjacent t majr travel rute t t he n.ti nal park. in nrthwe.t Wyming. Thuaand. f turi.t. wuld see and identify it as wilderness. In.dditin, the beat access rutes t the WSA r iginate frm the highway.nd crobs private land. Wilderness users wuld likely attempt t gain access by crssing priv.te l.nd. This might be dne surreptitiusly (trespassing) r by requesting landwner permiaain. In either cabe, the adjacent landwner. wuld experience an increase in cntacts with the public, unpleasant cnfrntatina, lst time, litter, gates left pen, and vandalism. The effect f displacing vehicle-dependent recreatin uses nt.djacent land als influenced the nnwildernebs recnwnendatin fr this WSA. Certain uses within the Lankin Dme WSA are vehicle-dependent; that is, visitrs such as hunters and rckhunders depend n mtrized vehicles t pursue their leisure activity within the WSA. If the area were designated wilderness, mtrized vehicle use wuld be eliminated. A certain prtin f these user s wuld mdify their activity t cnfrm t the new restrictins. The majrity, hwever I wuld simply mve t the nearby private land. creating additinal trespass prblems fr the adjacent landwners. There are n resurce cnflict. in this WSA which a wilderness desi gnatin wuld help t reslve. There i. lw ptential fr mineral resurce develpnent and there is n cormlercial frest land within t he WSA. The character f the.rea i. nt expected t change. The lw level f activity that is presently ccuring in the WSA is expected t cntinue fr the freseeable future, with n appreciable change t(.l the area' a natural envirnment. The wildernea. values f this WSA wuld nt be fregne r adversely affected a& a result f a nnwilderness designatin. 3. CRItERIII CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING m WII.pI!!J!ESS ItICO!!!!E!!DIltIONS wilderne characteri.tic. A. Naturaln s The Lankin Dme WSA is essentially natural and existing intrusins d nt signific.ntly cmprmise the verall naturalness. The WSA cntains few human imprints including fur tw-tracked vehicle ways and tw fence lines. The area is rugged and ranges in elev.tin frm 6,200 feet at the western bundary rad t abut 7,700 feet n Lankin Dme. The WSA ' s granite rcks and exfliated dmes prvide a natural setting, uninterrupted by human imprints. The existing intrusins are nt nticeable and have a mi n i mal i mpact n the ttal area. B. Slit.ud., Within the Lankin Dme WSA, pprtunities fr slitude exi st, but they are nt exemplary since the area that prvides tpgraphic and vegetati ve screening t the visitr is am.ll and wuld be smewhat cnfini ng. The pckets alng the base d nt prvide the seclusin necessary t make t he area exemplary. Encunters amng visitrs wuld be likely

84 c. Prl.itl and Uncnfined Recr tin: The Lankin Dme WSA ffers utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin--rck climbing, ~iki ng, backpacking, and hunting. Lankin Dme, the mst prminent feature f t he unit, has lng been an attractin t rck climbers. Backpacking t ne f the wded "pckets" wuld be ne f the recreatinal activities available. Hunting fr antelpe is utstanding n the flats because game i 8 abundant a.nd packing distances are shrt. D. sj)!cial Featur! The area is exceptinally Bcenic, with the granite bulders, s laba, and exflia.ted dmes cntrasting significantly with the greens f the wded pckets. These large expanses f bare granite, which are nt fund elsewhere in central Wyming, frm a natural and highly sceni c backdrp fr the Sweetwater River valley, an are a that played an imprtant rle in the histry f the explratin and early settlement f the west. Diver.ity in tbe Natin.l Wilderne Pre.erv.tin Sy.te. A. ExpandinG the div.r.ity f p.tural.v.t... and f.atur r.pr nt.d by.c.v.t and lapdf%'ll.' Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add t the ecsystem diversit y f the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. Three ther BLM WSAs cntain this ecsystem - Savage Peak, Miller Springs, and Spli t Rck. This i nfrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain/ Wyming Basin Prvince/Grama-Needlegrass Wheatgrass Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas areas acres NATION WIDE Other BLM Studies areas acres 26,259 26,259 II. A ipg the pprtuniti fr.li tud. r pri.iti r.cr.atir wi thin a da! ~. dri.ing tia' Ifi... bur.) f.. i r ppulat.in c.nt.r.s The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designate d areas and ther BLM study areas within f i ve hure drive f each ppulati n center. Ppulatin Centers Casper, WY Cheyenne, WY Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas areas acres 27 4,080, ,950,377 Other BLM Studies areas acres , ,229 C. Balancing the g.grapbic di.tributid f wildern ar : The Lankin Dme WSA wuld nt significantly cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. Five existing areas are within three hurs driving time f the Lankin Dme WSA. These include the Washakie, Fitzpatrick, PP Agie, Bridger, and Clud Peak Wilderness Areas and tgether they cmprise 1,628,772 acres. Manag.ability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The WSA wuld be manageable as wilderness. N changes in existing uses wuld be anticipated ver the lng term, except fr the increased use f private lands and resulting trespass prblems discussed in the "Recmmendatin and Ratinale" sectin if the WSA was recmmended fr wilderness. These scial cncerns include litter, vandalism, nuisance, and trespass. Energy and Mineral R urce Value. The Lankin Dme WSA has n ptential fr the ccurrence f il and gas resurces (USGS 1983). The WSA is underlain by Precambrian granitic rcks that are flanked r cvered by Tertiary age sedi mentary rcks, all f which are nt favrable fr hydrcarbn generatin and reservir entrapment. Lcatable mineral resurces f jade, uranium, thrium, vermiculite, and zelites ccur i n frmatins surrunding the WSA. The sedimentary rcks within the WSA are favrable hsts fr jade, uranium, thrium, vermiculite, a nd zel ites. The pegmatites withi n the granitic cre f the WSA have a lw ptential fr uranium and thrium. The Mnstne and Split Rck Frmatins have a mderate t high ptential and a lw t mderate ptential, respectively, fr uranium and t hri um ccurrences. The WSA has a mderate t high ptential fr the ccurrence f jade. The sedimentary rcks within and adjacent t the study area have a high favrability fr the ccurrence f zelite minerals. The WSA has a high ptential fr the ccurrence f vermiculite. Other minerals having a lw t mderate favrability fr ccurrence include pumicite and sdium carbnate and sulfate depsits. The Gelgic Survey f wyming Map Series MS-l4 (1985) shws ccurrences f gld, silver, and ther minerals in r near the Sweetwater Rcks WSAs

85 There i s presentl y n cmmerci al prducti n f any mi neral r e surces, with t he pssib l e excepti n f s me jade, frm l ands withi n t he WSA. One mining claim i s within the WSA a nd small quantities f jade have been taken frm the claim. Vlumes f mineral resurces knwn t ccur withi n t he s t udy a r ea are unknwn. Table 4 Cmparative Sunwnary f the Impact. by Alternative Lankin Dme WSA I_pact. n Other Re.urce. The fllwi ng cmparative i mpact table (Table 4) summari zes the effects n pertinent resurces fr the t w alterna t ives cnsi dered i nc l uding des ignat i n f the entire area as wi lderness. Issue Tpic. N Wilderne (Prped Actin) All Wilderness Wi lderness Value. ORV us. wuld adversely affect slitude and primitive recreatin n les. than 10' (le8s than 600 acres) f the WSA. A ment w:k n ne jade claim wuld affect naturalne n 1 than l' f the WSA. N significant impact. Wilderness values prtected n 6,316 acre.. Assessment wrk wuld cntinue n existing jade mining claim; n impact n wilderness values. Energy and Hiner al Resurces All 6,316 acre. pen t mineral entry and le ingl assessment wrk wuld cntinue n ne jade claim. N significant i mpact. All 6,316 acres clsed t mineral entry r leasi ng. A eaament wrk wuld cnti nue n ne jade claim. N signi icant impact. Lcal Ranching Operatin. N increased cnflict r i mpact i. expected. N i mpact n ranching peratin 20' increase (frm SO t 60) in cntact. between publi c and landwners wu l d resul t in increased disruptin f l cal ranching peratins

86 Lcal Scial and BcD.ic Cnaideratina In the event that visitr use did increase appreciably, additinal prblems, such as gates being left pen r damage t rads during wet perids, might ccur. In general terms, increased recreatin use has the ptential f becming a nuisance fr area ranchers. Recreatinists seeking infrmatin r permissin t crss private lands, littering, r damaging range imprvements are an unwelcme burden n ranches. Large increases in such annyances culd be an bstacle t the smth day-t-day peratin f a ranch unit. Area ranchers fear this ccurrence if the Lankin Dme WSA wa s designated wilderness. The WSA is an "island" f public land largely surrunded by private and state lands. Private land adjins the WSA bundaries and several residences r ranch headquarters are in the immediate area. Su.aary f MSA - Specific Public C.. ent. JOT.ptu, During the inventry phase, 26 cmments were received n the Lankin Dme WSA. Twenty-tw.upprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and 4 were ppsed. Thse wh favred wilderness study believed that a wilderness designatin wuld add prtectin fr the area's histric, wildlife, scenic, and recreatinal attributes. Thse ppsed expressed cncern. ver pssible cnflicts between livestck grazing and wilderness management, and the pssible veruse f the area if designated wilderness. Draft BISr During frmal public review f the draft EIS (released in Nvember, 1985), a ttal f 716 cnrnenta, bth ral and written, were received. Of thse, fur ral statements were received at public hearings held in Lander and Dubis, Wyming. The remaining 712 cmments were written respnses t the draft EIS. Cmments received during the draft EIS review generally either favred r ppsed wilderness designatin fr the Lankin D me WSA and the ther five WSAs that are addressed in the EIS. Thse cnvnenta in favr f wilderne.s prtectin generally viced cncern that these valuable lands and resurces wuld nt get deserved prtectin withut wilderness designatin. They expressed the pinin that Wyming already has t much develpment such as a prliferatin f rads, cleared frests, scenic degradatin thrugh mining and mineral leasing, and lss f wildlife and habitat t these develpments. They feel that the alternative fr all wilderness designatin f the study area shuld be recmmended fr Lankin Dme as well aa all f the ther five study areas. They eatimatv that the ttal study area acreage make. up les8 than 1 percent f the land in the resurce area. They feel that all are deserving f wilderness status as the last remaining vestiges f the envirnment which cntain special resurce values; and that these values which qualify the areas fr wilderness study shuld be prtected frm develpment in rder t preserve smething unique fr the benefit f this generatin as well as future generatins. Of all the cnvnents received, five were frm federal agencies and five were frm state agencies. N federal agency colnnented specifically n the Lankin Dme WSA. Hwever, the Natinal Park Service did ffer sme general cmments n the draft wilderness EIS. Tw state agencies, the State Engineer's Office and the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, agreed with the prpsed actin fr Lankin Dme, which is nnwilderness designatin. One state agency, the Wyming Game and Fiah Department, favred wilderness designatin fr the Lankin Dme WSA. The Office f the Gvernr did nt specifically cmment n the Lankin Dme WSA, but indicated a decisin wuld be made n the varius recmmendatins when the ttal statewide picture became available. Cmments were received frm three lcal gvernmenta--dubi8, Rivertn, and Lander. They all ppsed any wilderness designatin fr Lankin Dme WSA (Sweetwater Rcks WSA). The cog'ldents against wilderness generally vice the pinin that Wyming already has t much wilderness in the natinal frests and natinal parka. They are cncerned that federal land. are being lcked up and multiple use will be lat by mre wilderness designatin. They feel that wilderness is t detrimental t the state and lcal ecnmies because it reduces develpment in industries such as the timber and mineral-related businesses, and adversely affects such spin-ff values as jbs and tax base. They als generally expressed the feeling that wilderness is restricted t nly thse yung enugh and ecnmically able t enjy the benefit and shuld nt be set aside fr 8uch a amall s.qment f the public. Further cncerns were expressed that wilderness wuld draw mre peple t a particular area and increase the scial prblems invlved such as trespass n private landa, litter, and vandalism

87 SPLIT BOCI!fILplJUflSI 8'1'UQJ MIA "'8A) 1. TIll STUDT ARIA '9 Icr. The Split Rck WSA (WY ) encmpasses 12,789 acres f BLM administered public lands including 40 acre. f surface split estate lands and 40 acres private land inhlding within the bundaries (aaa Tabla 1). The WSA is lcated in Premnt and Natrna Cunti, &))ut 13 mil.a eaat f Jeffrey City, Wyming. The WSA i. bunded n the.uth and we.t by private and atate lands, and n the nrth and.aat by private and.tate lands and a tw-track rad (aee Hap 1). Split Rck WSA cnsiata f tw ba.ic landfrms: the uplifted muntaina f reddi.h granite rck.,.lab. and exfliated dme., and the flata f Beatn, Miller and Vic. Pckets we.t and nrth f the rck., and Beef Gap n the east end. The rck upprt little vegetatin, but the drainagea cntain pckets f limber pine, juniper, a.pen,. and.agebrush. At 7,305 feet in elevatin, Split Rck face has lng been an attractin t rck climbers. It has a rck climbing hiatry which datea back t the 1950' a and has baan faatured in natinal magazin auch as~. The Natinal OUtdr Leadership Schl has held Spring and Pall.eme.t.r cura fr learning rck climbing techniques and utdr.ducatin n the.uth end f the WSA fr nearly 20 years. The WSA WI tudi.d und.r S.ctin 603 f the Ped.ral Land Plicy and Management Act (PLPMA) and wa. includ.d in the Land.r Wilderne Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS ) fil.d in April, Th.r. w.r. tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS, N Wild.rn, which i. the r.cnwnendatin in thia r'prt, and All Wild.rn" it. 139 NONE Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended tr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness Sweetwater Rcks I Split Rck Prpsal I 1111 rm~ IIII Split Estate FNONE J State ~ Private MILES WY Jun 1990

88 Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface & subsurface) Spli t Estate (SLM surface nly) Inhl d i ng (state, private) Ttal TABLE 1 - Land Status & Acreage Summary f the Study Area Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLK (utside WSA) Split Eetate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal SLM Land Recmmended fr Wilderness Within the Area Nt Recmmended Fr Wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal BLM Land Nt RecOlTlTlended fr Wilderness 12, , ,789 RZCOMNBHDATION 5 RATIONALE - acra. rac_addad fr wilderd 12,789 acras rac_added fr DODwildarna The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t releaae 12,789 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness alternative is the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. The recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. Landwnership was a majr factr in determining the nnwilderness recmmendatin fr the Split Rck WSA because it is essentially surrunded by pr ivately wned lands. Althugh physical and legal access exists t the WSA, mre d i rect rutes t the majr attractins within the WSA lie n private lands. In r e cmnending nnwilderness fr this WSA, it was felt that designatin f the a rea as wilderness wuld result i n increased trespass nt adjacent private landa. A alight (5\) i ncrease in visitatin wuld be expected fr this WSA under wilderness management because the WSA lies adjacent t a majr travel rute t t he nati nal parka i n nrthwest Wymi ng. Thusands f turists wuld liee and i denti fy i t as wilderness. In additin, the best acc s rut t the WSA rig i nate frm the h i ghway and crss privat e land. wilderness users wuld likely attempt t gain access by crssing private land. This might be dne surreptitiusly (trespassing) r by requesting landwner permis.in. In either case, the adjacent landwn.rs wuld experience an increase in cntacta with the public, unpl.aaant cnfrntatin, lst time, litter, gates left pen, and vandaliam. The effect f displacing vehicle-dependent recreatin uses nt adjacent land als influenced the nnwildernesa recmmendatin fr this WSA. Certain uses within the Split Rck WSA are vehicle-dependent, that ia, visitrs such as hunters and rckhunders depend n mtrized vehicles t pursue their leisure activity within the WSA. If the area was designated wilderness, mtrized vehicle use wuld be eliminated. A certain prtin f thes. users wuld mdify their activity t cnfrm t the new restrictins. The majrity, hwever, wuld simply mve t the nearby private lands creating additinal trespass prblems fr the adjacent landwners. There are n resurce cnflicts in this WSA which a wilderne.s designatin wuld help t reslve. There is lw ptential fr mineral re.urce develpment and there ia n cmmercial frest land within the WSA. The character f the area is nt expected t ::hange. The lw level f activity that i. presently ccuring in the WSA i. expected t cntinue fr the freseeable future, with n appreciable change t the area's natural envirnment. The wilderness values f this WSA wuld nt be fregne r adversely affected as a result f a nnwilderne designatin. 3. CRITIRIA CONSIDIRID IN D!M!LOPIH9 DB IIILDIRHISS RlCtam!!!ATIONS Wildeme Charle1;eri.t.iea A. NI1;urIIA.'s, The Split Rck WSA i nti.lly natural and existing intru.in. d nt significantly cmprmise the verall naturaln. The WSA cntains few human imprints including tw tw-tracked vehicle ways, an ld jade prspect, and a dilapidated cabin. The ar.a ie rugged and ranges in elevatin frm 6,115 feet at the suthern bundary rad t abut 8,058 feet n Split Rck. The WSA'. granite rcks and.xfliated dmes prvide a natural setting, uninterrupted by human impri nts. The existing intrusins are nt nticeable and have a minimal impact n the ttal area. 8. Sl itude t Within the Split Rck WSA, pprtunities fr slitude are utstanding aince the area t hat prvides tpgraphic and vegetative screeni ng t the visitr is large ~; Id wuld be uncnfining. The flat. and alluvial elpes alng the baae d nt prvide the seclusin necessary t make the area utstanding. c. 'ri.i1;i?e apd Uncpfiped Recrea1;ip The Split Rck WSA ffers utstanding pprtunities fr a primitive and uncnfined type f recr.atin--rck climbing, hiking, Sightseeing, backpacking, and hunting. Split Rck and

89 McIntsh Peale: the mst prminent feature f the unit, has lng been an attractin t rck climbers. Backpacking t ne f the wded "pckets" wuld be ne f the recreatinal activities available. Hunting fr antelpe is utstanding n the flats because game ia abundant and packing distances are shrt. D. Special F.atur.. The area is exceptinally scenic, with the granite bulder., alabs, and exfliated dmes..:ntrasting aignificantly with the greens f the wded pckets. These large expanse. f bare granite, which are nt fund. e sewhere in central Wyming, frm a natural and highly scenic backdrp fr the Sweetwater River valley, an area that played an imprtant rle in the histry f the explratin and early settlement f the west. Split Rck ia an imprtant landmark fr Oregn/Mrmn Pineer Natinal Histric Trail. and is listed n the Natinal Regiater f Hiatric Places. It ffers an ideal rck climbing training area fr Hatinal Outdr Leadership Schl Curse Di r.ity in th. Watinal Wild.m Pr".ryatip,y.t A. ISDlRdiRa the di... r.it' f Datural.y.t-. apel f.atur a. r.pr.t.nt.d by.c.y.t_. add lanelfra. J Wildernesa designatin f this WSA wuld add t the.c.yatem divereity f the Natinal Wilderne Pr.aervatin Syatem. Three th.r BLM WSAa cntain thia ecaystem - Lanlein Dme, Savage Peale, and Miller Spring. Thi. infrmatin ia summarized in Tabl. 2. Bailey-Kuchler Claa.i ficatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dma i n/wyming Ba.in Prvince/Grama- Needlegrass Whe. t gra Table 2 Ecay.tam Repr entatin NWPS Are,. area. acr NATION WIDI Other BU Studies ar.a. acre. 19,786 19,786 B. A ipg th. pprtuditi., fr.01it»ei. r prieitiy.,.cr.at.ip within ada,'. elri yiaa tim' (fi... hur.) f Mir ppulatip c'pt..rll Th. WSA ia within a five hu r dri ve f tw majr ppulatin c.nt.r.. Tabl. 3 summarizes th. numb.r a nd acr.age f de.ignated ar.a. and th.r BLM study ar.a. within five hur. drive t e a c h ppulatin c.nt.r. Ppulatin Centers Casper, WY Cheyenne, WY Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areaa areas acre I ,090,891 1,950,377 ther BLM Studies areal acrel ,870 78,756 C. 'alancing th. gegraphic eli.tributip f wild.m ar.a.1 The Split Rck WSA wuld nt significantly cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preaervatin System. Five existing areaa are within three hurs driving time f the Split Rck WSA. These include the Washakie, Fitzpatrick, PP Agie, Bridger, and Clud Peak Wilderneas Areas and tgether they cmprile 1,628,772 acrea. Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The WSA wuld be manageable as wilderness. N changes in existing ule. wuld be anticipated ver the lng term, except fr the increaled use f private lands and resulting trespass prblems discussed in the "Recmmendatin and Ratinale" sectin if t he WSA waa recrrrnended fr wilderness. These scial cncerns include litter, vandalism, nuisance, and trespass. BDergy adei "iperal R urc. Valu The Split Rck WSA haa n ptential fr the ccurrence f il and gas resurcea (USGS 1983). The WSA is underlain by Precambrian granitic rcks that are flanked r cvered by Tertiary age sedimentary rcks, all f which are nt favrable fr hydrcarbn generatin and reservir entrapm-ant. Lcatable mineral resurces f jade, uranium, thrium, pumicite, vermiculite, and zelites ccur in frmatins surrunding the WSA. The sedimentary rcks within the WSA are favrable hsts fr jade, uranium, thrium, vermiculite, and zelite.. The pegmatites within the granitic cre f the WSA have a lw ptential tr uranium and thrium. The Mnstne and Split Rcle Frmatins have a mderate t high ptential and a lw ptential, respectively, fr uranium and thrium ccurrences. The WSA has a mderate t high ptential fr the ccurrence f jade. The sedimentary rcks within and adjacent t the study area have a high favrability fr the ccurrence t zelite minerals. The WSA has a mderate t high ptential fr the ccurrence f vermiculite. Other minerals having a lw t mderate favrability fr ccurrence include pumici te and sdium carbnate and cui f ate depsita

90 The Celqic Survey f Wyming Map Series MS-14 (1985) shws ccurrences f gld,.ilver, and ther minerala in r near the Sweetwater Rcks WSA's. Ther. i. pre ntly n crrmercial prductin f any mineral re8urces, with the p ible exceptin f scme jade, frm lands within the WSA. One mining claim is within the WSA and small quantities f jade have been taken frm tne claim. Vlumes f mineral resurces knwn t ccur within the study area are unknwn. Iaptct' p ath.r ' ure Iasue Tpics Table 4 Cmparative Summary f the Impacts by Alternative Split Rck WSA N Wildernea. (Prpsed Actin) All Wilderness The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent re.urcea fr the tw alternatives cnsidered including designatin f th ntire area a8 wildernes Wilderness Values ORV use wuld adversely affect slitude and primitive recreatin n less than 10' (less than 1,200 acres) f the WSA. Aaaesament wrk n j ad. claim wuld affect naturalne n le8s than l' f the WSA. N ign1ficant impact. Wilderness values prtected n 12,780 acr Aaae.ament wrk wuld cntinue n existing mining claim; n.ignificant impact n wilderness valu.s. Energy and Mineral Resurces All 12,789 acre a pen t mineral entry and leasing; aaaessment wrk wuld cntinue n ne j ad. claim. N significant impact. All 12,749 acre a clsed t t mineral entry r leasing A ament wrk wuld cntinue n ne jade claim. Lcal Ranching Operatins N increa d cnflict r lmpact is expect.d. N impact n ranching peratin. 30\ increa.e (frm SO t 6S) in cntacts between public and landwnera wuld re.ult in increased diaruptin f lcal ranchi ng peratin

91 LC.l Sci.l 'Dd IcOllic C.ider.ti. In the event that v i sitr use did increase appreciably, additi nal prble ms, such as gatee being left pen r damage t rads during wet perids, might ccur. In general terms, increased recreatin use has the ptential f becming a nuieance fr area ranchers. Recreatinists seeking infrmatin r permi ssin t crss private lands, littering, r damaging range imprvements are an unwelcme burden n ranches. Large increases in such annyances culd be an bstacle t the smth day-t-day peratin f a ranch unit. Area rancher. fear this ccurrence if the Split Rck WSA was designated wilderness. The WSA ie an "ieland" f publi c land largely surrunded by private and state lands. Private land adjins the WSA bundaries and several residences r ranch headquarter. are in the immediate area. SUMan f WI' - Specific Public ca.eta Ip.etnl During the inventry phase, 23 crrments were received n the spli t Rck WSA. Twenty-ne supprted inclusin f this unit &s a wilderness study area and 2 were ppsed. Th.e wh favred wilderness study believed that a wi lderne de.ignatin wuld add prtectin fr the area ' s histric, wildlife,.cenic, and recreatinal attribute.. Th.e ppsed expressed cncerns ver p i.ljle cnflict. between livestck grazing and wilderness management, and the p ibla veruse f the area if designated wilderness. aa well as all f the ther five.tudy areas. They estimate that the ttal study area acreage makea up less than 1 percant f the land in the resurce area. They feel that all are deserving f wilderne.. s status a. the last remaining ve.tiqa. f the envirnment which cntain special resurce values; and that th valu which qualify the area. fr wilderness study shuld be prtected frm develpment in rder t preaerve smething unique fr the benefit f this qeneratin aa well aa future generatins. Of all the ccxrrnent. received, five were frm federal agencies and five were frm.tate agenci... N federal agency col'l'lfl8nted specifically n the Split Rck WSA. Hwever, the Natinal Park Service did ffer sme general cnvnents n the draft wilderness BIS. Tw state agencies, the State Engineer's ffice and the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, agreed with the prpsed actin fr Split Rck, which is nnwilderne designatin. One state agency, the wyming Game'. and Piah Department, favred wilderness designatin fr the Split Rck WSA. The Office f the Gvernr did nt specifically cmment n the split Rck WSA, but indicated a decisin wuld be made n the varius recrrmendatins when the ttal statewide picture became available. Ca«ments were received frm three lcal gvernmenta--dubia, Rivertn, and Lander. They all ppsed any wilderne designatin fr Split Rck WSA (Sweetwater Rck. WSA). Dr.ft. IIa, During frmal public review f the draft ZIS (released in Nvember, 1985), a ttal f 716 cm:nenta, bth ral and written, were received. Of thse, fur ral statements were received at public hearings he l d i n Lander and Dubi s, Wym i ng. The remaining 712 cnnents were written r e.pn.e. t the draft EIS. Cnnents recei ved during the draft EIS review generally e i ther favred r ppsed wilderness designatin fr the Split Rck WSA and the ther f i ve WSAs that are addressed i n the EIS. The cmment. agai nst wilderness generally vice the pinin that Wym i ng already has t much wilderness in t he nati nal frests and natinal parks. They are c ncerned t ha t f ederal lands are being lcked up and multiple use will be ls t by mr e wilder ness designati n. They feel that wilderness is t detrimental t the atate and l cal ecnmies because it reduces develpment i n i ndustr ies.uch as the timber a nd mine r a l - related businesses, and adversely affect. auch apin-ff value s as j bs and tax base. They als generally expr sed the feeling that wilde rness i a rest r i cted t nly thse yung enug h and ecnmi cally able t enjy the benefi t and shuld nt be set as i de fr.uch a.mal l gment f the public. Purther cncerns were expressed t hat wilderne wuld draw mre peple t a par t i cular area and i ncrease the 80cial prb l ema i nvl ved.uch trespasa n priva t e l ands, l itter, and vandal i s m. Tha. ccrmenta i n favr f wi lderness prtect in general ly viced cncern t hat t he.e valuable l anda and resur ces wuld nt get deserved prt ecti n withut wildern de.ignati n. They expre ed t he p i ni n t hat Wym i ng already has t much develpnent.uch a. a prliferatin f r ad., c leared frests, scenic degradati n thrugh mi ning a nd mineral lea.ing, and lss f wi ldli fe a nd habitat t the deve l pment.. They feel tha t the alternative tr a ll wilderne de. i gnati n f the study a rea s hul d be recmmended f r Sp l i t Rck

92 SAVAGII PEU lfildilrhl!ss 81'!!!!Y lirila,lfsai 1. TBI STUDy ARIA - 1,041 acre. The savage Peak WSA (WY-OJO-123a) encmpa.i.1 7,041 acree f BLM-administered public land. ( e Table 1). There are n.pitt estate r private inhlding lands within the bundari.s. The WSA ia lcated in Natrna Cunty abut 31 mile,t f Jeffrey City, Wyming. It i. bunded by the SaVAge Peak WSA n the weat with intervening public and private lands; and by ther public, state and private land. n the remainder f the bundary (eee Map 1). M.t f the Savage Peak WSA ia rugged and muntainus. Large expanses f bare rck predminate thrughut. Vegetatin ia generally aparse, but there are acme den Itande f Dugla.-fir, limber pine,.spen, and cttnwd in drainage.. Juniper i8 8cattered thrughut the unit. Sagebrush, rabbltbrush, and gra e. are fund n.urrunding plaine. The WSA was.tudied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (PLPKA) and was included in the Lander Wilderneee Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in April, There are tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS, N Wilderneee, which ie the recrrmendatin f this reprt and All Wilderne. T ~--~~~--~~~~~~==~~~L.K~~~~~4-~----+-~I~ ABBW 149 -I ~E I Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness IIIIN#~IIII t=~e l rt/~/eja Split Estate State Private Sweetwatar Rck. I Savage Peak Prpsal MILES WY A June.l990 /50 BEST COPY AVAIlABLE

93 TABLE 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Study Area Withi n Wilderness Study Area BLM (surf ace and subsurface 7,041 Split Estate (BLM surface nly) 0 Inhlding. (State, private) 0 TOTAL 7,041 Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) 0 BLM (utside WSA) 0 Split Estate (wi thin WSA) 0 Split Estate (utside WSA) 0 Ttal BLM Land Recmmended fr Wilderness 0 Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM 7,041 Split Estate 0 Ttal BLM Land Nt Recrrmended Fr Wilderness 7, MCOIOIEMDATION AJfD RATIONALE - 0 acr.. rec_ended fr wildern 7,041 acr rac_ended fr DODwildern The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t release 7,041 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness alternative 18 the envirnmentally preferable alternati ve as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. The recmmendati n wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use all practi cal meana t a vid r minimize envirnmental impacts. La ndwnershi p was a majr factr in determining the recmmendatin fr the Savage Pe a k WSA becauae the public land. are esfjentially surrunded by privately wne d landa. Althugh physical and legal acceaa exista t the WSA, mre d i r e c t rutes t t he majr attractins within the WSA crss private land. In recmmending nnwilder ness fr t his WSA, it was felt that designat i n f the area a. wilder ne s s wuld result i n i ncreased tre.pas. nt adjacent p'rivate land.. A.:!.ight (5\ ) i nc rease in v i sitatin wuld be expected fr this WSA under wilder ne.s management becauae the WSA lies adjacent t a majr travel rute t the natinal park. in nrthw t Wyming. Thusands f turi.t. wuld.ee and i de ntify i t a. wild.rn... In additin, the best acee rute. t the WSA ri g i nate frm the highway and ers. private land. Wilderne u.er. wuld likely a t tempt t qain acce by crssing private land. Thi. might be dne sur reptit iu. l y (trespa.si ng) r by reque.ting landwner permi in. In eithe r ca.e, t he adj acent landwners wuld experience an incr in cnt.ct. with the public, unplea nt cnfrntati n, lst t i me, litter, gat left pen, a nd vandalism. The effect f displacing vehicle-dependent recreatin use. nt adjacent land als influenced the nnwilderness recmmendatin fr this WSA. Certain uses within the WSA are vehicle-dependent; that is, visitrs such as hunters and rckhundera depend n mtrized vehicles t pursue their leisure activity within the WSA. If the area was designated wilderness, mtrized vehicle use wuld be eliminated. A certain prtin f these users wuld mdify their activity t cnfrm t the new restrictins. The majrity, hwever, wuld simply mve t the nearby private land. creating additinal trespass prblems fr the adjacent landwners. There are n resurce cnflicts in this WSA which a wilderness designatin wuld help t reslve. There is lw ptential fr mineral resurce develpment and there is n cmmercial frest land within the WSA. The character f the area i. nt expected t change. The lw level f activity that is presently ccurring in the WSA is expec"'qd t cntinue fr the freseeable future, with n appreciable change t. the area's natural envirnment. The wilderne.s values f this WSA wuld nt be fregne r adversely affected as a result f a nnwilderness designatin. 3. CRIDRIA CONSIDERED Ilf pzyiloping TBI MILDEWSS RlctOIIJfDATIOHS Wild,m," Charact,ri.t.ic. A. Naturalp"" The Savage Peak WSA has a number f intruain., primarily fences and vehicle ways. Several tw-tracked way. penetrate the "pckets" that surrund the granite rcks. The central r cre area is penetrated by three tw-track trail., all faint and generally vergrwn with grassea. Nne detracts significantly frm the apparent naturalness f the area. B. Slit.ud.: The Savage Peak WSA ffers pprtunities fr slitude thrugh its rugh, brken tpgraphy, and the numerus draws and small canyns. A large pcket n the west prvide. excellent pprtunities fr camping belw Savage Peak. The pcket is well secluded frm the surrundings and cntains excellent scenery, which enhances the feeling f slitude. Vegetatin is dense in places, prviding.ecluain r Bcreening fr visitrs. C. Priaitiv. add Unepfin.d R,er.at.iR: The Savage Peak WSA affrds a variety f pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined types f recreatin, including hiking, camping, backpacking, hunting, rck climbing, nature study, and phtgraphy. The Savage Peak WSA cntains great vertical relief. Large pckets f pen grass and sagebrush n the west are surrunded by steeply rising slpes. The size f the area and its diver.e tpgraphy cmbi ne t prvi de ame high quality pprtunities fr primitive recreati n. D. Sp.cial r.atur, Large expanses f bare granite are nt fund elsewhere in central Wyming. In this WSA, they frm a na tural and h i ghl y scenic backdrp fr th6 Sweetwater River valley, which has a lng h i s t ry r e l ated t the explratin and early set tlement f the west

94 piy.r.it.y ia t.h. "t.igal Wild'[II'" Pr n't.in 8y.t A. IXDlAdiAQ t.h. diy.r.it.y f pat.ur,l.,.t. and f.atur al r.pr nt.ed by.e.y.t_. and landfor" Wilderness designati n f this WSA wuld add t the ecaystern diverai ty f the Natinal Wilderness Preservati n Sy.tern. Threa ther 8LM WSAa cntain this ecsystem - Lank.in Dme, Split Rck, and Miller Springs. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Bail.y-Kuchler Cla ificat.in Dmain/Prvine./PNV Dry Dmain/Wymi ng aasin Prvinc./Grama-Needlegrall Wheatgra'l Table 2 Bc.ystern Repra,entatin NWPS Area. area. acrel NIITION WIP!!! Other BLM Studies areal acres 26,259 26, A i" 1;h. pprtuait.i fr llitud. r pri.iti recreatid within a day" driyipa ti <fi burl) f.air ppulat.ip e'p1;.r., The WSA i 8 within a tiv. hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centera. Table 3 summarizes the numb.r and acreage f delignated areal and ther BLM study areas within five hur. drive f each ppulatin canter. Ppulatin C.nt.r. IUdS Stud i C per, WY Ch.yenn., WY Table 3 Wildern Opprtuniti fr Ra.identa f Majr Ppulatin C.nt.r. t!hi~ 6[111 1[11. Ik' 27 4,080, ,950,377.'111!lliw: ISC[II , ,504 c. aalancing the gegraphic dilt.ributip f.ild.n,,r"i' The Savage Peak. WSA wuld nt significantly cntribute t balancing tha gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderne Preservatin System. Pive existing areas ara within three hura driving time f the WSA. These include the Washakie, pitzpatrick, PP Agie, 8ridger, and Clud Peak wilderness Areas and tgether they cmprise 1,628,772 acrel. Map'g.,bilit.y (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve itl wilderness character). The WSA wuld be manageable ae wildernees. N change. in existing uses wuld be anticipated ver the lng term, exc.pt fr tha increased uae f private land. and r ulting tr pasa prblems diecu.aed in tha "Recnwnendatin and Ratinale".actin if the WSA waa r.cnwnend.d fr wild.rn... Tha.e acial cneerns include litter, vandaliam, nuiaance, and tre.paas. Ip.rax apd "ip.ral R ure. Y,lu'l Th. savage Peak WSA hae n ptential fr tha ccurrence f il and gal r urces. The WSA i. underlain by Pr.cambrian granitic rcks that are flanked r cvered by Tertiary age sedimentary rcks, all f which are nt favrable fr hydrcarbn gen.ratin and r.aervir.ntrapm.nt. Lcatable min.ral raurce. f jade, uranium, thrium, vermiculite, and z.lit ccur in f rmatin. aurrunding the WSA. Th. e.dim.nt.ry rck.. within the WSA are favrable h.t. tr jad., uranium, thrium, vermiculite, and zelite.. The pegmatitea within the granitic cr. f the WSA have a lw ptential fr uranium and thrium. Th. Mnatn. and Split Rck. Frmatins have a mderate t high ptfllntial and a lw ptential, reapectivaly, fr uranium and thrium ccurr.nce.. Th. WSA hal a mderate t high ptential fr the ccur rene. f j&d.. The dimentary rckl within and adjac. nt t the atudy araa hava a high favrability fr the ccurrence f zelite minerala. Tha WSA hal a mderate t high ptential fr the ccurrence f vermiculite. Other minerala having a lw t mderate favrability fr ccurr.nce include pumicite and.dium carbnat. and lulfat. depait. The Gelgical Survey f Wyming Map S.rie. MS-14 (1985).hw. ccurr.ncea f gld,.ilver, and ther min.ral. in r n.ar the Sweetwater Rck. WSA',. Ther. i. pr ently n cnvn.rcial prductin f any min.ral reaurc frm lands within t he WSA. N landa are leased fr il and gas, and there are n mining claim. lcated i n the etudy ar.a. Vlume. f mineral r.aurces knwn t ccur within the.tudy ar.a are unknwn. I.pICt.. OD 9th., R 9U,C Th. fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) aunvnariz:es the effecta n pertinent re.urce. fr tha tw alt.rnativ cneidered including de'ignatin f the. ntir. area as wildern

95 Issue Tpic. wilderne.s Values Energy and Mineral Resurces Lcal Ranching Operatin. Tabla 4 Cmparative sunwnary f the Impacta by Alternative Savage Peak Dme WSA N Wilderness All Wilderness (Prpsed Actin) (Alternative I) ORV use wuld adversely Wl1derneiJ 8 values prtected affect slitude and primitive n 7,041 aerea. recreatin n le than la' (1... than 700 acr ) f the WSA. N significant impact. All 7,041 acres pen t mineral entry and lea8ing; n significant impact. N increased cnflict r impact ia expected. N i mpact n ranching peratina. All 7,041 acres clsed t mineral entry and leasing. N significant impact. 25' increaae (frm 40 t SO) in cntacta between public and landwners wuld result in increased diaruptin f lcal ranching peratin. Lcal Scial and BcpaiS Cn.id.r.tip. In the event that visitr use did increa.e appreciably, additinal prblems, such as gates being left pen r damage t rads during wet perids, might ccur. In general terms, increased recreatin use has the ptential f becmi'lg a nuisance fr area ranchers. Recreatinists seeking infrmatin r permissin t crss private lands, littering, r damaging range imprvements are an unwelcme burden n ranches. Large increa.es in such annyances culd be an bstacle t the smth day-t-day peratin f a ranch unit. Area ranchers fear this ccurrence if the Savage Peak WSA was designated wilderness. The WSA is an "island" f public land largely surrunded by private and state landa. Private land adjina the WSA bundaries and several residences r ranch headquarters are in the invnediate area. Sup,ry f "SA - Sp.cifiS; PubliS; e nt;., Inv.utnl During the inventry phase, 25 cnvnents were received n the Savage Peak WSA. Twenty supprted incluain f this unit as a wilderness study area, and 5 were ppsed. Ths. wh favred wilderness study believed that a wilderness designatin wuld add prtectin fr the area'. histric, wildlife, scenic, and recreatinal attribute.. Thse Pp2ed expressed cncerns ver pssible cnflicts between live.tck grazing and wilderness management, and the pssible veruse f the araa if designated wilderness. Draft; IISI During frmal public review f the draft BIS (released in Nvember, 1985), a ttal f 716 crrrnents, bth ral and written, were received. Of thse, fur ral statements were received at public hearings held in Lander and Dubi., Wyming. The remaining 712 cnrnents were written respnses t the draft EIS. Cnvnent. r.ceived during the draft EIS review generally either favred r ppaed wildernes. designatin fr the Savage Peak WSA and the ether five WSAs that are addressed in the EIS. The cmments against wilderness generally vice the pinin that Wyming already has t much wilderne.s in the natinal frest. and natinal parks. They are cncerned that federal lands are b:1ing lcked up and multiple use will be lst by mre wilderne.a deaignatin. They feel that wilderness is t detrimental t the state and lcal ecnmies because it reduces develpment in industries such a8 the timber and mineral-related businesaes, and adversely affects such spin-ff values ae jb. and tax base. They als generally expressed the feeling that wilderness is restricted t nly thbe yung enugh and ecnmically able t enjy the benefit and ahuld nt be set aaide fr auch a small segment f the public. Further cncerns were expressed that wilderness wuld draw mre peple t a particular area and increase the scial prblema invlved such as trespass n private lands, litter, and vandalism. Thse cnvnents in favr f wildernestl prtectin generally viced cncern that these valuable lands and resurce. wuld nt get deaerved prtectin withut wilderness designatin. They expressed the pinin that Wyming already has t much develpment such a. a prliferatin f rads, cleared freste, 8cenic degradatin thrugh mining and mineral leaaing, and ls. f wildlife and habitat t t hese develpment.. They feel that the alternative fr all wildernee. designatin f the study area shuld be recmmended fr Savage Peak

96 aa well ae all f the ther five study areae. They estimate that the ttal study area acreage makes up leas than 1 percent f the land in the resurce a_rea. They feel that all are deserving f wilderness atatus a8 the last remaining ve.tiges f the envirnment which cntain epecial resurce valuee: and that the.e valuee which qualify the are fr wilderness study shuld be prtected frm develpment in rdar t pr erve emething unique fr the benefit 01 this generatin ae well ae future generatins. Of all the cnrnente received, five were frm federal agencies and f i ve were frm stat. agencies. N federal agency crrnented specifically n the Savage Peak WSA. Hwever, the Natinal Park Service did ffer sme general cmments n the draft wilderness EIS. Tw state agencies, the State Engineer's Offi ce and the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, agreed with the prpsed actin fr Savag_ Peak, which ia nnwilderne.s designatin. One state agency, the Wyming Game and Fi sh Department, favred wilderne.s designatin fr the Savage Peak WSA. The ffice f the Gvernr did nt specifically cnvnent n the Savage Peak WSA, but indicated a deciein wuld be made n the vari us recnmendatin. when the ttal statewide picture became available. Caments were received frm three lcal gvernments--dubis, Rivertn, and Lander. They all ppsed any wilderne de.ignatin fr Hiller Spring WSA (Sweetwater Rcks WSA). 1. THE STUDY AREA cres. MILLBR SPRIMgS WILDBRHBSS STUl)J J\J!EA IW81\1 The Miller Springs WSA (WY-030-l23b) encmpasses 6,429 acre. f SLM-administered publ ic lands (see Table 1). There are n split estate r private inhldings within the bundariea. The WSA is lcated in Natrna Cunty, abut 19 miles east f Jeffrey City, Wyming. The WSA is bunded n the nrth by private, state, and public lands and a rad; n the west by a rad and pipeline right-t-way; n the suth by private and state lands; and n the east by private lands and a rad (a Map 1). The tpgraphy in the Miller springs WSA is almst entirely rugh, brken granite dmes and utcrps. Parta f the unit reaemble a pile f hugh mnlithic rck masses. Juniper and scatter limber pine are n the rcky slpes and aspen alng the baae f the rcka. Sagebru h and gra are fund n the surrundi ng plains. Large expanses f bare rck characterize the unit. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Lander Wilderne Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in April, There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS, a n wild.rness r cntinuatin f pre.ent management ptin, which is the recnvnendatin in this reprt I and an all wilderne alternative

97 TABLE 1 - Land Statue & Acreage Sunwnary f the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (Burface and subsurface) Split Eatate (SLK surface nly) InhldingB (Btate, private) Ttal within the ReclM\ended Wilderness Bundary 8LH (withi n WSA) 8LH (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split. Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recrmlended Fr Wilderne._ Within The Area Nt RecOf!'If\tded Pr Wildern BLM Spl it Estate Ttal BLM Land Nt Recrrrnended Fr wildernebe 6,429 6,429 6, 429 6, gcoiolendation AND RAtIONALE - 0 acr rec..edded fr wild.me 6, 429 acr r,c~'dded fr DODwilderneas The recmmendatin fr thi s WSA is t release 6, 429 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The All wilderness alternative is t he envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the leallt change t the natural envirnment. The recmmendatin wuld be implemented i n a manner which wuld use all practical meana t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. Landwnership was a majr factr in determining the nnwilderness recmmendatin fr the Miller Springs WSA because it is essentially surrunded by privately wned lands. Althugh physic!'.l and legal access ex i sts t the WSA, the vehic l e rutes t the WSA c rss n private lands. NONE Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwi lder'1ess Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness Sweetwater Rcks I Miller Springs Prpsal t 1111 fffl~ IIII Spl t Estate F OONE@ State ~~P ri,. t. MILES WY June, 1990 In recmmend inc; nnwildernes8 fr this WSA, it was felt that designatin f the area as wilderness wuld result in increa.sed trespass nt adjacent private lands. A slight (5\) increase i n v i sitatin is expected fr this WSA under wilderness management because the WSA lies ad j acent t a majr trave l r ute t the natinal parks in nrthwest Wyming. Thusands f t urists will see the WSA and identify i t as wilderness. In additin, the best a cce ss rutes t t he WSA ri g i nate frm the highway and cr.s private land. Wi lderness users wuld l i kely attempt t ga i n access t t he WSA by c r ssing p r i vate l a nd. This may be dne surreptit i usly (trespassi ng) r by r equesting l a ndwner permissi n. I n e ither c ase, the a d j acent landwners wuld e xperie nce a n i ncrease in cntacts with the publi c, unpleasant cnfrntatin, lst t ime, litter, gates left pen, a nd vanda l i sm. 160

98 The effect f displacing vehicle-dependent recreatin uses nt adjacent land ala influenced the nnwildernes8 recmmendatin fr this WSA. Certain uses wi thin the Miller Springs WSA are vehicle-dependent; that is, visitrs such as hunters and rckhunders depend n mtrized vehicles t pursue their leisure activity within the WSA. If the area was designated wilderness, mtrized vehicle use wuld be eliminated. A certain prtin f these users will mdify their activity t cnfrm t the new restrictins. The majrity, hwever, will simply mve the nearby private land creating additinal trespass prblems fr the adjacent landwners. There are n resurce cnflicts in this WSA which a wilderness designatin wuld help t reslve. There is lw ptential fr mineral resurce develpment and there i s n cmmercial frest land within the WSA. The character f the area is nt expected t change. The lw level f activity that is presently ccurring in the 'WSA is expected t cntinue fr the freseeable future, with n appreciable change t the area ' s natural envi rnment. The wilderness values f this WSA wuld nt be fregne r adversely affected as a result f a nnwilderness desi gnatin. D. Sp.cial P.atur ; The area is exceptinally scenic, with the reddish granite bulders, slabs, and exfliated dmes cntrasting significantly with the greens f the wded pckets. These large expanses f bare granite, which are nt fund elsewhere in central Wyming, frm a natural and highly scenic backdrp fr the Sweetwater River Valley, an area that played an imprtant rle in the histry f the explratin and early Bettlement f the west. Div.r.ity in the Natinal Wild.me Pre rvatin Sy.t._ A. Expanding t.h. diverait.y f natural.y.t.-. and featur.a a. repr nt.d by.c.y.t. and landfra.: wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add t the ecsystem diversi ty f the Natinal wilderness Preservatin System. Three ther BLM WSAS cntain this ecsystem - Lankin Dme, Split Rck, and Savage Peak. This infrmatin is sunvnarized in Table CHIn.IlI COJISIDER!!D IN DEVELOPING TIlE WILDERNESS R!!COMMEJfI)lITIONS KileS'rD'" Cb.r.ct.riatica A. lfat.urala.aa; The Miller Springs WSA ia predminantly natural, with few human imprint.s. Thse t hat exi st are cnfined t tw-track ways, ne bladed ctin f rad, and abut three-tenths f a mile f fence. The ways and bladed rad are n the east and nrtheast ends f the unit in pen sagebrush areas. The WSA' s granite rcks and exfliated dmes prvide a natural.atting. largely uninterrupted by man- made structures. The existing i ntru.ins are nt nticeable and have a minimal impact n the ttal area. B. Slit.ud.: Withi n the Miller Springs WSA, pprtunities fr slitude exist, but they are nt exemplary since the area that prvides tpgraphic and vegetative screening t the visitr i s s mall and wuld be smewhat cnfining. The pckets alng the babe d nt prvide the seclusin necessary t make the area exemplary. Encunters amng visitrs wuld be likely. C. 'rbiti and Uncnfined Recr.atin: The Hiller Springs WSA ffers utstanding pprtunities fr a primitive and uncnfined type f recreatin - rck climbinq, hiking, camping, phtgraphy, nature 8tl.ldy, s i ghtseeing, backpacking, and hunting. Primitive campsites are available i n a few places where gra y meadw., ahelter, and cncealment exist. The lack f well-diatributed camps it might cause sme visitr verlap and cnfinement f u.e. Hunting fr antelpe i. utstanding n the flata because game is abundant and packing distances are shrt

99 Baile y- Kuchler Classifi cati n Dma i n/prvince/ PNV Table 2 Ecsystem Represent atin NWPS Areas areas acres Ot her BLH Studies are a s a c res Energy anes Mineral Be.ure. value' The Mi ller Springs WSA has n ptential fr the ccurrence f il and gas resurces (USGS 1983). The WSA i. underlain by Precambri an granitic rcks t hat are flanked r cvered by Tertiary age sedimentary rcks, all f wh i c h are nt favrable fr hydrcarbn generatin and reservir entrapnent. Dry Dmain/Wymi ng e in Prvince/ Grama-Needlegra Wheatgra NATION WIPE 2 6, , A, i P9 the pprtuniti fr lli tude r prt.itava recreatin withi n d'y ' l dri Yi pg till' (fi., bpr,) f.. jr ppul.tid c'rt,raz The WSA i s wi thin a five hur dri ve f tw majr ppulat in centers. Tabl e 3 s ummari zes t he number a nd acreage f desi gnated area. and ther BLM atudy areas within five hur. drive f each ppul atin center. Ppulatin Cent er a Tabl e 3 Wilder ne Opprtunit ies f r Residents f Ma j r ppulat in Centera NWPS Areas areas acr e s Other e LM Studi es areas acres Lcatable mineral resurces f jade, uranium, thrium, pumicite, vermi culite, and zelites ccur i n frmatina surrunding the WSA. The sedimentary rcks wi thi n the WSA are favrable hst. fr jade, uranium, thrium, vermiculite, and zelites. The pegmatites within the granitic cre f the WSA have a l w ptential fr uranium and thrium. The Mnatne and split Rck Frmatins have a mderate t high ptential and a lw ptential, respectively, fr urani um and thrium ccurrences. The WSA has a mderate t high ptenti al f r the ccurrence f jade. The sedimentary rck. within and adjacent t the study area have a high favrability fr the ccurrence f zelite minerals. The WSA ha s a mderate t h i gh ptential fr the ccurrence f vermiculit e. Other minerals having a lw t mderate favrability fr c currence include pumi c i te and sdi um carbnat e and sulfate depsits. The Gel gi cal survey f Wym i ng map series MS-14 (1985) shws ccurrences f gld, s ilver and ther minerals in r near the Sweetwater Rcks WSA ' s. Ther e is presently n cmmercial prductin f any mineral resur ces frm lands wi t hin the WSA. N land. are leased fr il and ga., and t here are n mining claims lcated in the.tudy area. Small unquantified quantities f jade have been mined frm a claim i n the paat. Vlumes f mi neral resurces knwn t ccur wi thin the s t udy area are unknwn. I_pact. n tber R.aurc Casper, WY Cheyenne, WY ,080, 891 1,950, , ,116 The f llwing cmpa r a t i ve i mpact t a ble (Table 4) summa r izes the e f fects n pertinent r esurces fr t he tw alternatives cnsi dered i ncl uding designatin f the entire a r ea as wilderness. C. '.l'ci ng th. g. gra phi c d i. t r i buti D f wi ld.m ar : The Hiller Spri ng. WSA wuld nt aigni f i cant 1y cntri but e t balanc i ng t he geg r a phic di.tributi'n f a r ea. within the Nat i nal Wi lde rness Preservati n System. Pi ve e x i ati ng ar.aa are within t hree hurs dri v i ng time f the WSA. These i nclude the Waahakie, Fitzpatr ick, PaPa Ag i e, Bridger, a nd Cl ud Peak Wildern Area. and tgether they cmpriee 1, 628, 112 acres. Manaaea bilit.y (the area must be c apable f bei ng effectively managed t pres.rve ita wildernees char acter ). The WSA wuld be manageable a s wilder ness. N c hanges i n e x i sti ng uses wuld be anticipated ver t he lng term, except fr the increased u s e f private landa. nd resulting trespass prblems d i.cuaaed i n the " Recmmendatin a nd Ratinale" ct. i n i f the WSA waa recnvnended f r wilderness. These scial cncern. i nclude litter, vandalism, nuiaance, and trespass

100 Issue Tpics Wilderness Values Energy and Mineral Resurces Lcal Ranching Operatins Table 4 Cmparative Summary f the Impacta by Alternative Miller Springs WSA Prpsed Actin (N Wilderness) ORV use wuld adversely affect slitude and primitive recreatin n less than 10' (1... than 600 acres) f the WSA. N significant impact. All 6,429 acres pen t mineral entry and leasing. N increased cnflict r impact is expected. N impact n ranching peratin. 165 Alternative 1 (All Wilderness) Wilderness values prtected n 6,429 acres. All 6,429 acree clsed t mineral entry and leasing. 13\ increase (frm 40 t 45) in cntacts between public and landwners wuld result in increased disruptin f lcal ranching peratins. Lcal Scial and!:cn.ic Cnsid.ratip. In the event that visitr use did increase appreciably, additinal prblems, such as gates being left pen r damage t rad a during wet perids, might ccur. In general terms, increased recreatin use has the ptential f becming a nuisance fr area ranchers. Recreatinista Beeking infrmatin r permissin t crosb private landa, littering, r damaging range imprvements are an unwelcme burden n ranches. Large increasea in such annyances culd be an bstacle t the sm'1th day-t-day peratin f a ranch unit. Area ranchers fear this ccurrence if the Miller Spring WSA was designated wilderness. The WSA is an "island" f public land largely surrunded by private and state lands. Private land adjins the WSA bundaries and Beveral residences r ranch headquarters are in the immediate area. Sua.Ary f WSft - specific Public C.. ent. InventDI During the inventry phase, 7 cmments were received n the Miller Springs WSA. Six supprted i nclusin f thi. unit as a wilderness study area and ne was ppsed. Thse wh favred wilderness study believed that a wilderness designatin wuld add prtectin fr the area's histric, wildlife, scenic, and recreatinal attributes. Thse ppsed expressed cncerns ver pssible cnflicts between livestck grazing and wilderness management, and the pssible veruse f the area if designated wilderness. Draft lis! During frmal public review f the draft EIS (released in Nvember, 1985), a ttal f 716 cnvnenta, bth ral and written, were received. Of thae, fur ral atatements were received at public hearings held in Lander and Dubis, Wyming. The remaining 712 cmments were written respnses t the draft E1S. Cmments received during the draft E1S review generally either favred r ppsed wilderness designatin fr the Miller Spring WSA and the ther five WSAs that are addressed i n the Els. The cmments against wilderness general ly vice the pinin that Wyming already has t much wilderness in the natinal frests and natinal parks. They are cncerned that federal lands are being lcked up and multiple use will be lst by mre wilderness designatin. They feel that wilderness is t detrimental t the state and lcal ecnmies because it reduces develpment in industries such as the timber and mineral-related businesses, and adversely affects such spin-ff values as jbs and tax base. They als generally expressed the feeling that wilderness i s restricted t nly thse yung enugh and ecnmically able t enjy the benefit and shuld nt be set aside fr such a small segment f the public. Further cncerns were expressed that wilderness wuld draw mre peple t a particular area and increase the scial prblema invlved such as trespass n private lands, litter, and vandalism. Thse cmments in favr f wilderness prtectin generally viced cncern that these valuable lands and resurces wuld nt get deserved prtectin withut wildernes. designatin. They expressed the pinin that Wym ing already has t much develpment such as a prliferatin f rads, cleared frests, Bcenic degradatin thrugh mining and mineral lea8ing, and lss f wildlife and habitat t these develpments. They feel that the alternative fr all wilderness designatin f the study area shuld be recmmended fr Hiller 166

101 Spring as well as all f the ther five study areas. They estimate that the ttal study area acreage makes up less than 1 percent f the land in the resurce area. They feel that all are deserving f wilderness status as the l.st remaining vestiges f the envirnment which cntain special resurce value.; and that the.e value. which qualify the areas fr wilderness study shuld be prtected frm develpment in rder t preserve smething unique fr the benefit f this generatin as well as future generatins. Of all the crrrnents received, five were frm federal agencies and five were frm stat. agencie.. N federal agency crrrnented specifically n the Hiller Spring WSA. Hwever, the Natinal Park Service did ffer 80me general crrments n the draft wilderness EIS. Tw state agencies, the State Engineer's ffice and the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, agreed with the prpsed actin fr Miller Spring, which is nnwilderness designatin. One.tate agency, the Wyming Game and Fish Oepartment, favred wilderness de.ignatin fr the Miller Spring WSA. The Office f the Gvernr did nt specifically cmnent n the Miller Spring WSA, but indicated a decisin wuld be made n the varius recoltltlendatins when the ttal statewide picture became available. Ctrments were received frm three lcal gvernmente--dubis, Rivertn, and Lander. They all ppsed any wilderness de.ignatin fr Miller Spring WSA (Sweetwater Rcks WSA). 1. TIll STUDY AREA acre. DUBOIS BADLAJ!I)S MILDERNESS STUDy ARIA /MSII) The Dubis Badlands WSA (WY-030-l09) encmpasses 4,520 acres f BLH-administered public lands. The WSA is lcated in Fremnt Cunty, abut 2 miles east f Dubis, Wyming. Tha WSA ia bunded n tha west by state land and a cunty rad, and n the nrth, east and suth by private and state lands (see Map 1). The Dubis Badlands WSA cnsists f badlands and flat-tpped benches which are extensively erded and separated by numerus and intricata drainage patterns. The sedimentary rck and clays ara red and tan banded clr patterns. Vegetatin i8 sparse with scattered juniper and limber pine n the slpes and cttnwd lined drainage bttms primarily in the east half f the unit. The erded spires and pinnaclas rise abve the Wind River with a ttal relief f ver 400 feet. The WSA was studied under Sectin 202 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act and was included in the Whiskey Muntain and Dubis Badlands Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement ( 15) filed in February, The WSA is less than the 5,000 acre minimum required by FLPMA, but due t high public interest, the WSA was retained fr study. There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS: N Wilderness, which i8 the recnvnendatin in this reprt, and All Wilderness

102 TABLE 1 - Land Statue & Acreage sunvnary f the Study Area within Wilderness Study...ADlL BLH Bur face &nd Bubsurface Split Estate (BLM Burface nly) Inhlding (state, privata) Ttal Within the Recnvnended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recnvnended fr Wilderness Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Ttal BLM Land Ht Recmmended Fr wilderness 4,520 4,520 4,520 4, RECOMMZHDATIOH AND RATIONALS - 0 acr rec_ended fr wilderne 4,520 acr rec nded fr DODwildern NONE M:~I Dubi. Badlands Prpsal Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwllderness Lind utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness 111 1fffl~111 1 FNONE J 1?t/4J1a MILES ItA Spltt Esta te State Pr iva te WY June The recmmendatin fr thia WSA ia t relea 4, 520 acrea fr uses ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness alternative is the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. The recnvnendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. In recmmending this WSA fr uses ther than wilderness, the WSA ' s small size, cnfiguratin, and lack f exemplary wilderness values were primary cnsideratins. Land usee adjacent t the WSA n the west and suth were als cntributing factrs. The WSA is lng and narrw, averaging abut ne mile in width, in a n east- west cnfiguratin. Its drainages run nrth t suth and recreatin users generally fllw the drainages. As a result, the WSA can be traversed i n a relatively shrt perid f time. 8LH' 8 intensive inventry cncluded that the a r ea lacked utstanding pprtunities fr slitude because f the small size, linear cnfiguratin, limited vegetative screening and ptential tr visitr verlap. while small secluded spts culd be tund, the area des nt prvide extensive r cnsistent pprtunities where a persn culd avid eights, sunds and evidence f ther peple and activities. 110

103 BLM's inventry als cncluded that the WSA's pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin were less than exemplary. Opprtunities fr primitive recreatin are lim: t ed in scpe and lack any utstanding characteristics. The principal activity is day hiking with the assciated scenic and wildlife viewing. Other activities ccurring t a lesser extent are big game hunting and phtgraphy. The lack f gd campsites and the lack f water in the area wuld nt serve t draw recreatinists fr extended perids. Because f its linear cnfiguratin and drainage patterns, the WSA ffers n extensive pprtunities fr primitive recreatin. The area's naturalness is adversely affected t sme extent by adjacent land uses. This is mst evident n the west and suth sides f the WSA. The west side is primarily affected by a 40-acre sanitary landfill peratin and cncentrated ff-rad vehicle use n a state sectin. The suth side is affected t sme extent by adjacent husing subdivisins and highway traffic nise. There are n resurce cnflicts in this WSA which a wilderness designatin wuld help t reslve. The WSA is designated as an Area f Critical Envirnmental Cncern (ACEC) and il and gas leases are nly allwed with a "N Surface Occupancy" stipulatin. There is lw ptential fr lcatable mineral develpment. The character f the area is nt expected t change. The lw level f activity that is presently ccuring in the WSA is expected t cntinue fr the freseeable future, with n change t the area's natural envirnment. The wilderness values f this WSA wuld nt be fregne r adversely affected as a result f a nnwilderness designatin. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATIONS Wilderness Characteri.tic. A. Naturalness, The Dubis Badlands WSA is essentially in a natural cnditin. The tpgraphy f the WSA cnsists f badlands--flat-tpped hills which are extensively erded and separated by intricate drainage patterns. Erded pinnacles and spires rise as high as 400 feet abve the Wind River. vegetatin in the WSA varies with the elevatin. The upper slpes have widely scattered limber pines, and the lwer slpes cntain sagebrush. The flat tps f mst ridges have lw-grwing grass as the dminant plant life. Intrusins include fur fences, sme very faint tw-track ways, and a reclaimed sand and gravel sale site. The WSA appears t be affected by the frces f nature with the imprint f man's wrk substantially unnticeable. Hwever, because f the WSA's narrw cnfiguratin and its lcatin adjacent t a sanitary landfill, the area's perceptin f naturalness is cnsidered less than utstanding. 171

104 B. slitud.: The WSA has limited vegetative screening. Tpgraphic screeni ng wuld nly be available in the erded draws which dissect the WSA. Wh i le secluded spts culd be fund, pprtunities fr slitude in the WSA as a whle are nt cnsidered t be utstanding. Visitr verlap wuld ccur if just a few peple were in the unit at sny ne time. c. rriaiti and Uncnfined Recr.ati u: Opprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin in the Dubia Badlanda WSA are limited and lack utstanding characteristics. Day hiking wuld be pssible, but the WSA's size and lack f water limits its attractin fr extended backpacking. While sme primitiv9 recreatin activities are clearly pssible in the WSA, the limited number and scpe f such activities result in less than utstanding pprtunitiea fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin. D. Special ".atur : The Dubis Badlands WSA cntains several special features. The area's relatively unique gelgy and its scenery art:! majr attractins. Di r.ity in th. Ratinal "ilderue Pre nati Sy.te. A. Ixpandinq the di r.ity f atural.y.t and feature r.pre"ted by ec.y.t_. apd lapdfm'! Wilderness debignatin f this WSA wuld nt s i gnificantly add t the ecsystem diversity f the Natinal Wi lderness Preservatin system. BailQy-ltuc h l er Cl a ssif icati n Dmain/prvi nce /PNV Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas areas acre. Other BLM Studies areas acres Ppulatin Centers casper, WY Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas areas 27 Other BLM Studies acres 4,080,891 areas acres ,139 c. Balancing the gegraphic di.tributin f wilderne area.: The Dubis Badlands WSA wuld nt Significantly cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System because there is already a large &munt f designated wilderness in nrthwest Wyming. Nine existing areas are within three hurs driving time f the WSA. These include Winegar Hle, Jedidiah Smith, the Grs Ventre, Washakie, Pp Agie, Fitzpatrick, Tetn Bridger, and Grand Tetn Wilderness Areas. Manageabilit.y (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The WSA is manageable as wilderness. Hweve'r, management wuld be diff i cult. Off-rad vehicle use in the WSA wuld be extremely difficult t cntrl. This i8 particularly true in Masn Draw and the area t the west f Masn Draw. Intrusins by vehicles wuld be fairly cmmn in the western prtin f the WSA. Energy and Mineral Re.urce Value. Wyming Baain Prvince/Wheatgra8s, Meedleqrass.hrubsteppa 17,DOD 6 111,038 BLM estimates that the Dubis Badlands has mderate ptential fr the accumulatin f il and gas. This designatin is based upn the gelgic similarity t the Oil-prducing Dubis Field, shws f il in the Phsphria Frmatin in the nearby wells discussed earlier and pssible il and gas traps created by the Wind River Fault System. 17,000 91,700. a ing th. pprtunit.'e. fr.01it.ude r Rr'_it.'.' r.cr.atin within a d ay' l driyipq t.im (fiy. hur.) f.ir ppulat.in eeot..r., The WSA i s within a five hur dri ve f ne majr ppulatin c.nt.r. Table 3 surml&riz88 the number and acr eage f de.ignated areaa and ther BLM study areas within flv. hur. d r ive f the ppul ati n center. N explratry il r gas wells have been drilled within the WSA but s evera l have been drilled within 2 mi les f the WSA bundary. All these we lls wer e plugged and abandned, but sme wells had shws f il in the Phsphria frmat i n. The nearest prduci ng i l f i eld t the Dubis Badlands WSA i s the Du bis Fi eld, lcated apprximately 6 mile s nrthwest f the WSA. The f i eld i s gelgically simi lar t the g e lgy f the WSA. Oi l i s prduced f r m the Phs phria Frmatin in the Dubi s Fi eld

105 N knwn lcatable mineral resurce a ccur within r adjacent t the Dubis Badlands WSA. The Wind River Frmatin is a well knwn surce fr uranium depsits within the Wind River Basin, but prspecting and explratin activities f the past have nt made any significant discveries in this part f the basin. The gelgic envirnment, inferred gelgic prcesses, and lack f knwn mineral ccurrences within the WSA and land adjacent t it, d nt i ndicate ptential fr the ccurrence f lcatable mineral reburces. BLM recrds f January 1989 shw the lands in the WSA t be free f mining clai ms. The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent re:aurces fr the tw alternatives cnsidered including designatin f the entire area as wilderness. Issue TOpics Wilderness Values Table 4 Cmparative Summary f the Impacts by Alternative Dubis Badlands WSA Prpsed Actin (N Wilderness) N legislative prtectin f wilderness values n 4,520 acres (entire WSA); n management actins planned in the freseeable future which wuld adversely affect wilderness values. All Wilderness Wilderness values n 4,520 acres given lng-term prtect in. Bighrn Sheep Energy and Minerals Wildlife values wuld be maintained as a result f prtectin frm surface disturbing uses. Entire WSA (4,520) acres pen t il and gas leasi ng subject t n surface ccupancy restrictin. N explratin r develpment is expected. Enti re WSA pen t mineral lcatin, but n activity is expected because f lw ptential fr lcatable mineral resurces. N 8ignif icant impact. Wildlife va lues wuld be maintained as a result f prtectin frm surface disturbing uses. Entire,",SA clsed t mineral leasing and entry. N signif icant impact

106 Lcal Scial and IcD.ic Cnsideratins Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified dur ing the study f this WSA. Su-.ary f "'SA - Specific PulJlic C_ents. Inventryt During the inventry phase, 27 cmments were received n the Dubis Badlands WSA. Twenty-fur supprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and 3 were ppsed. Hst cmments were general in nature, nting that the area deserved sme srt f prtectin, but stpped shrt f stating that wilderness wuld prvide that prtectin. Nne f the cqfmlenta received were carried frward t the study phase t assist in identifying atudy issues r alternativea. Draft SIS: During frmal public review f the draft EIS (released in Octber, 1988), a ttal f Sl crrrnents, bth ral and written, were received. f thse, 20 ral statements were received at public hearings held in Rivertn and Dubis, Wyming in December, The remaining 31 cmments were written respnses t the draft EIS. Cnwnents received during the draft EIS review generally either favred r ppsed wilderness designatin fr the Dubis Badlands. Of all the cnrnenta received, fur were frm federal agencies and seven were frm state agencies. N bjectins were raised by the federal agencies. EPA'. revi ew did nt identify any ptential envirnmental impacts requiring substantive changes t the prpsal. They als indicated that the draft EIS adequately set frth the impacts f the preferred alterative fr the WSA. N.tate agencies expressed disagreement with the prpsed actin fr Dubis Badlands. Three state agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department, The Gel09ical Survey Il f Wyming, and the Wyming Travel Cmmissin favred n'nwilderne fr the Dubis Badlands WSA. The Office f the Gvernr als cncurred with tha prpsed nnwilderness designatin. He further indicated the ratinale fr maintaining these as nn-wilderness appears sund. Ccrments were received frm ne lcal gvernment, The Twn f Dubis. The twn.upprt. nn-wilderness fr the Dubi s Badlands area. In additin, they wuld like t see mre s i gni ng f the bundaries and an emphasis n enfrcement f ORV designatins. The public ha. prvided cnwnents thrughut the wilderness review prcess n this WSA. Opinin. differ n whether the area.huld be designated as wildern, ame wanting that desi gnatin and thers nt wanting it. Hst f the difference f pini n i s based n whether r nt the area meets the mandatry wilderne.s characteristics. 1. THB STUDY AREA acre. WHISKEY MOUNTAIN "'ILDERNBSS STUDY AREA (WSAl The Whiskey Huntain WSA (WY ) encmpasses 487 acres f BLM-administered public lands. The WSA ia lcated in Fremnt Cunty, abut miles suth f Dubis, Wyming. The WSA is bunded n the east by the Rss Lake Trail, Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area n the suth and west, and private lands t the nrth (see Hap 1). The WSA is n the nrth-facing slpe f Whiskey Muntain in the Wind River Muntains. A fire in 1931 burned quite a large area, much larger than the WSA. The WSA is nly a small part f a larger burnt ver hillside. As a result, the WSA is nt distinguishable frm the remainder f the nrth slpe f the Wind River Muntains. The terrain ia rugh and muntainus, and the dminant vegetatin is limber pine and Duglas-fir, interspersed with burnt-ver snags. The WSA was studied under Sectin 202 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Whiskey Muntain and Dubis Badlands Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement ( 15) filed i n February, The WSA is less than the 5,000 acre minimum required by FLPMA but it brders an established wilderness area administered by the U. S. Frest Service which is the reasn it became a study area. There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS; N Wilderness, which is the recmmendatin in this reprt, and All Wilderness. TABLE 1 - Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface ) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhlding (state, private) Ttal Land StatuB & Acreage Summary f the Study Area Withi n the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary 8LK (within WSA) Ttal BLH Land Recmmended fr Wildernec s Within t he Area Nt Recmmended Fr Wi lderness BLH 8LK Ttal BLM Land Nt Recmmended Fr Wi lderness There i., hwever, general agreement that the area ' s natural, scenic and wildlife value huld be prtected. There was ala general agreement that effective management f the ORV use i. nec ary t prvide that prtectin

107 3 10 keys 2. RECOJOIENDATION AND RATIONALE - 0 acre. rec_ended fr wilderne 487 acre. rec_ended fr nnwildern The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t release 487 acres fr uses the r t han wilderness. The All Wilderness alter native is the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural e nvirnment. The recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use a l l practi cal means t avid r minimi ze envirnmental impacts. The nnwi lderness recmmendatin is based n the need t maintain the maxi mum flexibi l i ty fr management f the b i ghrn sheep habitat. Withut management flexibil i ty t cnduct land treatments, the timber stands in the WSA wuld cntinue t regenerate and wuld eventually reach a climax stage f successin. Successi nal change t dense timber stands wuld inhibit tradi t i nal b i ghrn sheep mvement arund the west end and acrss the WSA t the bighr n ' S preferred winter-use sites n BLH Ridge. Bi ghrn use wu l d shi ft t preferred sites n Sheep Ridge wh i ch are already used t capaci t y. OVer the l ng term, there wuld be a gradual reductin f the herd by an esti mated 10\ (100 animals). In additin, trapping peratins which require mechanized equipment wuld be pr ecluded i f the area were designated wilder ness. The Wh i s key Muntain WSA' s wilderness values are nt f the exemplary nature nrmally assciated with wilderness. The area is nly 487 acre s n a burned-ver hillsi de that shws sme f the 'signs f past f i re fighting and wdcutti ng activities. It is als s small s as t nt ha ve a ny real added benefi::. t the adji ni ng Fi tzpatri ck Wilderness Area wh i ch cvers apprximat ely 200,000 acres. Neither the manageability nr wilderne s s va l ues f t he Fi tzpatrick Wilderness wuld be enhanced by adding thi s small pa r cel. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERI!D IN DEVELOPING TIll!: WILDBRNBSS R1!COMMENDATIONS Wildern Charact.eristic. RI07W, '/, " ' 4{untain, '<'~ng _,... VV' /~..,,"'--" RI 06W A. Naturalne : The WSA is n t he nrth-fac i ng slpe f Whi s key Huntain i n the Wind River Munt a i ns. In 1931, a fir e burned quite a large area; the WSA is nly a s mall part f t he larger bur nt- ver hi l l s i de. The terrain is rugh and munt ainus, a nd the dmi na nt vegetatin i s limber p i ne and Duglas-fir, inters persed with burnt - ver snags There are tw very faint vehicle ways within t he WSA. Past firewd cutti ng is evidenced by stumps in sme areas. Fr the mst part, the area is in a natural cnditin with t he wrlcb f human a ctivity Bubstanti&lly unnticeable. NONE Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness 1 111fffl~11 11 ~J I rt/~1ji Split Estate State Pr ivate B. S l itu d.~ Slitude in the WSA is pssible due t i ts tpgraphic and vegetative screening, but because f its smal l size, the pprtunities fr slitude are les8 than utstanding. Hwever, i n cnjunctin with the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area, pprtunities fr slitude culd be cnsidered utstanding. Whiskey Muntain Prpsal MILES WY JUI1e, /1'1 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

108 C. Pruiti... and Uncnfined Recr.atin: The WSA makes a cntiguus extensin f the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area which has utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin. The larger Whiskey Huntain area, i ncludi ng the WSA, is an exceptinal hunting, viewing, and wintering area fr Rcky Muntain bighrn sheep. D. special r.atur : Whiskey Muntain is within the primary winter range fr the largest herd f Rcky "'untain b i ghrn sheep in the ctermi nus United States. The sheep ppulatin is f natinal s i gnficance. A. Bxpanding tbe di.er.ity f natural.v.t and f.ature repr nted by.c.y.t... and landfrll.: Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld nt add t the ecsystem diversity f the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. The ecsystem is already represented by 11 areas ttalling nearly 4 millin acres. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Bailey- Kuchler Class i f i catin main/prvince/pnv Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWfS Areas areas acres Other BLM Studies areas acres c. aalancing t.be gegrapbic di.t.ribut.in f wild_rn ar.a.: The Whiskey Muntain WSA wuld nt significantly cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within t he Nat i nal Wilderness Preservatin System becaus there is already a large amunt f designated wilderness in nrthwest Wyming. Nine existing areaa are within three hurs driving time f the WSA. These include Winegar Hle, Jedidiah Smith, the Grs Ventre, Washakie, Pp Agie, Fitzpatrick, Tetn Bridger, and Grand Tetn Wilderness Areas. Manag.ability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The WSA wuld be manageable as wilderness. N changes in existing uses wuld be anticipated ver t he l ng term. The Whiskey Muntain WSA represents an extensin f the Fitzpatrick Wildernes. administered by the U. S. Frest service. Bnergy and "in_r al a urce Valu The Phsphria frmatin, Tensleep sandstne, and Madisn limestne are expsed in r underlie the WSA an d are knwn il and gas prducers in fields thrughut the Wind River Basin. Hwever, the gelgic structure and gelgic prcesses in and 'djacent t the WSA are nt suitable fr the entrapment f hydrcarbns. The WSA, therefr e has lw ptential fr the ccurrence f il and ga8. The lands within the WSA were clsed t mineral leasing in 1970 in rder t prtect bighrn sheep habitat. Rcky Huntain Prest Prvince/Duglas Fir Frest 1!1ITIOl! WID!! 11 1,349,971 WYOMING , 893 The WSA i8 als clsed t lcateable mineral entry, lcatin, explratin, and develpment. N knwn mineralized znes exist within r immediately adjacent t the WSA. The gelgic ei1virnment, inferred gelgic prcesses, and lack f mineral ccurrences within r immediately adjacent t the WSA lands, indicate a lw ptential fr the ccurrence f lcatable mineral resurces ,433 72,146 I.pact. n Ot.h_r RIII.urc B. A ing tb. pprtunit.i fr llit.ude r pri.it.i r.cr.at.in wit.hin a day" dri.ipg ti (fiye hur.) f ir ppulat.ip cent.er" The WSA is within a five hur drive f ne majr ppulatin center. Table 3 aummarizes the number and acr.age f designat ed areas and ther BLM atudy areaa within five hur. drlve f the ppulatin center. The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent reaurces fr +:.he tw alternatives cnsidered including designatin f the entire area as wilderness. Table 3 wilderne Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulat i n Centers ppulatin Centers NWPS Ar.as area. acres Other BLM Studies are,. acres 2 7 4, r~ 0, ,

109 Table 4 Cmparative Summary f the Impacts by Alternative Whiskey Muntain WSA Issue Tpics Prpsed Actin (N Wilderness) All Wilderness Wilderness Values Bighrn Sheep Management Energy and Minerals N legislative prtectin f wildernes s values n 487 acres (entire WSA). Tree cutting and burning wuld have a shrt-term impact n naturalness n 60% f the WSA and fr slitude the entire WSA, but there wuld be n lng term effect. Cnditins fr bighrn sheep wuld imprve ver the shrt term and be maintained ver the lng term. Herd numbers maintained at 1,000 bighern sheep. Entire WSA (487) acres wuld cntinue t be clsed t mineral leasing and entry. N significant impact. significant impact. Wilderness values n 487 acres given lng-term prtectin. Cnditins fr bighrn sheep wuld deterirate ver the lng term resulting in a lss f 10% f the Whiskey Muntain herd (100 animals). Entire WSA (487 acres) wuld cntinue t be clse d t mineral leasing and entry. N 182

110 Lcal Scial and Ecnaic Cn.ideratin. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Suaaary f WSA - Specific Public C_ent. Inventry: During the inventry phase, nine crrunents were received n the Whiskey Muntain WSA. Fur supprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and five were ppsed. All f the cmments regarding this unit were general in nature and nne were carried frward t the study phase t assist in identifying study issues r alternatives. Draft BIS: During frmal public review f the draft EIS (released in Octber, 1988), a ttal f 51 cmments, bth ral and written, were received. Of thse, 20 ral statements were received at public hearings held in Rivertn and Dubis, Wyming in December, The remaining 31 cmments were written respnses t the draft EIS. Cmments received during the draft EIS review generally f avred nnwilderness designatin fr the Whiskey Muntain WSA. Of all the cmments received, fur were frm federal agencies and seven were frm state agencies. N bjectins were raised by the federal agencies. EPA's review did nt identify any ptential envirnmental impacts requiring substantive changes t the prpsal. They als indicated that the draft EIS adequately set frth the impacts f the preferred alterative fr the WSA. N state agencies expressed disagreement with the prpsed actin fr the Whiskey Muntain WSA, which is nnwilderness designatin. Three state agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department, the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, and the Wyming Travel Cmmissin favred nnwilderness fr the Whiskey Muntain WSA. The Office f the Gvernr als cncurred with the prpsed nnwildernes9 desi gnatin. He further indicated that the ratinale fr maintaining the WSA as nnwilderness appears sund. ADOBI!TOWN WILDERNl!SS STUDY AREA (WSA) THE STUDY AREA -- 85«710 acre. The Adbe Twn WSA (WY and WY ) cnsists f a single study area administratively identified with tw WSA numbers because the area is separated by the bundary between the Rawlins and Rck springs Districts. The Adbe Twn WSA includes 82,350 acres f BLM lands, 3,360 acres f split estate lands and 1,280 acres f state land (see Table 1). The WSA is lcated in sutheastern Sweetwater cunty, 25 miles suth f Wamsutter, Wyming. The WSA is bunded n the nrth by the checkerbard land pattern and the Manual Gap rad, n the west by the Adbe Twn Rim rad, n the suth by the Shell Creek rad, and n the east by the Willw Creek rad (see Map 1). The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Adbe Twn-Ferris Muntains Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed i n January There were fur alternatives analyzed in the EIS including All Wilderness, N Wilderness, Partial Wilderness which is the recmmendatin f this reprt that wuld designate 10,920 acres as wilderness and release 74,790 acres fr uses ther than wilderness, and anther partial wilderness in which 16,280 acres wuld be designated as wilderness and 69,430 acres wuld be released fr uses ther than wilderness. The 10,920 acres recmmended fr wilderness includes mst f the cre f the Washakie Basin, an ancient i nland sea. This prtin f the WSA is a very clrful and rugged desert badland area virtually untuched by human activity. The maze f badlands frmatins, mesas, and buttes cmbine with brilliantly clred rck strata t create spectacular canyn land scenery. Skull Creek Rim, in the cre f the area recmmended fr wilderness, cntains 90me f the mst unique and extensive badlands frmatins in Wyming. Cmments were received frm ne lcal gvernment, the Twn f Dubis. The twn supprts nn-wilderness fr the Whiskey Muntain WSA. They wuld like t see n ORV use and feel the area shuld be managed fr prtectin f the Bighrn Sheep. The public has prvided cmments thrughut the wilderness review prcess n this WS A.. The predminant feeling is that the area shuld be given prtectin but nt designated as wilderness because the designatin wuld restrict flexibility needed t manage the b i ghrn sheep habitat including habitat imprvement prjects such as land treatments a nd sheep trapping

111 r' r I T 16 N TABLE 1 - Land Status & Acreage Summary f the Study Area /, within Wi lderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Spllt-estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldi ngs (State, private) Ttal 82,350 3,360 1,280 86,990 I;:.., I Within the recmmended wilderness bundary BLM (wi thi n WSA) 10,520 BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) 400 Split Estate (utsi de WSA) Ttal BLK Land Recmmended 10,920 fr Wilderness Inhldings (State, pri vate) Withi n the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM 71,830 Split Estate 2,960 Tta l BLM Land Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness 74,790 Inhldi ngb (State, Private) 1, ~ - _ 1_ 2. RECOMMEHDA'I'ION AND RA'l'IONALB--IO,920 acre. rec_ended fr wi lderness 74,790 acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderne R98W / R97W Recmmended fr W i ld~nhs Recmmended fr Nnwilderneu Spl;t Estate I I State The r ecmmendatin f r t h i s WSA i s t des i gnate 10, 9 20 a cres ( 10, 520 acres Federal and 400 acres split esta t e ) a s wilderness and release 74,790 acres fr uses ther than wil derness (Hap 1). The Al l Wi ldernes s a l ter nat ive i s the envirnmentally pre ferabl e a l ternative a s it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. The recmmendatin wuld be implemented i n a manner which wuld use all pract ical means t avid r mi n imize envirnmental impacts. Appendix 1 lists a l l inhldings and split estate tracts a nd prvides additinal infrmatin n acquisitin f i nhldings and split estate minerals. In recmmending the 10, 920- acre prtin f t he WSA fr wilderness, the exemplary quality f the area' s wilderness values and the pprtunity t add an ecsystem nt presently part f the wilderness system were key cnsideratins. Because f the lack f man-made intrusins in the prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wilderness ::Iesignatin, its naturalness is cnsidered exceptinal. The Skull Creek Rim area cntains virtually n evidence f mdern man. The wilderness inventry judged this prtin f the WSA t be natural in appearance. Adbe Twn Prpa.. ', lind uulde WSA Recmmended ' 0 1 Wi lderness MILES ~prillate WY / WY - 04(}-408 June, jj5 R F t::t r.pv AVAil AAtl;

112 Designatin f this prtin f the WSA as wilderness wuld add an ecsystem nt currently represented in the wilderness system. The entire 10,920 acres recmmended fr wilderness lie within the Wyming Basin/Saltbush-greasewcd ecsystem. N designated wilderness areas cntain this ecsystem. Because the recmmended prtin f the WSA was part f an inland Bea, Lt is rich in palentlgical and archaelgical resurces. The Adbe Twn area is knwn as ne f the three mst valuable sites in Nrth America fr certain types f mammalian fssils. Archaelgical resurces within the area are estimated t represent cntinual human ccupatin fr the past 12,000 years. A wilderness designatin wuld nt cnflict with ther resurces uses in the 10,920 acres recmmended fr such a designatin. Grazing f the area will be allwed t cntinue. The WSA as a whle has a high ptential fr natural gas prductin. It is estimated that the reserves within the WSA are in excess f ne trillin cubic feet. There are n il and gas leases r mining claims within the 10,920 acres recmmended fr wilderness. The recmmendatin fr this WSA is prjected t result in the recvery f apprximately 80\ f the ttal natural gas reserves within the WSA as cmpared t an 85\ recvery rate under the n wilderness alternative. Thus, cnflicts with wilderness management wuld be minimal. The remaining 74,790 acres were recmmended fr nnwildernesb because f the area's high ptential fr the develpment f natural gas. The tpgraphy and drainage patterns f this prtin f the WSA are nt naturally limiting t deve:'pment. Given the WSA's high ptential fr natural gas, it is likely that develpment wuld indeed ccur here, with a ptential fr wells lcated thrughut the nnwilderness prtin. Currently there is n il and gas activity i n the area. Were any explratin r develpment t ccur, the activitie. wuld be managed t minimize envirnmental impacts. Cnstructin activities wuld be limited t specific times f the year t prtect wintering wildlife and nesting raptrs. Ersin and impacts t water quality wuld be minimized by limiting facilities t areas away frm live water and slpes in exce8s f 25'. 3. CIIITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING TIl!: liildi!\u!!:ss RECOMMENDATIONS tfild.rn Characteriatica A. Naturaln " The Adbe Twn WSA is predminantly natural, with few human imprint.. Skull Creek Rim, in the cre f the recmmended area, is a very clrful and rugged desert badland area, which cnsists f a series f h i ghly erded drainages and clrful badland rims. T the nrth f Skull Cre.k Rim i. Mnument Valley and Adbe Twn Rim. These areas als cntain badlands and frmatins similar t Skull Creek, but are mre dispersed. T the e.at (the majrity t the nnauitable area) is a brad, relatively u nd i sturbed plain that i8 cvered with stabilized sand dunes and alluvium. The few man-made intrusins i n the WSA are minr and cnsist f activity assciated with past il and gas explratin.. There are several ld l i v.stck watering reservirs, and tw abandned wild hrae traps. These i ntru.ins are nt nt iceable and have a minimal impact n the ttal area. B. Slitude : The Adbe Twn WSA cntains utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. The WSA' s rugged badland rims and numerus canyns prvide ample pprtunities t avid the sights and sunds f ther visitrs. The pen desert plain, with its expanses f sagebrush and pen scenic vistas, prjects a feeling f vastness and slitude. Encunters amng visitrs wuld be mre likely in this prtin f the WSA, hwever, because f the relatively flat terrain. C. Primitive and Uncnfined Recreatin: The Adbe Twn WSA, with its large size and varied tpgraphy, cntains utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin. The majrity f the WSA prvides pprtunities fr uncnf ined freedm f mvement due t the pen rlling hills and numerus drainages. Opprtunities fr hiking, backpacking, sightseeing, hrseback riding, hunting, nature study, scientific study, and phtgraphy are available t t he visitr. The utstanding scenic quality f this WSA enhances the recreatinal values. D. Special Featurea: The WSA is natinally knwn fr the educatinal and scientific study f palentlgical resurces. Fssil remains f mammals are numerus and widely distributed thrughut the area. Tw ntable mammalian fssils fund in the area are the Uintathere and the Titanthere. The Uintathere was a large mammal abut the size and cnfiguratin f an African rhincers. The species f Titanthere fund in the WSA was a tapir-like mammal, abut 40 inches in height. This area has been identif ied as ne f t.he premier sites in Nrth America fr palentlgical resurces. Significant archaelgical resurces are fund thrughut the WSA, representing cntinuus ccupatin by man frm Pale Indian thrugh late Prehistric perids, that is, fr the past 12,000 years. The cultural site density f the WSA is estimated t be 30 surface sites per square mile, which is unusually high. Diversity in the Natinal Wildernea. Pre.ervatin Syate. A. Expanding the diveraity f natural ayate.a and feature. a. represented by ac.yata and landfr'll': Wilderness designatin f the 10,920 acres f the WSA recmmended in this reprt wuld add an ecsystem nt presently represented in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. There are nly fur ther BLM areas in the state under study with this ecsystem, and the example i n this WSA is judged t be the mst natural f the areas studied in this state. The remaining 74,790 acres are within an ecsystem already represented in t he wilderness system in ne area in Wyming. This infrmatin is summarized in Table

113 Bailey-Kuchler Class ificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain! Wyming Basin Prvince/ Saltbush-greasewd Dry Dmain/ Wyming Basin Prvince/ Sagebrush Steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas areas acres NATION WIDE WYOMING NATION WIDE 67,026 WYOMING 67,026 Other BLM Studies areas acres 94,549 94, , ,031 Clrad (78,870 acres in suth central Wyming and 312,483 acres in nrth central Clrad, ttaling 391,353 acres in 12 units), there are n wilderneds areas in suthwest Wyming r nrthwest Clrad. DeSignatin f the Adbe Twn WSA as wilderness wuld help fill t h ie vid. Manageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The prtin f the WSA preliminarily fund suitable fr wilderness is manageable as wilderness. The prtin f the WSA nt recmmended fr wilderness wuld be manageable as wilderness. hwever, there are abut 5,800 acres f pre-flpma leases within this prtin f the WSA and the terrain and drainages d nt necessarily l imit develpment. The lease hldings are gruped in three gegraphic areas: ( 1) the suthwest prtin f the WSA alng the suthern part f Mnument Valley; (2) the nrthwest part arund Adbe Twn Rim; and (3) scattered parcels in the nrtheast part f the WSA. Given the high ptential fr natural gas in the WSA, it i s quite prbable that develpment wuld ccur, with wells distri buted thrughut this prtin f the WSA. Assuming a relatively even distributin f these wells thrughut the nnwilderness prtin f the WSA, the sights and sunds f the machinery, access rads, and vehicles wuld necessarily threaten wilderness values ver the lng term. This wuld make wilderness management e xtremely difficult. Energy and Mineral Reaurce Valu B. A ing th. pprtuniti fr.litude r pri.itive r.cr tin wi thin a day'. driving ti (five bur.) f.air ppulatin center.: The WSA is withi n a f ive hur dr ive f ne majr ppulatin center. Table 3 summarizes the number and a creage f des i gnated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin center. Ppulati n Center Casper, WY Table 3 Wilderne ss Opprtunities fr Residents f Ma jr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Ar eas a r e as acres 27 4,08 0,891 Other BLM Studies areas 32 a c res 379,949 c. Bal'pcipg tbe gegraphic diatributin f.. lld.rn ar a: The Adbe Twn WSA wuld cntribute t ba lancing the gegraphic distributin f areas wi thin the Natinal Wilderness Pr eservatin System. Althugh t here are.everal designated wilderne ss a rea s i n suth central Wyming and nrth central The U.S. Gelgical Survey and U.S. Bureau f Minea prepared a mi neral assessment fr that prtin f the Adbe Twn WSA that is recmmended fr wilderness designatin (U.S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin 1157-H, 1990). The results f that reprt prvide the basis fr the fllwing i nfrmatin. The ptential fr accumulatins f natural gas in the Adbe Twn WSA is cnsidered t be high. It is estimated t hat the. Adbe Twn WSA is underlai n with apprximately 1-2 trillin cubic feet f natural gas. N drilling has been dne i n the 10,920 a crea recnunended fr wilderness, but 12 hles have been drilled i n nearby areae. Three f these welle prduced natural gas, ranging frm 1,200 t 3,700 MCF (millin cubic feet) f gas per day. All three f these wells were relatively deep (mre than 10,000 feet). There are n wella prducing gas within the entire WSA at this time. The stat us f the i l li nd gas leases in t:.he Adbe Twn WSA has changed Significantly since the f i nal EIS was cmpleted (see Map 7, Adbe Twn-Ferris Muntains Final EIS) and frm that shwn in the U.S.G.S./8. M. mineral reprt. The current status i s reflected n Map 2. At the ti:.le that the EIS was written, there were tw il and gas uni ts within the Adbe Twn WSA, with a unit being a cntiguus grup f leases designed t drain the il and gas reserves frm a knwn reservi r i n the mst efficient manner

114 Once a well is drilled and prves t have cmmercial quantities f il r gas, a "participating area" (PA) is set up arund the well. The PA represents the area prven t be capable f prducing in cmmercial quantities. The units autmatically cntract t the PA five years after the PA is establishvd if diligent drilling within the unit des nt ccur. In the case f the Adbe Twn WSA, the units cntracted t the PAs and the pre-flpma leases being held by the units thus expired. In additin, several ther il and gas leases have expired. There are nw ~,800 acres f pre-flpma leases within the WSA being held by prductin r as participating areas. The remainder is either unleased r cvered by pst-flpma leases. There are n mining claims in the Adbe Twn WSA. The area was withdrawn frm mining lcatin by Executive Order 5327, April 15, The entire study area has lw ptential fr undiscvered uranium, cal, zelites, il shale, and metalli ~ minerals. lapect. n ther Re.urce. The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 191

115 TABLE 4 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ADOBE TOWN WSA Issue Tpics Prpsed Actin (Partial Wilderness) N Wilderness Partial Wilderness-2 A II Wilderness Wi lderness Values Energy and Mineral Resurces DRV Use Cultural Resurces Palentlgical Resurces livestck Grazing Naturalness and slitude lst n 75,110 acres in lng term_ Wi lderness values retained n 10,600 acres. Eighty percent f gas recvered (80 billin cubic feet); 74,790 acres pen t il and gas leasing; 10,920 acres clsed t il and gas leasing_ Twenty-five visitr-days annually displaced frm 10,920 acres. Insignificant impacts due t better pprtunities n nearby publ ic l :'!d. DRV use limited t 490 miles f designated rads and trails n 74,790 acres. Cul tural resurce surveys n 8,550 acres; 400 sites evaluated but destryed. Sites n 10,600 acres wuld remain undisturbed. Adver~e impacts t palentlgical resurces n 8,550 acres due t il and gas activities. Beneficial impacts n 10,920 acres because sites wuld remain undisturbed_ N impacts. Naturalness and slitude Naturalness and slitude lst n 85,nO acres in lng lst n 70,710 acres in lng term. N legal prtectin term; includes 1,280 acres f wilderness values n in partial wilderness bundary. 85,710 acres. Wilderness values retained n 15,000 acres. Eighty-five percent f gas recvered (95 bill in cubic feet; 85,710 acres pen t il and gas leasing. Minr increase in vehicle accessibility; n significant impacts. DRV use limited t 520 miles f designated rads and trails n 85,710 acres. Naturalness and slitude lst n 39,300 acres in lng term due t develpment f f pre-flpma leases. Wilderness values retained n 46,410 acres. Seventy tw percent f gas re- Th i rty percent f gas recvered cvered (n billin cubic feet);(35 billin cubic feet)_ 39,300 69,430 acres f nnwilderness acres pen t il and gas develppen t il and gas leasing. ment because f existing pre-flpma 1,280 acres f wilderness pen leases; 46,410 acres clsed t t il and gas because f ex- il and gas leasing. isting pre-flpha leases; 15,000 acres clsed t il and gas leasing_ fifty visitr-days annually displaced frm 16,280 acres. Insignificant impacts due t better pprtunities n nearby publ ic land. DRV use limited t 440 miles f designated rads and trai ls n 69,430 acres_ Cultural resurce surveys n Cultural resurce surveys n 9,075 acres; 425 sites eval- 7,770 acres; 370 sites uated but destryed_ evaluated but destryed. Sites n 16,250 acres wuld remain undistul bed. Adverse impacts t palentlgical resurces n 9,075 acres due t il and gas activities. N impacts. Adverse impacts t palentlgical resurces n 7,770 acres due t il and gas activities. Beneficial impacts n 15,000 acres because sites wuld remain undisturbed. N impacts. Tw hundred vi s i tr days annua II y displaced frm 85,710 acres; insignificant impact due t better pprtunities n nearby public land. Cultural resurce surveys n 3,750 acres; 175 sites evaluated but destryed. Sites n 82,000 acres wuld remain undisturbed. Adverse impacts t palentlgical resurces n 3,750 acres due t il and gas activities n pre-flpma leases. Beneficial impacts n 46,410 acres f pst-flpha and unleased lands because si tes wuld remain undisturbed. Increased difficulty in managing dmestic sheep n winter range; may result in vluntary nnuse f f 3,893 AUHs. lq? /9Q..-

116 TABLE 4 Cntinued COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ADOBE TIMI lisa Issue Tpics Prpsed Actin (Partial liilderness) N IIi lderness Partial liilderness-2 All IIi lderness IIi ldl i fe N impacts t antelpe. Mule deer displaced ff f 40,000 t 74,790 acres, but can be easily accmmdated in?ther areas. N impacts t antelpe. Mule deer displaced ff f 85,710 acres, but can be easily accmmdated in ther areas_ N impacts t antelpe. Mule deer displaced ff f 70,710 acres, but can be easily accmmdated in ther areas. N impacts t antelpe. Virtually n displacement f mule deer. Raptrs OUt f a ttal f 22 ferruginus hawk nests, six t eight wuld prduce fledgl ings. OUt f a ttal f 22 ferruginus hawk nests, six t seven wuld prduce fledgl ings. OUt f a ttal f 22 ferruginus hawk nests, eight t ten wuld prduce fledgl ings. OUt f a ttal f 22 ferruginus hawk nests, ~2 t 13 wuld prduce fledgl ings. 193

117 Lcal Scial and Ecn.ic Cnsideratins Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Summary f WSA-Specific C.-ents Inventry: During the inventry phase, 37 cmments were received n the Adbe Twn WSA. Twenty-seven supprted inclusin f the unit as a wilderness study area, while ten ppsed the unit's inclusin. Thse wh favred wilderness believed that the WSA had all the prerequisite wilderness characteristics necessary t qualify fr wilderness study. Thse ppsed cited a desire t see the area managed fr uses ther than wilderness, the area's high ptential fr natural gas, and retentin f mtrized access. Draft EIS: During frmal public review f the draft EIS, a ttal f 42 cmments, bth written and ral, were received. Of thse, three ral statements were received at a public hearing held in Rawlins, Wyming; the remaining 39 cmments were written respnses t the draft EIS. In general, 24 cmments favred wilderness designatin fr at least sme f the WSA, and 13 favred n wilderness. Five cmments addressed the relative merits f the EIS, but tk n frmal psitin n wilderness designatin r nndesignatin. Supprt fr wilderness designatin stemmed frm a desire t prtect sme f the public lands frm envirnmental destructin caused by the cmmercial explitatin f il and gas. Oppsitin t wilderness designatin was based n mineral ptential and the desire t manage the area fr uses ther than wilderness. Of all the cmments received, 4 were frm federal agencies and 8 were frm state agencies. N cmments were received frm lcal agencies. Of the federal agencies, the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency indicated envirnmental reservatins regarding the DEIS Prpsed Actin and suggested that the Partial Wilderness alternative (nw called Partial-2) be given further cnsideratin. The Natinal Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service favred the all wilderness alternative. The Bureau f Mines preferred the N Actin alternative. Of the state agencies, the Gelgical Survey f Wyming, the Oil and Gas cmmissin, and the State Engineer's Office supprted the DEIS prpsed actin f N Wilderness. The Department f Agriculture favred the N Actin alternative. The Wyming Recreatin Cmmissin supprted the DEIS prpsed actin as lng as prtective measures fr cultural resurces were implemented prir t any prject authrizatin. The Game and Fish Department supprted the 16,280-acre Partial Wilderness Alternative as described in the draft EIS, and the Department f Envirnmental Quality (Water Quality Divisin) had n cmment. In additin, the Gvernr's Office had n verall psitin regarding wilderness designatin, but were ppsed t inclusin f state-wned land r mineral estates in BLM WSAs. 194

118 APPENDIX 1 ESTIMATED COST OF ACQUISITION OF NON-FEDERAL HOLDINGS VITHIN AREAS RECOMMENDED FOR DESIGNATION Y Legal Descriptin (Pr ir t any S\bcIi vi s i na l) Ttal Acreage Number f OWners (If Parcel has been S\bcIivided) Type f wnership by Estate (Federal, State, Private, ther) Surface Estate Subsurface Estate Presently Prpsed fr Acquisitin (yes. N) Preferred Methd f Acquisitin (Purchase, Exchange, ther) Estimated Cst f Acquisitin Land Csts Prcessing Csts T.15N.,R.97\1 Sec. 36, E1/2,SV1/4 400 Federal State Yes Exchange Y The standard csts in this appendix in n way represent a frmal appraised value f the land in general estate, but are rugh estimates based n sales r exchanges f lands r mineral estates with similar characteristics t thse included in the VSA. The estimates are fr purpses f establishing a range f ptential csts t the gvernment f acquiring nn-federal hldings and in n way represent an ffer t purchase r exchange at the cst estimate included in th is appendix. 195

119 PBI!!lIS!!OQ!!TAIJIS "ILD!!!!!!ISS ST!!DI A!!!!I\,"SA) T 28 N 1. TIll smpx UD '5.cr The Perrie Muntains WSA (wr ) includes 22,245 acres f BLM lands and ne privately wned inhlding ttalling 160 acreb (see Table 1:«The WSA is lcated in nrthwestern Carbn Cunty, abut 40 mi les nrth f Rawli ns, Wyming. The Perri. Muntaina are a amall muntain range, rising abruptly frm the gently rlling plain. that surrund the WSA. The WSA is bunded n t he nrth by the rlling plaine f the Sweetwater Valley, n the suth by the level expan f Separatin Flat, n the west by state land and Whiskey Gap, and n the at by Miner. Canyn (aee Map 1)«A:.<"-'lf-.JI T 27 N The "erri. Munt.ina WSA ia extremely steep and rugged, prviding unusual and spectacular Bcenery. Alng the suthern flanle, a frmatin f limestne utcrp. frm. a prminent white band twelve miles lng which is visible fr up t 50 mil.s. Perrie Peak i8 the highest pi nt in the Great Divide Basin at 10, 031 feet and rises 80me 3,000 feet frm the valley flr. Vegetatin cnsi.ts f cnifej:'us trees, shrubby plant., gras.es and frbs. The WSA als cntains gra y meadw8 and r ipar ian area The WSA was.tudied under Sectin 603 f the Pederal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Pinal Adbe Twn-Perris Muntai n. Wildern Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in January There were three alternative. analyzed in the EIS including All Wilderness, which i. the recmmendatin in this reprt, N Wilderness, and a secnd All Wilderne alternative which a180 included the private inhlding and adjacent private and state lands (ttalling 1,800 acree, in th designated wilderness, R87W R86W Recmmended fr Wilderness IIII fffl~ IIII Spl;t Estat. Recmmended fr Nnwilderness J ~e J State 196 Ferris Muntains Prpsal Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness ~pr j llate MILES WY June, l990 in BEST COPY AVAILABLE

120 TABLE 1 - Land Status " Acreage Sunrnary f the study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Spli t Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (State, priva+:e) Ttal Within the reco!!'lp8nded wilderness bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (uteide WSA) Sp1 l!:atate (withi n WSA) Split E.tate (uts ide WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recnrnended fr Wilderness Inhldings (state, private) Within the Area Nt Recmmended f r Wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal BLM Land nt recnrnended fr Wilderness Inhldings (state, private) 22, ,405 22,245 22, UCtplENDAtION AJfD RATIONALI -- 22,245 acre. rec_ended fr wilderne acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderne The r e cmnendati n fr this WSA is t designate the entire area 4S wilderness (Map l). This i s cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as i t will result i n the least change in the natural envirnment ver the lng term. This recnwnendatin fr wilderness will further apply t any additinal inhlding acreage acqui red thrugh purchase r exchange with willing wners. Appendix 1 list. all i nhlding. and prvides additinal infrmatin n acqui.itin t i nhl ding. In recnwnending this area fr wilderness, the exemplary quality f its wildern.ss values was a key cn.ideratin. The WSA is in a natural state, ru99ed and radle... Ther. i. a lack f develpment in the Ferris Muntains WSA. The wilderne i nventry f this area judged the WSA t be natural in appearance. On. man-made intrusin i n the area was the Babb' s Mine which included an ld min. acce rad and mine ral explratin area. This.car ha ince been reclaimed entirely and n lnger represents an intrusin int the area '. natural appearance. Outstanding pprtuniti es fr slitude are available thrughut the WSA. The area's ruggedness, ita radles. nature, and its size all cntribute t the utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. Visitrs t the area wuld be able t avid the sights and sunds f thers and find seclusin in this rugged a rea. Majr canyns distributed thrughut the WSA ffer places t escape the activities f thers. The Ferris Muntains WSA prvi des a number f high quality classic wilderness recreatin pprtunities. These include hiking and backpacking, hrseback ridi ng, camping, studying nature, and muntain climbing. Big game hunting is f exceptinal quality. The Ferris Muntains WSA ala cntaina a prtin f the east rim f the Wyming Great Divide Basin and the Cntinental Divide. All f these features cmbine t ffer a diverse recreatin pprtunity. Designatin f this area as wilderness wuld add an ecsystem nt currently represented in the wilderness system. All 22,245 acres f the Ferris Muntains WSA are included in the Wyming BaSin/Duglas Fir Prest ecsystem. N designated wilderness areas cntain this ecsystem. Only ne ther BLM area in Wyming is under study that cntains this ecsystem, a nd the example in the Ferris Muntains is judged t be the mst natural f the areas studied in this state. The wilderness recmmendatin wuld nt cnflict with ther resurce uses in the WSA. Grazing f the area will be allwed t cntinue. The area has lw ptential fr energy and mineral r esurces. It is unlikely that timber resurces wuld have any cmmercial value in the freseeable future. 3. CRITl!:RIA CONSIDl!:Rl!:D IN DEYBLOPINO TBl!: WILDl!:RNl!:SS Rl!:COMMENDATIONS Wild.rn... Characteristic. A. N't.ur,lp"'1 The Ferris Muntai ns WSA has an e.sentially natural character. The area is extremely rugged with elevatins r ising ver 10,000 feet. The WSA cntains numerus high ridges and deep canyns with n evidence f past human activity. Dense timber, interspersed with rck utcrps and pen grassy meadws, cntribute t the natural appearance f the area. The nly significant human imprints nted during the wilderness inventry were thse assciated with the Babb's Mine. These included an ld tw-track access rad and tw adits. Since the inventry, these intrusins have been reclaimed s that they n lnger detract frm the. WSA's natural appearance. The adits were clsed and recntured; the rad was bliterated. The entire disturbed area was reseeded with native vegetatin. Visual distances, rugged tpgraphy, and dense vegetatin all serve t bscure ther minr impri nts f man within the WSA. The verall influence f human imprints n the naturalness f the area as perceived by the average viaitr is negligibl e

121 B. Slitud.: The Ferris Muntains WSA cntains utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. Extreme lcal relief and abundant vegetative cver c~mbine t prvi de utstanding pprtunities t experience slitude. Substantl.al. vegetative and tpgraphic screening is prvided by the area's steep muntal.n slpes, i ts deep secluded canyns, and its abundant frest cver. scattered pen meadws in the central part f the WSA mix with the densely frested standa t prvide a d iverse and quality experience withut cmprmising the feeling f islatin. The majestic views f the sweetwater Valley t the nrth and the large expanse f Separatin Flat t the suth prvide a ~ee~ing f spaciusness. The WSA's diversity encurages freedm f mvement wl.thl.n its bundaries. c. Priaitiv. and Uncnfined Recreatins The Ferrie Muntains WSA, in cmbinatin with its relatively large size, diversity, and ruggedness, cntai ns utstanding pprtunities fr a primi tive and uncnfi ned type f recreatin. The WSA ' s ridges, canyns, valleys and meadws ffer utstandi ng pprtunities fr hiking, hunting, camping and backpacking. These pprtunities are further enhanced because the Cntinental Divide Natinal Scenic Trai l i s prpsed t run thrugh a prtin f the WSA. A climb t Perris Peak ffers an exceptinal hiki ng experience, where visitrs must pick their wn rutes becaus e there are n trails t the tp. Hunting within the WSA i s cnsidered exceptinal and the scenic values are unique t the regin. D. special Featurea: The Madisn Frmatin i s a particularly unique l arge limestne utcrp. This frmatin is a series f large limestne fins prtruding frm the suth side f the Ferris Muntains and extends nearly the entire length f the WSA. The Madisn Frmatin can be seen fr many miles away and cntributes t the WSA's status as a state and reginal landmark. Diyeraity ip the Natinal Wilderne Pre.ervatiR Syat.. A. Expanding the diveraity f natural ay.te.a and feature a repre.ented by ecavate and l.dfr..: Wilderness designatin f the WSA wuld add an ecsystem nt presently represented i n the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. There is nly ne ther BLM area in Wyming under study with this ecsyatem, and the example in this WSA i s judged t be the mst natural f t he areas atudi ed i n this state. This infrmatin is sunvnarized in Table 2. Bailey-Kuch'.er ~ Cl assi ficatin Dma i n/prvince/pnv Dry Dma i n/ Wyming Baai n Prvince/Duglaa-f i r Frest Table 2 Ecsystem Representat in NWPS areaa areas acres NATION r D~ 0 areas Other BLM acres 6,339 B. A idg th. pprtuniti fr.litud. r praitiv. recr.atin within day'. driving ti (fiv. hura> f _jr ppulatin c.nt.r.~ The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin center.s. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areaa and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Ppulatin Centers casper, WY Cheyenne, WY Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas area acres 4,080,891 1,950,377 Other BLM Studies areas acres ,414 69,300 c. Bal.pciDg the gegraphic diatributid f wild.m r, The Ferris Muntains WSA wuld cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. Althugh Wyming and neighbring statea cntain a great deal f designated wilderness, n uni ts f the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System are lcated in central Wyming. The Ferris Muntaina WSA wuld help fill this gap. Map.geability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The Ferris Muntains WSA is manageable as wilderness. There are n pre-flpma i l and gas leases in the WSA. The pst-flpma leaae. cntain the Wilderness Prtectin Stipulatin and the ptential fr il and gas develpment is lw. The nly cncern relates t the l60-acre private inhlding. If the inhlding is develped i n the future, an access rute wuld be needed. The develpment and access rute culd t ame degree impair BLM's ability t manage the directly affected lands a8 wilderness. Hwever, the WSA is still cnsidered manageable as wilderness because it is unlik.ely that any develpment wuld ccur, and even if it did, the access rute wuld be les8 than 1/2 mile in length. Energy and Min.ral Be.aurc. V.lu The U. S. Gelgical Survey and U. S. Bureau f Mines cnducted a mineral assessment f the Ferris Muntains WSA in 1983 and 1984 (U.S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin l757-c, 1988). The results f that reprt prvide the basis fr the fllwing infrmatin. WYOMING 6,

122 The results f that assessment shw that there are n identified mineral resurces in the WSA. There is lw resurce ptential fr minerals including gld, silver, cpper, lead, zinc, irn, nickel, mlybdenum, tungsten, lithium, beryllium, manganese, calcium carbnate, and silica. The mineral assessment als cncluded that there is n resurce ptential fr phsphate, gypsum, uranium, thrium, and il and gas. Tw mineralized areas (the Babbs mine and the Spanish mine) were examined and sampled in detail by the Bureau f Mines. The Babbs mine area cntains n current claims. The samples analyzed frm this area cntained nly small amunts f gld, silver and cpper. Mst samples did nt cntain either precius r base metals. The cnclusin drawn by Bureau f Mines is that n ccurrence f base r precius metals in the Babbs mine area cnstitutes a resurce. The Spanish Mine claims lie partially within the Ferris Muntains WSA. The mineral assessment fund evidence f mineralizatin generally cnsisting f lw-grade cpper, lead, zinc, silver, arsenic, and rare traces f gld. Again, nne f these mineral ccur rences are classified as an identified resurce. There is n present prductin f any mineral resurce in the WSA. Impacts n ther Resurces The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 202

123 TABLE 4 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS Issue Tpics Prpsed Actin (All Wi lderness) N Wi lderness Enhanced Wi lderness Wi lderness Values Energy and Mineral Resurces CRV Use Frestry acres f frest land frgne. Wi ldl ife Raptrs Wi lderness values retained n 22,245 acres. Impacts t naturalness and slitude wuld nt ccur n 4,000 acres. 22,245 acres clsed t mineral entry and leasing. Ten visitr-days annually displaced frm 22,245 acres; insignificant impact due t better pprtunities n nearby pl.bl ic lands_ 8 MMBF harvest n 1,000 acres frgne. Tirrber management n remaining 8,000 ther tirrber management culd Sales unlikely in freseeable future. N impacts. Lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat n 22,245 acres. Prescribed burns n 6,000 acres wuld duble bighrn sheep ppulatin. N impacts. Lng-term prtectin f nesting habitat n 22,245 acres. Naturalness and slitude lst r impai red n 4,000 acres. N legal prtectin f wilderness values n 22,245 acres. 22,245 acres pen t mineral entry and leasing. Ten visitr-days annually displaced frm 22,245 acres_ N increase in vehicle accessibil i ty; n significant impacts. Wi lderness values retained n 24,045 acres. Impacts t naturalness and slitude wuld nt ccur n 4,000 acres. 24,045 acres clsed t mineral entry and leasing. One hundred-fifty visitr-days annually displaced frm 24,045 acres; insignificant impact due t better pprtunities n nearby pl.blic land. 8 MMBF harvest n 1,000 acres 8 MMBF harvest n 1,000 acres frgne. ver next 50 t 100 years; Tirrber management n remaining 8,000 acres f frested land frgne. Sales unlikely ccur n remaining 8, 0 0 in freseeable future. acres f frested land, but sales are unlikely in frseeable future. N impacts. Lss f 1,000 acres f habitat ver shrt term while harvesting ccurs. Prescribed burns n 6,000 acres wuld duble bighrn sheep ppulatin. N impacts. Nesting habitat prtected because tirrber harvest wuld nt ccur during nesting activity. N impacts. Lng-term prtectin f wildlife habitat n 24,045 acres. Prescribed burns n 6,000 acres wuld duble bighrn sheep ppulatin. N impacts. Lng-term prtectin f nesting habitat n 24,045 acres.

124 Lcal Scial and Ecnaic Cn.ideratin. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Summary f W9A-Specific Public Cmment. Inventrv: During the inventry phase, 36 cmments were received n the Ferris Muntains WSA. Twenty supprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and 11 were ppsed t the unit's inclusin. Thse wh favred wilderness study believed that the unit had all the prerequisite wilderness characteristics fr a WSA. Thse ppsed cited reasns such as mineral values, the lss f timber resurces, and eliminatin f mtri?ed access fr hunting. Draft EI9: During frmal public review f the draft EIS, a ttal f 45 cmments, bth written and ral, were received. Of thse, fur ral statements were received at the public hearing held in Rawlins, Wyming; the remaining 41 cmments were written respnses t the draft EIS. In general, 26 cmments favred wilderness designatin and 11 cmments favred n wilderness designatin. Eight cmments addressed the relative merits f the EIS, but tk n frmal psitin n wilderness designatin r nndesignatin. supprt fr wilderness designat i n stemmed frm a desire t prtect sme f the public lands frm cmmercial explitatin. Oppsitin t designatin was based n mineral ptential and the desire fr uses ther than wilderness. Of all cmments received, 4 were frm federal agencies and 8 were frm state agencies. N cmments were received frm lcal agencies. Of the federal agencies, the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency, Natinal Park Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service supprted the Prpsed Actin (All Wilderness Alternative). Of the state agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department, the Department f Envirnmental Quality (Water Quality Divisin), and the Wyming Recreatin Cmmissin all supprted the Prpsed Actin. The Gelgical Survey f Wyming and the Department f Agriculture supprted the N Wilderness Alternative. The State Engineer's Office viced sme cncern abut wilderness designatin, and the Oil and Gas Cmmissin had n cmment. In additin, the Gvernr's Office had n verall psitin regarding wilderness designatin, but were ppsed t inclusin f st;a~e-wned land r mineral estates in BLM WSAs. 204

125 APPENDIX 1 ESTIMATED COST OF ACQUISITION OF NON-FEDERAL HOLDINGS WITHIN AREAS RECOMMENDED FOR DESIGNATION I Legal Descriptin (Prir t any Subdivisinal) Ttal Acreage Number f Owners (If Parcel has been Subdivided) Type f OWnership by Estate (Federal, State, Private, ther) Surface Estate Subsurface Estate Presently Prpsed fr Acquisitin (Yes, N) Preferred Methd f Acquisitin (Purchase, Exchange, ther) Estimated Cst f Acquisitin Land Prcessing ~ Csts Parcel 1 T.27N.,R.87V 160 Sec. 29, NE1/4SE1/4, S1/2SE1/4 Sec. 32, NW1/4NE1/4 Private Private Yes Exchange I The standard csts in this appendix in n way represent a frmal appraised value f the land in general estate, but are rugh estimates based n sales r exchanges f lands r mineral estates with similar characteristics t thse included in the WSA. The estimates are fr purpses f establishing a range f ptential csts t the gvernment f acquiring nn-federal hldings and in n way represent an ffer t purchase r exchange at the cst estimate included in this appendix. 205

126 I!!lCAMPMENT RIVER ClIJfYON WILDI!JUI!lSS STUDY ARl!A (WSAI 1. TBB STUDY AREA aer The Encampme n t Ri ver Canyn WSA (WY-OJO-301 ) i ncludes 4,547 acres f BLM l ands with n i nhldi nga r split estate lands (see Table 1). The WSA is lcate d i n suthern Ca rbn Cunty, apprximately 2 miles suth f Encampment, Wymi ng a nd 1 mile nrth f t he U.S. Frest Service Encampment River Wilderness. I t l i e s i n the fthills f the Sierra Madre muntains. The WSA i s bunded n the nrth by private lands, fences and rads; n the east by rads and a pwerlinei n the suth by private and state landa, rads, a nd mi neral explratin activi ty; and n the west by rads (Bee Map 1). The t pgraphy f the entire uni t is muntainua. Steep canyns and rcky elpes dmi nate the vistas. The Encampment River and a majr tributary, Miner Creek, add scenic features t the WSA. Elevati ns range frm 7, 200 feet alng the Enc ampment River t 8,545 feet n the h i gh ridges. Appr ximat e ly 10 percent f the WSA i s frested. Tree species present includ e limber p ine, ldgeple pine, Dugl as-fir, subal pine fir, cttnwd a nd aspen. They ccur i n pure and mixed sta nds scatt ered thrughut the WSA. TABLE 1 - Land Status & Acreage SUrmlary f t he Study Area Within Wilderne ss St udy Area elm (aurlac e a nd sub s urface) Split Estate ( BLK sur f ace nly) Inhldings (State, Priva t e ) Ttal 4,547 4,547 Within the,ectm\ended wilder nes s bunda ry BLK (within WSA) BLK (utside WSI\) Split Ztate (within WSI\) Split Eetate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM Land RecOfl"l'nended fr Wilderness Inhldings (State, Private, 4,54 7 4,547 Within the Area Nt RecQnvnended fr Wilderness BLK Split Btat_ Ttal BLK Land Nt Recmmended fr Wilderne Inhldings (State, Private) NONE Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness III N0~ IIII Spht Estate pnone@ State 206 Encampment River Canyn Prpsal, MILES WY - OJO- JOI June. 1990

127 Lwer elevatins and drainages are characterized by narrw belts f deciduus trees (cttnwds, willws, alders), cniferus trees (Duglas-fir, true firs), grasses, and frbs brdering the Encampmer.t River. The middle and upper elevatins alng with the rcky slpes are primarily cmpsed f a msaic f bunchgrass with small shrube (sagebrush, muntai~ mahgany, bitterbrush, serviceberry) n steep canyn slpes, and small l.ngers f trees in the draws and gullies. This msaic f vegetatin has been influenced by wildfires and thrugh differing aspects f the canyn. The WSA was studied under Sectin 202 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (PLPMA) and was included in the Final Great Divide Resurce Area Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in August, There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS including All Wilderness, which is the recmm9ndatin in this reprt, and N Wilderness. ~. RECOMMENDATION AJfI) RATIONALE -- ',5'7 acr rec_ended fr wildernesa acr rec_ended fr nnwilderness The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t designate the entire area as wilderness. This is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment ver the lng term. In recmmending the WSA fr wilderness, the quality f the area ' s wilderness values was a key cnsideratin. The WSA is in a natural state, rugged and scenic. The WSA cnsists mainly f the Encampment River and Miner Creek canyns, bth steep-walled and rugged with dense vegetatin. The area des cntain a few man-made features, including a fence, the remains f tw ld cabins, the washed ut remains f a river dam, numerus prspect pits and tunnels, and the remains f a wden pipeline. Hwever, these have weathered fr many y'!ars and nw blend int the verall view. They d nt seriusly impair the wilderness character f the area. Outstanding pprtunities fr slitude are available thrughut the WSA. The area's ruggedness and radless nature cntribute t the utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. Althugh mst visitr use is cncentrated n the Encampment River Trail that parallels the river, visitrs wuld be able t e.cape the sights and sunds f thers in the numerus side canyns in the WSA. Opprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin are utstanding in the WSA. Opprtunities include hiking, backpacking, hrseback riding, kayaking, caneing, hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and phtgraphy. The Encampment River Trail parallels the river and prvides access t its entire length. The Wyming Game and Fish Department has classified the Encampment River a s a Cl 2-.tream, which means that it is very gd trut water f statewide imprtance. cnflicts with ther resurce uses f this WSA are limited. The area prvides crucial winter range fr bighrn sheep, elk, and mule deer. Prescribed burning f apprximately 600 acres ia needed t imprve the quantity and quality f the winter range. In additin, certai n range imprvements are needed t achieve rangeland management bjectives. Althugh bth prescribed fire and new range imprvements are allwed in designated wilderness, these activities can be dne nly under very strict cnditins. Designating this area as wilderness culd increase the cst sufficiently t make these prjects unfeasible. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING TB!l WILDERl!ISS gcommehl!ations Wilderness Characteristics A. Naturalness: Mst f the WSA is in a relatively natural state. A fence line crsses ne half f the WSA, but its lcatin is nt intrusive except at ne place n the hiking trail that parallels the river. The area als has a few tw-track trails, remains f tw ld cabins and the washed ut remains f a river dam, numerus prspect pits and tunnels, and the remains f a wden pipeline. These intrusins have weathered fr many years and nw blend int the verall view. Except fr tw piles f mine tailings, the intrusins are nt nticeable frm a distance. They d nt seriusly impair the wilderness character f the WSA as a whle. The Internatinal Order f Odd Fellws (IF) has develped a private parcel f land adjacent t the WSA alng the river; hwever, due t screening prvided by trees, rck utcrps, and steep canyn walls, the area is nt nticeable frm within the WSA. The develpment des nt impair the wilderness character f the WSA. B. Slitude: The WSA ffers pprtunities fr slitude in the canyn. The deep canyns and high rcky ridges prvide ' tpgraphic screening, and the vegetatin f the area cntributes further screening. At current and prjected levels f use, cntacts between visitrs wuld be high alng the trail, which wuld reduce the level f slitude. The prtin f the WSA abve the canyn is accessible by vehicles and slitude qualities are diminished. C. Primitive and Uncnfined Recreatin: The Encampment River Canyn WSA ffers pprtunities fr a great variety f recreatinal activities, including fishing, hunti ng, backpacking, hiking, hrseback riding, wildlife viewing and phtgraphy, camping, rck hundi ng, and sightseeing. The river canyn attracts recreatinists frm Wyming and the neighbring states f Clrad, Nebraska, and Utah. The Wyming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has classified the Encampment River a D very gd trut waters with statewide imprtance. The Encampment River Trail parallels the river and prvides access t the ent ire l ength f the river. The trail is clsed t mtrized vehicle use year rund, and the entire WSA is clsed t mtrized traffic in the winter fr big game prtectin. Mule deer hunt inc;. is very ppular within the WSA as, lcally, it is cnsidered a ptential trphy area. There are n hunting seasns n bighrn sheep in the area because f lw sheep numbers.. Special Feature.: The Encampment River Canyn cntains sites assciated with early explratin and mining activities f reginal histrical imprtance

128 A ne mil e wide crri dr alng the Encampment River i s prpse d fr Natinal Natur a l Landmark (NNL ) desi gnati". A prtin f the prpse d NNL lies withi n the WSA. Pi.erlAtT in the Natinal wi ldeme., Pre.ervatin Sy.te. A. EXPandi ng the di.er.ity f natural.y.t_. and feature. a. represented by ec.y.t_. and land fra. : wi lderness desi gnati n f the WSA wuld nt expand the d iversity f ecsystem representati n in the Na t i nal wi lde rness Pre. e rvati n System. The ecsystem i s already represented in the wilderness aystem by 4 1 a r e a s cveri ng 4,756,981 acres. Of this ttal, 12 wil dernes s areas are l cated i n Wyming and cver 1,633,603 a c res. Natinwide t here a re 9 WSAs under study with thi s ecsystem, tw f which are in Wyming. This infrmatin i s s ummari zed in Table 2. Bai l ey-kuc hle r Claaaif i c atin Dmain/Pr vince/pnv Table Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas areas acres NATION WIDE Other BLM Studies are a s a c res C. Balancing the gegraphic di.tributid f wilde me...reaa: The Encampment Ri ver Canyn WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distri butin f areas withi n the Nat i nal Wi lderness Preservatin Syst e m. There are 4 wilderness areas in suthern Wyming in clse prximity t this WSA. Als, there are 8 areas in nrthern Clrad within 200 miles r less f the WSA. Manageability (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wi lderness character). The Encampment River Canyn WSA is manageable as wilderness. There are n il and gas leases r i nhldi ngs in the WSA and mineral resurce ptential i s l w. The nl y cncern relates t the existence f pst-flpma mini ng claims within r parti ally within the WSA. These clai ms are lcated fr cpper, g ld, a nd s i lver and have nt been develped. Upn wilderness designatin, vali dity examinatins wuld be cnducted n exi sti ng mini ng clai ms. Develpme nt f valid claims wuld be allwed with restri ctins t prevent u nnecessary r undue degradatin f the land. Mi n i ng acti v i ty wuld i mpai r BLM ' s abilit y t manage the directly affected lands as wilderness but it is unlikely that develpment wuld ccur. Energy and Mineral Re. urce Value. Dry Dma i n/ Rcky Muntain Preat Prvi nce/ Weater n Spruce-fi r Frest 41 4, 756, , 633, ,171 5, 692 The U. S. Gelgical Surve y and Bureau f Mi nes cnducted a mi neral assessment f th& Encampment Rive r Canyn WSA i n 1987 (U.S. Gelgi c a l Survey Bulletin 1757-F, 1989). The results f that reprt prvide the basi s fr the fllwing i nfrmati n. The r esults f the assessme nt shw that there are n i dentified resurces i n t he WSA. There i s l w resurce ptenti al fr undi s c vered metallic c mmd i t i es and i ndustrial mi ndrals. The mineral assessment als cncluded t hat there i s n resurce ptential fr i l and gas, cal, gethermal r esurces, r urani um. 8. A ipg the pprtuni t i e. fr.li tude r priaitive recreati n withi n ada!" dri.idg ti (fi hura) f.. iar ppulatin c.nter.: The WSA is within a five hur drive f a i x majr ppulatin centers. Ta ble 3 summari zes the number and acreage f de. i gnated areas and ther BLM study areas wi thin five hura drive f t he ppul ati n ce nters. Table 3 Wilderneaa Opprtuni tie. fr Reside nt s f Ma j r Ppu l atin Centers There is n pres ent p rduct i n f any mi neral resurce i n t he WSA. I. pact. n Other Res urce. The f llwing c mpar a t ive impac t tab l e (Table 4 ) s ummarizes the e ffects n pertinent r es ur c es fr all t he alternat ives cns i dered i nclud i ng designatin r n ndesi gnatin f the ent i r e area as wildernes s. Ppulatin Center. NWPS Area. ar. a. acr Other BLM Studies areas acres c.aper, Wyminq Cheyenn., Wyminq Buld.r, clrad D.nv.r, Clrad 27 4,080, ,950, ,719, , 719,962 pt. Cllin., COlrad 3 3 2, 719,962 Gr_Iey, Clr.d 33 2,719, , , , , , ,

129 TABLE 4 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS Encarrpnent River Canyn lisa Issue Tpics Prpsed Actin (All Wilderness) N Wi lderness Naturalness Outstanding Opprtunities fr Slitude and/r Primitive Uncnfined Recreatin Speci al Features Recreatina l OpprtLWlit ies Big Game Management Livestck Management Prescribed burning wuld destry naturalness fr 1 3 years n apprximately 1,200 acres. Clsing DRV use yearlng wuld have a psitive effect n 500 acres. Range imprvement prjects wuld have a negative effect n 2 3 acres. vicinity (2 3 acres). Prescribed spring burning wuld have a negative effect fr 2-3 weeks n slitude, but few visitrs are present. Clsing DRV use yearlng wuld have a minr, but psitive effect. Range prjects wuld destry slitude during cnstructin. Cattle use wuld have a negative uncnfined recreatin. There wuld be psitive effects n special features because there wuld be n degrading actins. Vegetative manipulat in wuld have a psitive effect n bighrn sheep viewing because f an anticipated increase in I'IUIi)ers. There wuld be n mtrized recreatin. There wuld be cntinued visitr/cattle cnf licts. Yearlng ORV clsure wuld have a psitive effect n big game by reducing harassment. Big game habitat wuld be enhanced and an increase in big hrn sheep I'IUIi)ers is expected. effect. There wuld be a negative effect n livestck management because f the restrictin Prescribed burning wuld destry naturalness fr 1-3 years n apprximately 1,200 acres. ORV use in the upland wuld have a negative effect frm May 1 t Nvember 30 n abut 500 acres. Range imprvement prjects wuld destry naturalness in the immediate Prescribed burning wuld have a negative effect fr 2-3 weeks in the spring but few visitrs are present. DRV use in the uplands wuld have little effect because mst visitatin is n the canyn trail. Range prjects wuld destry sl itude during cnstructin. Cattle use in the area wuld have a negative effect n primitive, affect n primitive, LWlCnfined recreatin There wuld be n negative affects anticipated n special features because surface-disturbing activities are nt expected. Vegetative manipulatin wuld have a psitive effect n bighrn sheep viewing because f an anticipated increase in numbers. Cattle-visitr cnflicts wuld cntinue even thugh range imprvements wuld result in better cattle distributin. Winter clsure f ORVs wuld have a psitive effect n big game as wuld prescribed burning and installatin f guzzlers. Bighrn sheep I'IUIi)ers may increase t 150 head. Range imprvement prjects wuld have little There wuld be n negative effects n livestck management frm management actins in this alternative. n the use f mtr vehicles. 212

130 Lcal Sclal ad Ic.lc Caid.ratin! Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsi deratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t t he lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f thib WSA. Su.aary f MSA-Specific Public ea..nta InY.ntnl During the inventry phase, 53 crrments were received n the Encampnent River Canyn WSA. Twenty-fur supprted inclusin f this unit as a wildernes! study area and 29 were ppsed t the unit's inclusin. Thse wh favred wilderness study believed that the unit had all the prerequisite wilderness characteristics fr a WSA. Thse ppsed cited reasns such as eliminatin f mtrized access, the small size f the area, a preference fr multiple-use rather than wilderness, and a lack f wilderness characteristics. Draft IISr During frmal public review f the draft EIS, a ttal f 131 written cmments were received. There were n ral r written cmments received at the wilderness public hearings held in Rawlins and Laramie, Wyming. In general, 125 clj'ltlenta favred wilderness designatin and ccrment favred n wilderness designatin. The COlTments in favr f wilderness designatin were primarily generic cmments which included tw ther WSA8. Pive cmment. addressed the relative merits f the BIS, but tk n frmal psitin n wilderness designatin r nndesignadn. Supprt fr wilderness designatin stemmed frm a desire t prtect sme f the public lands frm cmmercial explitatin. Oppsi tin t designatin was based n the.mall size f the area. Of all carnents received, 2 were frm federal agencies and 3 were frm state ag8nci.s. N crrrnent. were received frm lcal agencies. Of the federal agencies, the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency and the Bureau f Mines did nt state a frmal psitin. Of the state agencies, the Gelgical Survey f Wyming and the Wyming State Engineer ' s Office did nt state a frmal paitin. "'he Wyming Game and Fish Department prefers an ACEC designatin but, if that des nt ccur, they supprt a wilderness designatin. PROSPECT MOUNTAIN WILDERNBSS ST!1DY IU!BA (WSAI THE STUDY AREA -- 1«145 acr The Prspect Muntain WSA (WY J) includes 1,145 Acree f BLM lands with n inhldings r split estate lands (eee Table 1). The WSA is lcated in suthern Carbn Cunty apprximately 16 miles sutheast f Encampment, Wyming, and 8 miles nrth f the clrad-wyming brder, alng the suthwestern flank f the Snwy Range in the Medicine Bw Muntains. The WSA is bunded n the nrth by the Prspect Creek Rad and the Nrth Platte River, n the east by the U.S. Frest Service Platte River Wilderness, n the suth by a tw-track rad and fanceline, and n the west by a fenceline (see Map 1). The WSA cntains the western half f Prspect Muntain. Elevatins range frm 7,400 feet alng the Nrth Platte River t 8,430 feet n Prspect Munt~in. The WSA is 70 percent frested, with ldgeple pine and aspen as the majr species, and cntains riparian areas and beaver pnds. The WSA was studied under Sectin 202 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Final Great Divide Resurce Area Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in August, There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS including All Wilderness, which is the recmmendatin in this reprt, and N Wilderness. TABLE 1 - Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM aurface nly) I nhldings (State, Private) Ttal Land Status & Acreage Summary f the Study Area 1,145 1, Within the recmmended wilderness bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhlding9 (State, Private) within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal BLM Land Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhldings (state, Privat... ) 214 1,145 1,145

131 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE---l, 145 aer.. reed_ended fr wilderna acre. reed_ended fr nnwildarne.8 The recnunendatin fr this WSA is t designate the entire area as wilderness. This is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it will result in the least change in the natural envirnment ver the lng term. In recnunending this area fr wilderness, the utstanding quality f the area ' s wilderness values and its lcatin adjacent t the U.S. Frest Service Platte River Wilderness were key cnsideratins. The WSA lies directly adjacent t the Platte River Wilderness, sharing a cnvnn brder fr nearly tw miles. The WSA wuld make an excellent expansin f an existing area and wuld add the western half f Prspect Muntain t the wilderness system. The WSA, in cmbinatin with the existing wilderness area, cntains utstanding wilderness values. The WSA is in a natural state; except fr tw shrt tw-track trails that dead end, the WSA is free f human-related intrusins. The WSA has muntainus tpgraphy with dense frest cver, ffering a high degree f slitude. The WSA's cmbinatin f tpgraphic and vegetative screening create a variety f secluded places where visitrs wuld be able t escape the sights and sunds f thers. The area ffers utstanding pprtunities fr primitive recreatin. Mule deer and elk hunting, hiking, camping, and rck hunding are excellent in the area. The WSA is exceptinally scenic and has abundant wildlife. The Nrth Platte River, adjacent t the WSA, fferij exceptinal fishing ;lnd flatbating pprtunities. Cnflicts with ther resurces uses f this WSA are limited. DeSignatin f the area as wilderness wuld cnflict with frest management because timber harvest wuld be prhibited. Grazing f the area wuld be allwed t cntinue. There is lw ptential fr mineral resurces, n ptential fr energy resurces, and n identified mineral resurces in the WSA. Mining activity has nt ccurred thugh there are pst-flpma mining claims in the WSA. Develpment f these claims is unlikely. 3 CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THE WILDERNESS RECOIOIENDATIONS Wild.rn Cbaracteri.tic. NONE IIMMI Prspect Muntain Prpsal Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness ~~1a IIII*H~IIII EMJNE~ State MILES Split Estate Pr ivate ~ WY JUNE.1990 A. Hatura1n s The Prspect Muntain WSA has an essentially natural character. Man's i n f lue nce, fr the mst part, is unnticeable. Except fr tw shrt tw-track traila that dead end, the area is free f intrusins. These intrusins blend int the verall view and are nt nticeable frm a distance. They d nt impair the wilderness character f the WSA. The vegetatin and/r tpgraphy screen t he primitive trails, prviding a high degree f naturalness. 216 cjj5

132 B. slitud., Prspect Muntain and Prspect Creek., cupled with dense frest cver and riparian areas, prvide a high degree f slitude, while creating numerus secluded places fr recreatinal activities. With 10 percent f the area cvered by trees, visitrs are easily screened frm ne anther. The Platte River Wilderness, which frms the eastern bundary f the WSA and cntains 23,000 acres, enhances the pprtunity fr slitude in this WSA because f ita undevelped nature. c. 2[1_it.l and Uncnfin.d R.cr.atin t The Prspect Muntain area prvide. a variety f recreatinal activities, including fishing, hunting, sightseeing, hiking, camping, rck. hunding, a nd wildlife viewing. The area is used by lcal residents and nnresidents alike. The Nrth Platte River adjacent t the WSA ffers high quality fishing and flatbating, and is a well-k.nwn natinal attractin. ther majr recreatinal use is assciated with mule deer and elk hunting. This area prvides high-quality hunting and has reginal significance. pprtunities fr sightseeing within the WSA are numerus. The area is exceptinally scenic with nngame wildlife such as raptrs and small mamma l s abundant in the WSA. D. Special P ture. t The Prspect Muntain WSA is highly scenic. Clr and texture f the WSA cntrast sharply with the adjacent high desert.nvirnm.nt. Clrs are many shades f green and blue in the warmer mnths and chang. t green, gld and brwn in the fall Di.tr.ity i9 the Natinal Wildeme.s Pre rvati n Syat A. Expanding the div.r.ity f natural.yat and feature. a. r.pre.ent.d by.c.y.t and landf[8s ~ Wilderness designatin f the WSA wuld nt expand the diversity f ecsystem representatin in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. Th. ecsystem i s already represented in the wilderness system by 41 areas cvering 4,156,981 acres. Of this ttal, 12 wilderness area. are lcated i n Wyming and cver 1,633,603 acres. Natinwide there are 9 WSA. under.tudy with thi s ecsystem, tw f which are in Wyming. This infrmatin i. summarized in Table 2. Bail.y-JCuchler Cla.ailieatiD Dmain/Prvinc./PNV Dry Dmain! Rcky Huntain Pr t Prvince/ We.t.rn Spruce-fir Pc.at Table Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas areas NATION WIDE Other BLM Studies acres areas 41 4,756, ,171 acres B. A ing tb. pprtunities fr.litud. O[ pri.itiv. r.cr.atin within a day" driving ti (fiv. hura) f _air ppulation c.nter.t The WSA is within a five hur drive f six majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers Ppulatin Centers!!l!I!S a[eag Ot:hg[ gl.!! S tu~uii areas acres areas Casper, Wyming Cheyenne, Wyming Bulder, Clrad Denver, Clrad ,080,891 1, 950,377 2,719,962 2,719, ,514 90, , ,716 Ft. Cllins, Clrad 33 2,719, ,716 Greeley, Clrad 33 2,719, , 716 acres c. aalancing th. geg rapbic di.tributi n f wildem are, The Prspect Muntain WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. There are 4 wilderness areas in suthern Wyming in clse prximity t this WSA. Als, there are 8 areas i n nrthern Clrad within 200 miles r less f the WSA. Manageability (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character). The Prspect Muntai n WSA is manageable as wilderness. There are n il and gas leases r inhldings in the WSA and mineral resurce ptential i s lw. The nly cncern relates t the existence f pst-flpma mining claims within r partially within the WSA. These claims are lcated fr varius minerals, including cpper, uranium, and feldspar and have nt been develped. Upn wilderness designatin, validity examinatins wuld be cnducted n existing mining claims. Develpment f valid claims wuld be allwed with restrictins t prevent unnecessary r undue degradatin f the land. Mining activity wuld impair BLM's ability t manage the directly affected lands ae wi lderness but it is unlik.ely that develpment wuld ccur. Eaergy and Min'ral Re.urce Value' The U. S. Gelgical Survey and Bureau f Hines cnducted a mineral aas e ssment f the Prspect Muntain WSA in 1987 (U. S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin 1757-E, 1989). The reaults f that reprt prvide the basis fr the fllwing i nfrmatin. 12 1,633,603 5,

133 The results f the assessment shw that there are n identified resurces in the WSA. There is lw resurce ptential fr undiscvered metallic cmmdities and industrial minerals. The mineral assessment als ncluded that there is n resurce ptential fr il and gas, cal, gethermal resurces, r uranium. There is n present prductin f any mineral resurce in the WSA. Impacts n Other Resurces The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 219

134 TABLE 4 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS Prspect Muntain WSA Issue Tpics Wilderness OUtstanding Opprt"' ties fr Slitude ardir Unc:nf i ned Recreatin Special Features Recreatinal Opprt",ities Big Game Management Frest Management Prpsed Actin All Wilderness Prescribed burning n 120 acres wuld have a negative effect f r tw t five years. Prescribed burning wuld be nticeable fr abut ne year. Effect f burning n scenery wuld have a negative effect fr tw t five years n abut 250 acres. ORY users (abut 500 visits/year) wuld be negatively effected. There wuld be a minr, psitive effect frm ORY clsure. Prescribed burning n 120 acres wuld have a psitive ~ffect n crucial elk winter range. There wuld be a natural frest spec ies cnversin frm ldgeple pine t spruce fir. Fire hazard wuld inc:rease. Prductivity and health f the frest wuld be less than ptimal. Tw and ne half millin bard feet f lulber wuld nt be prduced. N Wi lderness ORY use wuld have a negative, thugh minr, effect. Prescribed burning wuld have a negative effect n 120 acres fr tw t five years. Frest management activities wuld impair naturalness. ORY use wuld have a negative, thugh minr, effect. Frest management activities wuld impair slitude during harvest and wuld have lng-term, negative effects n primitive, uncnfined recreatin. CRY use, prescribed burning, wuld have a negative effect n scenery n abut 500 acres fr tw t five years. Frest management practices wuld have a negative affect n scenery n abut 500 acres. Timber management practices wuld displace recreatinists fr tw mnths in the summer every 10 years. Prescribed burning wuld have a psitive effect n crucial elk winter range. There wuld be little species cnversin and less diversity in the frest. Fire hazard wuld be lessened. Tw and ne hal f millin bard feet f lulber wuld be harvested. 220

135 Lcal Scial and Ecn.i c Cnlideratinl Lcal sci a l cnsideratins were nt an i ssue in the EIS. There were n impacta t the lcal scial character identified during the study f thi s WSA. An e c nmi c cnsi deratin related t t i mber harvest was identifi ed. Wi lderness designati n wuld prhibit timber harvest which wuld resul t in a 10 f abut 10 wrk years f ptenti al emplyment and abut $737,000 i n ptenti al revenue generatin in the near future and wuld make a ptential wi nter lgging area unavailable. Su.aan f trsa-specific Public C_entl Inyentn, During the inventry phase, 27 cmments were received n t he Pr spect Muntai n WSA. Eighteen supprted i nclusin f this unit a s a wilderness study area a nd 7 were ppsed t the unit ' a inclusin. Tw crrrnents d i d nt i ndi cate a preference. Thse wh f avred wilderness study believed that t he unit had a l l the pre requi site wi lderness characteri s tics fr a WSA and was l cated next t a U.S. Frest Servi ce RARE II area. Thse ppsed cited r easns such as eliminati n f mtrized access, a pre ference fr multiple-use r a t her than wi lderness, and the exi stence f enugh wilderness acre age a lready i n t he sy.tem. Dra f t. lis; Dur ing frma l public revi ew f the draft EIS, a tt al f 131 written crrrnent. were r eceived. There wer.e n ral r written c rrments received at the wilderness public heari ngs held i n Rawl i ns and Laramie, Wyming. In gener al, 127 c mments favred wi lderness designatin and 1 crm'l8nt favred n wilderness designati n. The cnrnents in favr f wilderness designatin we r e pri marily gene r i c crrrnents which i ncl uded tw ther WSAs. Three cmment. addressed the relative meri ts f the EIS, but tk n frmal psitin n wilderness designat i n r nndesi gnatin. Supprt fr wilderness designatin stemmed frm a desi re t prtect sme f the public land. frm cnvnercial e xplitat i n. Oppsi tin t designat in was based n the small.ize f the area. BENIIE'rr MOUNTAINS "ILDEIUll!!SS StuDy AREA ("SAl TIlE STUDy AREA -- 6,993 acr The Bennett Muntains WSA (WY ) includes 6,003 acres f BLM lands with n inhldings r split estate lands (see Table 1). The WSA is lcated in nrth central Carbn Cunty east f Semine Dam and lies abut 3S mi les nrtheast f Rawlins, Wyming. The WSA is part f the Semine Muntain range, a small rugged range which rises abruptly frm the surrunding lwlands. The WSA is bunded n the nrth and east by private and state lands, n the suth by the Pwerline rad, and n the west by the Bennett Muntain rad (see Hap 1) The Bennett Muntains WSA cntain. three basic types f tpgraphy: the muntain plateau/ridges; the steep rck ledges; and the many tributary draws. Elevatins range frm 6,600 feet t 8,000 feet. The muntain, which is apprximately fur miles lng within the WSA, has distinct rcky ledges and walle alng the entire suthern expeure, and the nrthern prti n i s traversed with numerus tree-filled drainagee. In many places, the r cky walls are vertical utcrps that create a frtress type appearance. In m s t cases, all prtins f the WSA are i nterspersed with grasses, sagebrush and ther shrubs, and pckets f pine, aspen and willws. The higher elevatins have cnsiderably less vegetatin and mre rugged rcky features. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 t the Federal Land Pli cy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Final Great Di vide Resurce Area Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in August, There were tw alt ernatives analyzed in the EIS i ncluding N Wilderness, wh i ch is the recrrmendati n in this reprt, and All Wilderness. Of all cnwnent. received, 2 were frm federal a gencie s and 1 was frm a state ag.ncy. N cmments were received frm lcal a g8 ncies. Of the f ederal ag.nci, the Invirnmental Prtectin Agency a nd t he Bureau f Mi nes did nt stat. a frmal plitin. The Wyming Game a nd Fish Department, a s tate agency, supprted the Prpsed Actin (All Wilderne Al ter native )

136 TABLE 1 - Land Status, Acreage Summary f the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate ( BLM surface nly) Inhldings (State, Private) Ttal Within the recmmended wilderness bu:1dary BLM (within WSA) 8LM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhldinga (state, Private) Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal BLM Land Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 6,003 6,003 6,003 6, RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE - - 6,003 acr rec_ended fr nnwildernes.:; acr rec_ended fr wilderne The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t release 6,003 acres fr uses ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness alternative is the env irnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result i n the least change t the natural envirnment ver the 10n9 term. Hwever, the nnwilderness recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. R85W Bennett Muntains Prpsal Recmmended fr Wilderness RKOmmended fr Nnwilderness I II II fffl:~ IIII ~OONE~ WlFml MILES Split Estate State Private, WY June,1990 In recnvnendlnq this WSA fr US8S ther than wilderness, the relative quality f the area's wilderness values was a key cnsideratin. Althugh the wilderness inventry ntes that utstanding pprtunities fr slitude and primitive recreatin exist in the WSA, these values are nt fund thrughut the study area. Opprtunities fr slitude d exist in the canyns f the WSA, but these are relatively small areas in relatin t the WSA as a whle. Visitr verlap wuld ccur as peple travel between canyns r seek t traverse the entire WSA. The WSA lacks a fcal pint fr primitive recreatin pprtunities and the area des nt cntain unique r distinctive recreatin pprtunities. 224 a't?j ---_ ~

137 There are n significant special features in this WSA which wuld be enhanced r prtected under a wilderness designatin. In additin, there are n resurce cnflicts in this WSA which a wilderness designatin wuld help t reslve. There i s lw ptential fr mineral resurces and there is n COCTln8rcial frest land within the WSA. The lw level f activity that i s presently ccurring in the WSA is expected t cntinue fr the freseeable future, with n appreciable change t the area's natural envirnment. The ecsyst em invlved is already represented in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin system, s adding this WSA wuld nt cntribute t the ecsystem diversity f the wilderness system. The Clud Peak Wilderness (67,026 acres) in nrthern Wyming cntaina the Dry Dmain/Wyming Basin Prvince/Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem that typifies this WSA. The additin f this WSA wuld nt expand pprtunities fr slitude and primitive recreatin within a day's driving time f majr ppulatin centers. There are 27 wilderness areas ttalling nearly 4.2 millin acres within 5 hur. f Casper, Wyming; similarly, there are 27 wilderness areas ttalling almst tw millin acres within 5 hurs f Cheyenne, Wyming. 3. CJtITlRIA CONSIDERID 1M DEVELOPING DI "ILDERNESS RECOMMENDATIONS,,11d_m.aa Charact.riatic. A..aturaln : The Bennett Muntaina WSA is predminantly natural, with few human imprints. The muntain, which is apprximately fur miles lng, has distinct rcky ledges and walls alng the entire suthern expsure, and the nrthern prtin i8 traversed with numerus traa-f iliad drainages. In many place., the rcky walls are vertical utcrp. that create a frtress type appearance. In mat cases, all prtin. f the WSA are interspersed with gra,.agebrush and ther shrub., and pck.ts f pine, aspen and willws. Th. higher elevatins have cnsiderably 1 vegetatin and mre rugged rcky f.atures. The elevatin ranges frm apprximately 6,600 t 8,000 feet. The nly man-made intrusins in the WSA are apprximately 4 miles f discntinuus tw-track trails. Th are nt nticeable frm a distance and have a minimal impact n the ttal area. 8. Blitu4., The high plateau, cupled with numerus draws and rcky utcrps, prvide. a high degree f.litude. The muntain ffers numerus.ecluded place. fr recreatinal activitie.. Hwever, the areae are small and vi.itr v.rlap i. lik.ly a. n. travel. between canyns. The.pectacular view f Seraine R ervir t the suthw t prvid a feeling f spaciusness but ale illustrate. the effect. at man'. nearby develpment. C. 'ryitiy pd YDcgfip.4 Rlcr.atig, The Sennatt Muntains WSA prvides pprtunities fr primitivi recr.atinal activities that pri marily include hunting, hiking, trapping, camping, wildlife viewing, and eightseeing. The ru99ed and diver.e terrain prvide. high quality pprtunities fr a primitive and uncnfintd type f r.creatin. There are n unique r exceptinal recreatin pprtunities within this WSA. D. Special Peatur, There are n significant special features within this WSA. Diver.ity in th. Natinal Wildern Pres.rvatin Sy.t A. A ing the div.r.ity f natural.y.te and f.at.ur a. r.pre.ented by ac.yat and landfr..: Wilderness designatin f the WSA wuld nt expand the diversity f ecsystem representatin in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. The ecsystem is presently represented in the wilderness system by ne area (Clud Peak) in nrthern Wyming. Als, there are 16 ther BLM areas in the state under study with this ecsystem. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Table 2 Ecsystem Representati n Bailey-Kuchler NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies Classif i~a~j.qn areas acres areas acres Dmain/Prvince/PNV NATION WIDE Dry Dmain/ 67, ,031 Wyming Basin Prvince/Sagebrush Steppe WYOMING 67, , ':'tpanding t.he pprtupiti fr.lit.ude r pri.it.i.e r ecr.atin wit.hin a day'. driving ti (fiv. bur.) f.air ppulatin c'pt.r., The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Ppulatin Centerl Ca.per, Wyming Cheyenne, Wyming TABLE 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers!!!!f Areas Q~b!u;: Areas Aeres Areal 27 4,080, ,950, IILH :it!.uu,gl Acres 459,656 85,

138 3. Balancing the gegrapbic diatributin f wilderaeaa area.: The Bennett Huntaina WSA wuld cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. Althugh Wyming and neighbring states cntain a great deal f designated wilderness, n units f the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System are lcated in central Wyming. The Bennett Muntains WSA wuld help fill this gap. Manag.ability (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve ita wilderness character). I8sue Tpics TABLE 4 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS Bennett Muntains WSA Prpsed Actin (N Wilderness) All Wilderness The Bennett Muntaina WSA is manageable as wilderness. There are n resurce cnfli( ts which wuld present prblems fr management. There are n il and gas leasea in the WSA and mineral resurce ptential is lw. There are n mining claims in the WSA nr any inhldings. Energy and Mineral Re.urce Valu The U.S. Gelgical Survey cnducted an assessment f the gelgy and mineral resurce ptential f the Bennett Muntains WSA in The results f thgt assessment shw that there ia lw ptential fr mineral resurces. There is lw ptential fr metallic resurces, shales, clays, gypsum, il and natural gas, and cal r peat. Signif icant resurces f atne and aggregate exist within the WSA but transprtatin cata render the depsits nnecnmic and therefre f lw ptential. There is n present prductin f any mineral resurce in the WSA. The fllwing cmparative lmpact table (Table 4) 8ummari 2~ s the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. Naturalness Opprtunities fr Slitude and/r Primitive, Uncnfined Recreatin Recreatinal Opprtunities ORV use is lw and wuld have little effect. ORV use is lw and wuld have little effect. Use and values wuld change very little. Lcal Scial and I!:cnaic cnaideratin. N ORV use wuld have a minr, psitlve effect. N ORV use wuld have a minr, psitive effect. Tw hundred and fifty (250) visits/year by ORV users wuld be eliminated, but culd be accmmdated in nearby areas. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. SUllUlary f HSl-Specific Public C_ent. Inventry I Duri ng the inventry phase, 21 cmments were received n the Bennett Muntains WSA. Sixteen supprted inclusin f this unit as a wilderness study area and 5 were ppsed t the unit's inclusin. Thse wh favred wilderness study believed t. ~ t the unit had all the prerequisite wilderness characteristics fr a WSA. Thse ppsed cited reasns such as a lack: f wilderness values and eliminatin f mtriz.ed access. Draft BI51 During frmal public review f the draft EIS, a ttal f 131 written cmments were received. There were n ral r written cmments received at the wilderness public hearings held in Rawlins and Laramie, Wyming. In general, 124 cmments favred wilderness designatin and 2 cmments favred n wilderness designatin. The cmments in favr f wilderness designatin were generic cmment. which included tw ther MSA. Five cmments addressed the relative merits f the EIS, but tk: n frmal psitin n wilder ness designatin r nnde.ignatin B

139 Supprt fr wilderness designatin stemmed frm a desire t prtect sme f the public lands frm cmmercial explitatin. Oppsitin t designatin was b ed n the desire t prvide access and dispersed recreatin pprtunities in the area. Of all crrrnents received, 3 were frm federal agencies and 2 were frm state agencie.. N cmments were received frm lcal agencies. Of the federal agencie., the Natinal Park Service supprted the All Wilderness Alternative. The Envirnmental Prtectin Agency and Bureau f Mines did nt state a frmal p.itin. Of the state agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department.upprted the Prpsed Actin (N Wilderness Alternative) and the Gelgical Survey f Wyming did nt state a frmal psitin. SUMMARY ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC WSA RECOMMENDATIONS ROCK SPRINGS DISTRICT

140 LAJtE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (W8A) 1. THE STUDY AREA Acre. The Lake Muntain WSA (WY ) is lcated in the Wyming Range Muntains in Western Wyming abut 12 miles west-nrthwest f LaBarge in Sublette Cunty. The WSA cnsists f 13,865 acrea f BLM-adminiatered public land with a 40-acre private inhlding which is a ccessed by a. tw-mile lng " c nerrvstemmed" rad (aee Table 1). The WSA is bunded n the nrth by the Bridger-Tetn Natinal Frest, n the west by the Deadline Ridge rad, n the east by the Sheep Ridge rad and n the suth by the LaBarge Creek rad (see map 1). The WSA 1iea within the Wyming Range in western Wyming. It cntains an irregular series f steep-sided ridges ranging in elevatin frm 7,400 feet t ver 9,600 feet. Fur main drainages are fund within the WSA. Rck Creek, in the central part f the WSA, cntains a ppulatin f Clrad Cutthrat Trut, which is a candidate threatened and endangered species. Frest cver is fund thrughut mst f the area, ccasinally interrupted by areas f sagebrush and pen talus slpes. BLANK PAGE The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Rck springs District Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in Octber There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS: an all wilderness alternative and a n \Iilderness alternative, which is the recnvnendatin in this reprt. 2. RECOJOmNDATION AND RATIONALE -- 0 Acre. Rec_ended fr Wilderne 13,865 Acre. Rec_ended fr Nnwilderne The recmmendatin f this reprt is t releaa. the entire Lake Muntain WSA fr uses ther than wilderness (see Map 1). The all wilderness alternative is the envirnmentally preferable recnvnendatin as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment ver the lng term. Hwever, the recmmendatin wuld be imple ll'l~mted in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. In arriving at a nnwilderness recnvnendatin, the WSA' a ptential fr natural gas was a primary cnsideratin. It is estimated that reaerve. underlying the WSA range between 5 and 6 trillin cubic feet (TeF). In additin, the WSI\ cntains 600 acres f pre-flpma leaaes which are being held by prductin. The pre-flpma leases als present manageability prblema, in that it wuld be extremely difficult t prtect wilderness values in and arund the l eased area if develpment were t ccur. Develpment ie cnsidered likely, given that the active Riley Ridge natural gas develpment area liea adjacent t the WSI\. The etudy area pssesses high wilderneas values, hwever, due t the presence l t he adjacent Riley Ridge f i eld and the eatimated reserve., the nnwildernea8 recmmendatin was chben. 232 d!3! BeST COPY AVAILABLE

141 Th. rthtd fr management f the Rck Creek.ACEC al. played a part in arriving at & nn"ilderne recrrmendatin fr thi. WSA. The Rck Creek ACEC was e.tabli.hed t prtect and manage the COlrad CUtthrat Trut, a candidate.p.cie. fr li.ting a. a federally prtected threatened r endangered species. W.lderne d ignatin wuld r.etrict management ptin. which are designed t rctect thi eneitive.peei.e. Althugh certain management actins culd ',ccur, wilderne de.ignatin wuld incr.a the difficulty and expense f the lctin.. N actine which required the UI. f mtrized and heavy equipment cul d be dne. 233 Lake Muntain Prpsal Recmmended fr Wilderness R ecmmend~ fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA R ecm mend~ fr Wilderness II I ~ I Split Estate State Private WY June. 1990

142 Diver.ity in the Natin.l Wilderne Pre rvatin Sy.te. TABLIl 1 LAND STATUS AND ACRBAOB StnDlARY r TIl!: STUDY luiba Within Wild,rn... Study Ar BLM (aurface and Bubsurface) Split Estate (BLM Burface nly) Inhld i ng_ (State, private) TOTAL. Within the R,ca...nde4 Wild. rae Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (uts i de WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Eetate (utside WSA) TOTAL BLM Land Recrrrnended fr Wilderness : Withip the Arl. Mt R.ca..eDde4 fr Wild.rp BLM Split Eatate TOTAL BLM land nt recnnended fr Wildern 'rotal Inhlding_ (State, Privat.) 13, , , , CBITBJtIA CONSIDZ!!E!! IN DI!VBLOPINO ru WILDPJ!ISS RBCO!O!p!DATION "lldtm... Ch.ract,ri,tic. A. Jfat.uralp t The Lake Huntain WSA ia in an e.sentially natural atate. Th.r. are aeveral man-made i ntrusi n., but theae are cnaidered insignificant and d nt take away frm the natural character f the WSA. The i slated 40- fcr. parc.l and "cherry aterrtned" acceas rad lie in the nrth central part f the WSA. The develpnenta n the 40-acre private parcel detract frm the natural.tate f the WSA. B. Slitud., There are numerus.ecluded place. t hrughut the WSA where a persn culd,xperience utstanding slitude. The muntainus terrain, with mderate t denae fre.t cver, prvide. many pprtunities t avid the.ight. and Bund. f ther u.era. c. Priaitl... 'Ad VAcAfi;" Recr.atigf The main type f primitive r.cr.atin in the area i. hunting by ft r n hrseback. Elk, dee t', mse and bear hunting take place mainly alng LaBarg. Creek, Lng Hllw and D.adlin, Ridg.. In cnjunctin with the hunt.r u, i. a.ubetantial amunt f hr be.c)c. and ORV u.e. D. 'ptgi.l re.tu,e., Rck Creek cntain. a pure atrain f Clrad River cutthrat trut and part f the WSA ha. been d ignated an Area f Critical Envirnmental Cncern (ACEC) t prtect trut habitat. The Clrad River cutthrat trut ha. be.n identified a. a candidate epecie. fr p.aible status a. a threatened r endang.red.peciea. A. Expanding the div.raity f p.tur.l.y.t nd feature repre.ented by ec.y.t and Iapdfna, WildernesB designatin f this W5A wuld nt add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). The Rcky Muntain Frest Prvine. is well represented in the NWPS thrughut the regin. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvlnce/PNW Dry Dmain/Rcky Muntain Frest Prvi nce/duglas-f ir Frest TABLE 2 ECOSYSTEM REPRESENTATION NWPS Areas Areae l! D!.!! NATION WIDE 18 1,349,971 WYOMING 851,433 Other BLM Studies ~ Acree ,380 72,146 B. A ing the pprtu.,iti fr.litude r priaitiv. r.creatin within a day'. driyipg tia. (five bur,) f.. 1 r ppula1;in c.nt.r.1 The Lake Muntain WSA i. within five hure driving time f tw majr ppulatin centers (standard Metrplitan Statistical Areas f 100,000 r mre)--sa1t Lake City Ogden and Prv-Orem. Thera are currently 15 wilderness areas and three primitive areas within a day's driving time f thelle ppulatin centers a nd numerus ther areas prviding wilderne.,s pprtuni ties administered fr wilderness use. Ppulatin Centers Salt Lake City - Ogden Prv - Orem WILDERNESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS NWPS Areas M:u.!! ~ ,925,081 2,255,116 Other BLM Studies M:u.!! bllu ,705,086 5,451,742 C. Balapcing 1;he g.graphic di.tributin f wild,rpe are... The Lake Muntain WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. The ecsystem f this WSA is already represented widely thrughut the wilderness use regi n. MaDag.ability, (The arsa must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve ita wilderness character.)

143 The Lake Muntain WSA is manageable a r wilderness. The islated 40-acre parcel f private land near the center f the WSA and its "cherry stemmed" access rad greatly cmplicate the manageability f the area. The private parcel has been subdivided int fur ten-acre parcels and there are several landwners which cmplicate any pssible exchange and make management mre difficult. One summer hme has been cnstructed and thers are anticipated. The access rad t the private lands als prvides access t numerus jeep rads which are used by recreatinists and livestck users. The WSA is brdered n the east by the Riley Ridge Overthrust Belt natural gas develpment prject area which is a highly develped gas field. This natural gas field cntains high cncentratins f hydrgen sulfide gas (H2S); a spill r leak adjacent t the WSA culd pse a serius threat t recreatin users f the area. The sights and sunds frm drilling and develpment activity are expected t cntinue r increase and wuld necessarily threaten wilderness values ver the lng-term and wuld make wilderness management difficult. Bnergy and Mineral Resurce Values The u.s. Gelgical Survey and Bureau f Mines prepared a mineral assessment fr the Lake Muntain WSA. These dcuments and the Bureau f Land Management Resurce Management Plan are the primary surce fr the fllwing discussi n. There are apprximately 600 acres f Pre-FLPMA leases within the WSA and an additinal 950 acres f Pst-FLPMA leases which are unitized and held by prducti n. Many f the existing leases will expire by There is currently a prducing gas well 65 feet inside the nrtheastern bundary f the WSA, a secnd prducing gas well is 1/2 mile frm the east bundary and a prducing gas well 2/3 f a mile frm the nrth bundary. Additinal wells are prpsed alng bth the nrth and east bundaries. The BLM is initiating a study t determine a leasing plicy fr the WSA and adjining area which will prtect the Rck Creek ACEC and the Lake Muntain Graphite Hllw elk winter range. There is currently n prductin f leasable minerals in the WSA. There are a few expired phsphate claims and the ptential fr develpment is lw and unecnmical. The suthern and western prtin f the WSA have znes f building stne which have lcal cmmercial value. These areas have been clsed since the establishment f the WSA. I.pact n 9tb,r Resurce. The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pe rtinent resurces fr the alternative cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 237

144 IEstdtE AFFEtlEb Wi lderness Values Recreatin Opprtl.rlities and Use TABlE 4 ~rative ~ry f l!lplcts by Alternative PIttJIUStD AtIlCM (MJ UllDEkIIESS) Mderately adverse impacts wuld ccur t wilderness values. NOndesignat in wuld preserve sme f the wilderness character f the lisa because within the ACEC. essentially all the wilderness characteristics wuld rema in intact. The 8,706 acres uts ide f the ACEC wuld lse mst f their wilderness character, due t the adverse i~ct n the natural character f the area resulting fr~ anticipated il and gas activities. Minr beneficial i~ts wuld ccur t recreatin QPPOrtl.rlities. Hunting pprtl.rlities wuld increase. The eliminatin f ff-rad vehicle use within the ACEC wuld prvide escape areas fr wildli fee Mtr vehicle use utside the ACEC wuld be limited t existing rads and trails. A seasnal clsure wuld als be enfrced t prtect wintering wildlife. Bth f these actins wuld have an adverse effect n ff-rad vehicle enthusiasts. ALL UILDERIESS ALIERlAIlVE Minr adverse impacts wuld ccur t wilderness values, due t anticipated il and gas activities in the area utside f the ACEC. Wi lderness designatin f the lisa wuld prvide mre c~lete prtectin f the Rck Creek drainage and the lands surrunding It. It wuld add a unl~ and sensitive species t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin Systel. Mtrized recreatin use wuld be prhibited and there wuld be a lss f visitr days within the lisa. This l11iiy be smewhat ffset by an increase in hunter access and quality f experience. Wildlife Ppulatins Mineral Explratin and Prduct in Beneficial impacts wuld ccur t wildlife. Habitat fr elk, deer, MOOSe, bear. raptrs and SII1IIll gmle wulct be prtectect within the ACt:C. The ff-rad vehicle restrictin decisins wuld greatly' reduce impacts t wildlife n the remainder f the area. The establishment f the winter clsure area fr the elk winter range wuld have a lng ten. beneficial impact n the elk herd in that area. The pprtl.rlity t include ne f the best existing drainages cntaining the sensitive ClradO River cutthrat trut within the Natinal Wi lderness Preservatin Syat_ wuld be lst. There wuld be n illlp8ct n the li1ining f decrative building stne in the established Ca.IOn Use Area fr.ass rck building stne. There wuld be a beneficial impact t il and gas peratrs in that additinal linda wuld be available t explratin and develpnent. Beneficial impacts wuld ccur t wildlife In that the entire lisa wuld receive additinal prtectin frol11 disturbance. There wuld be SOllIe lss f wildlife MInIgement capability In that.anave-ent actins In the Rck Creek ACEC wuld be restricted. Prjects such as prtecting springs by fencing wuld be restricted. Wilderness designatin wuld elll1lnate use f a prtin f an established C~ Use Area fr.ass rck bui lding stne. There wuld be a negative l..,act n il and gas peratrs since explratry drilling wuld be 1l.lted. 238 BEST COpy AVAIlABLE

145 Lcil Icill lad ICODO.ic Cn.ideritiOD. Lcal.cial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impact. t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the atudy f thia WSA.,_" f "la-specific Public e.aen\. IaYept", Durine; the inventry phaae, thirty-seven cmments were received n the Lake Muntain WSA. Twenty-seven supprted inclusin f the unit as a wilderne tudy area, while ten ppsed the unit ' s inclusin. Thse wh favred wildernea. believed that the WSA had all the prerequisite wilderness characteristic. necebaary t qualify fr wilderness study. Thse ppsed cited a de.ire t see the area managed fr uses ther than wilderness the are.'. high ptential fr natural gas, and retentin f mtrized acc~ss. IIrly pr,ft 11'1 During the public review f the Draft EIS, 565 cmments were received. There wae cncern that livestck grazing and il and gas activities wuld be excluded frm designated wilderness areas. Wi ldlife values and ff-rad vehicle (ORV) use were ther cncern a raised during this time. Wyming Recreatin Carmi'ain ppsed wilderness anywhere there were histr' trail. r area. adjacent t Natinal Freat System RARE II lands. The Gvernr'. ffice expres.ed cncern abut State inhlding shuld any f the.re be de.ignated. All cnrnenta were cnaidered and a Revised Draft EIS was rel ed in Nvember 1988.,eyi." praft. 11'1 Crrrnent. were received frm 455 agencies (federal, state and lcal), rganizatin., businesses and.individuals. Many f the letters received frm individual. were in respnse t envirnmental grups' -Wildern Alert- encuraging BLM t recnrnend all acreage under study t be de.ignated. Of all the crrrnents received, 74, supprted wilderness de.ignatin fr all 13 WSAa and 23\ ppaed any additinal wilderness areas in Wyming. Few cnwnents were received addresaing site-specific areas. Cenerally, industry ppsed designatin while envirnmental and wildlife 9'rupa aupprted designatin f areas as wilderness. RAYMOND MOUNTAIN WILDERJII'lSS STUDY l\j!zj\ /WSAI 1. THE STUDy AREA -- 32«936 Icra. The Raymnd Muntain WSA (WY l) includes 32,936 acres f BLM-aciministered public land, 1,320 acres f state land, and 200 acres f private land (s ee Table 1). The WSA ia lcated in the sublette Huntain Range in suthwestern Wyming, apprximately 60 miles suth f Grand Tetn Natinal Park. The WSA ia bunded n the nrth by State Highway 89 and n the east by the 100 Speedway, an access rad t private lands. The west and suth bundaries abut private lands (Bee Map 1). The WSA is apprximately 19 miles lng and 4 miles wide at the widest pint. The WSA has diverse vegetatin and steep tpgraphy. It is frested ver majr prtins f the WSA, interspersed with pen parks. The suthern end f the WSA gives way t big sagebrush stands and rck utcrps. Several creeks are lcated in the canyns f the WSA. Huff and Raymnd creeks cntain a pure atrain f Bnneville r Bear River cutthrat trut. The area is imprtant mse, deer, and elk habitat. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Rck Springs District Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement, filed in Octber There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS, including All Wilderness, which is the recmmendatin f this reprt, and N Wilderness. 2. RBCOMMINJ)ATIOH AMI) RATIONALS 32,936 acre. rec_added fr wildarde a acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderne The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t designate 32,936 acres a8 wilderness. The recmmendatin f all wilderness is the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. This recmmendatin fr wilderness will further apply t any additinal inhlding acreage acquired thrugh purchase r exchange with willi ng wners. Appendix 1 lists all inhldings and split estate tracts and prvides additinal infrmatin n acquisitin f inhldings and split estate minerals. The key cnsideratins fr recrrrnending this WSA fr... ilderness designatin were the exemplary quality f the area's wilderness values. Althugh the area cntains a cherry-stemmed rad and aeveral minr intrusins, the tpgraphy and aize f the WSA limit the impacts t the naturalness f the area. The intrusins, when viewed in the cntext f the entire WSA, are substantially unnticeable. Because f the steepness f the terrain and the frested nature f the WSA, an utstanding pprtunity fr slitude exists almst thrughut the entire WSA. There are a multitude f secluded spts in which a persn culd escape the sights and sunds f thers. The WSA is well suited fr a wide variety f recreatin pursuitb, including h i king, backpacking, f ishing, hunting, hrseback riding, muntain climbing, crss-cunty skiing, snwsheing, phtgraphy, and sightseeing. Opprtuniti es fr these activities is cnsidered utstanding

146 Within Wilderness Study Area TABLE 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split-estate (BLM surface nly) Inhlding (State, private) Ttal Within the ReCmmended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (ut.ide WSA) Split-e.tate (within WSA) Split-estate (utside WSA) Inhlding (State, Private) Ttal Recmmended fr Wilderness Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Split Rtate Ttal BLM Nt Recnvnended fr Wilderness Inhlding (State, privata) 32,936 J...gQ 34,456 32, , , Crit.ria Cn,id,r,d i9 Dev.lping tb. Wild,m." R.c.andatinl Mild'm'" Cbaract,ri.tic. A. NaturaIn s The Raymnd Muntain WSA is predminantly natural, with few human imprints. The area is extremely rugged and ranges frm an elevatin f 6,250 feet in the drainage bttms t 9,313 feet. The WSA cntains numerus peaks, ridges, canyns, creeks and wildlife. The WSA cntains 1, 500 acres f Duglas-f ir, 1,200 acres f subalpine fir, and 1,700 acres f aspen. The WSA cntaina aeveral minr imprints f man i ncluding a cmmunicatin sita with acc s radj.everal small phsphate explratin sites; tw abandned well siteaj a rad which penetrates the WSA alng Huff Creek t!lme private landj aeveral tw-track trails; and evi dence f livestck trailing. These intrusins, when viewed in the cntext f the entire WSA, are essentially unnticeable. 8. Slitud'l Outstanding pprtunities fr slitude abund thrughut the Raymnd Muntain WSA. The steepness f the terrain and the accmpanying vegetatin cntribute t prviding secluded spts which wuld permit pprtunities fr slitude. Recmmended fr Wtldern'n Recmmended fr Nnwllderness 1111 N#~ IIII SOn, Est.,. I I Sta te The Sublette Muntai n Range frms t he entire WSA creating an almst impenetrable barrier that prmtes utstanding pprtunities fr slitude thrughut the WSA. One culd easily escape the rest f the wrld in this.tudy ar.a. Land uulde WSA.~. Recmmended 'r _ _ Wildernen ~p rivate Raymnd Muntain Prpsal I MILES WY June

147 c. 'r!ait.iy. aad Upcpfin.d R.cr.atinl The Raymnd Huntain W5A, in cmbinatin with ite relatively large aizl!, diveraity and ruggedness f terrain, cntaine utatanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnf i ned recreatin. The primary recreatin activity in the area is hunting mse, elk, deer and gruee. Primitive camping ccurs alng Raymnd Creek, Huff Creek a nd in Whit. Canyn. Hiking and backpacking ccur in the area as well aa nature study and sighte.eing. Other recreatinal activities include fiehi ng, trapping ilnd snwmbiling. D. Sptci,l r.at.\lr.e. Wildlife ia an i l1\prtant apecial feature in the area. Th. Thmae rrk wat.rshed, which l.ncludes Huff and Raymnd Creeks, has been d.eignated,e,n Area f Critical Envirnmental Cncern. Thia area supprts the Bear Riv.r Cutthrat trut and prvidee cru~lal winter habitat fr mse, elk, mule deer, and numeru. ther wildlif. species. The acenic quality is utetanding due in part t the interactin f the muntainus landfrms, gelgic utcrpe, diverae vegetatin, pen parks and waterways. Di... r.it.' in t.h,t.in,l Wild.m Pr rvatin Sy.t. A. l!aadapg the di... r.ity f Datural.y.t and f.,tur aa r.pr ented by.c.yeta. add LaPdfR" W ldernes_ designatin f this WSA wuld nt add a ne w.ceyetam OC landfrm t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). Thie WSA cntaina the Rcky Muntain Freat Prvince/Duglas-fir Pr t.ceyetam. Thie eceyatem i. already repreaented in the NWPS by 18 d i gnat.d wild.rnesa areaa. This infrmatin ia summarized in Table 2. Bail'y-Kuchl.r Cl,.ai f i catin Dmain/Prvince/PNW Dry Dmain/Rcky Muntain Pr.at Prv inc./dugla.-f ir Pr t TABLE 2 BCOSYSTEK REPRESENTATION NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies 6..a..U Acre. Aan A..rH 18 NATIONWIDE 1,349,971!!lQlill!li 851, ,380 72,146 B. A ipg the pprt.uniti fr alitud. r ri.iti r.cr tip within a day" drivipg ti (fiv. bur.> f 1r ppulatip clpt.r., The WSA is with a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin center.. Table 3 sulmlarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areaa within a day's drive f the ppulatin center. Ppulati.n Centera Salt Lake City - Ogden TABLE WILDERNESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF KAJOR POPUL. -ION CENTERS NWPS Areas a..&:.u..i. ~ 18 1,925,081 Other BLM Studies ~ ~ 151 5,705, 0&6 Prv - Orem 21 2,225, ,451,742 3.,.lacing th, g.graphic di.tributip f wild.g ar".1 The Raymnd Muntain WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f are as within the NWPS. There are currently in excess f 4 millin acres f des ignated wilderness in the vicinity f theee ppulatin centers. Examples f reginally designated wilderness include: Jedediah Smith (116,535 acres), Bridger Wllderness (428,087 acres), Fitzpatrick Wilderness (198,525 acres), High Uintahs Wilderness (160,615 acre.), Nami Wilderness (14,715 acres), Mt. Olympus (8,599 acres), Mt. Timpangs Wildern.s. (4,942 acre.), and the Twin Peake Wilderness (6,178 acrea). Map'g.abilit.y (The area muat be capable f being effectively managed t pre.erve its wilderness character) The WSA is manilgeable as wilderness. There are tw secti ns and ne small parcel f State land (1,320 acres) and tw parcels f privately \>JDed land (200 acres with ne wner) inside the bundary. All pa... cel. are used slely fr grazlng, and based n the analysis f mineral ccurrence ptential and steep terrain, develpment is unlikely t ccur. It is a.sumed that after de'ignatin, the BU! and the State will cnduct a mutually beneficial exchange f land with the BLM acquiring the State inhlding and the State acquiring lands utside the WSA. The sarne ia true f the private lands. Rad access t the privata inhlding is nt anticipated if an exchange f these can nt be made. Tha single use f these landa (grazing) and the.teap terrain i _ suc h that access t them is cnsidered unlikelyi ne amall phsphate lease (109 acraa) n the weat bundary in the' WSA ie nt expected t be devalped because f the stee p terrain and the abundance f phaphat. mines in the area. Als, phsphate prices are lw and there is very little infrmatin n the cntinuity and quality f this frmatin. Thus, the likelihd f develpment ia 10"'

148 Energy and _ineral resurces values Recverable r eserves were estimated frm the "Update n the Wyming-Idah-Utah Over Thrust Belt ; Jint Meeting f the Wyming Gelgical Assciatin, Wyming Gelgical Survey and the Department f Gelgy at the University f Wyming." The ptential fr accumulatins f natural gas in the Raymnd Muntain WSA is rated high. Hwever, tw gas wells were drilled in the WSA (1978 ~nd 1982) and tested nncmmercial quantities f gas. They were hencefrth plugged and abandned. Presently there are n pre r pst FLPMA il and gas leases in the WSA. The WSA is rated l w as a ptential prducer f cal althugh it prbably exists in fur sectins. A phsphrus frmat i n exists inside as well as utside the WSA and sme mining has ccurred utside. N phsphate mining has ccurred inside the WSA. The phsphate lease is due fr readjustment in There is n evidence f cmmercial quantities f sdium r ptassium in the WSA, hwever a lease fr salt exists just nrth f the WSA. Abut 4 t 5 tns f salt were remved frm the lease site and sld lcally. N cmmercial quantities f bentnite r cpper are knwn t exist, hwever, these lcatables d exist in insignificant quantities in the WSA. Althugh gravel is lcated in accumulatin in the WSA, restricting access and use f this resurce wuld nt cause a shrtage r hardship since it exists in sufficient quantity utside the WSA. I_pacts n Other Resurces The fllwing cmparative impact summary (Table 4) summariz ~ 1 the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternat ives cns idered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. 245

149 Wi lderness VaLues Recreatin Livestck CrUl ng Tilliber Prductin Tabl. 4 Caparati... e Su.aary f I.pact. by Alternative All Wi lderne Naturalness r etained in the entire WSA. Sl Hude r etained i n t he ent ire area. CIpP.rttll i t ies fr pri_hive.net liic:nfi ned recreatin retained in the enti re WSA. f:c ~::'i ~:; t~~~ lh! nc Lud- 80rnevi 1 Le cutthrat t rut wid the ACEC, retained in the enti re lisa. An esti.ted 39 BCF f natural ps vuld be fregne. Habitat prtect in i!"t the ACEC vuld benefit big gmlle htllt I rig and fi sh i ~ Current use ~~h~!f~~r-~ys-=r ty fr fishing.. i ntalned. N change in pprttllities fr pri_hive recreat in. Otcasinel incnvenience t I lvestck peratr cije t restrictins n IIIIOtrhed nhicle use. ~it~t~l i n i:r~~ i ~1ve.,tr vehicles vuld.tib i 1 he stre...tlenks. Water c,j8l hy in the AtEC wuld t)e i ~rved. and help INIlntain wate r c,j8llty. Frest resurces wul d be prtected and wuld nt be Nnaged as an ecnmic resurce. N Wi lderne tn Actin) Naturalness lst n 345 ac res. Slitude lst n 345 acres. ~rt... Hies fr primitive ai"ld li'icnfined recreat i n retained i n the ACEC but lst in the rest f the WSA. ~=~~:~ ;~:t~~:s,~~rti~ cutthrat t rut and the ACEC, retained in the entire lisa. An estimated 39 BC F f natural gas I«:IUld be recvered. H... ter use in the!.isa re djc:rd by 25 percent in the lng- t erm. Opprttllit ies f r primit i ve recreatin retained in mst f ACEC but wuld be lst in t he res t f the WSA. N effect n 1 ivestclt gruinq. IncreaSt! water c,j8lity prb ltllll i n the shrt term. Water quality wuld return t current levels as reda' N t in takes place. Sil c~ctin and vegetat in lss wuld increase rlrloff and ersin. Restr i ctin in the ACEC wuld prtect IIIIIjr streams Lcal scial and Ecn.ic CnfideratiD' Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n i mpacts t the lcal ecnmy r acial character identified during the study f this WSA. SuaaAry f the MSA-Specific Public e.a.pt. Inventry I During February, 1979, BLM held pen hu and public meet i ngs in cities and twns acrss the district. Initial inventry deciains were prpsed in February, 1979, fllwed by a 90-day cmment perid. Decisins n units t be inventried were issued in July The final study areas were identified in Nvember, Draft. EI8: 565 cmments were received during the public revi ew perid f the draft. A public hearing was held in March 1983, 1n Rck Spri ngs. Twenty-eight witnesses testified: tw submitted written crrrnents. All cmments and testimny were cnsidered and a Revised Draft EIS was released in Nvember Reviaed Draft EI5: 455 cmments were received frm agencies, (State, federal, and lcal), rganizatins, businesses, and individuals. Three public hearings were hel d in Rck Springs (January 12, 1989), Lander (January 5, 1989), and Ckevi lle (January 12, 1989) _ The hearings were attended by apprximately 130 peple. Thirty-three peple testified. The Sierra Club sent a "Wilderness Alert" t their members requesting that they supprt the five WSA's recmmended and that they encurage BLM t recmmend all the acreage unr'er study as suita ble fr wilderness designat in. Many letters frm i ndivid uals cnwnented that way. Mat cmments were frm thse wh supprted wilderness designatin fr all 13 WSA ' s (74') r frm thse wh ppsed designatin f any additinal wilderness areas i n Wyming (23'). Cnwnents frm individuals supprting wilderness desi gnatin came frm i ndi v i duals i n 39 states. Mst crrrnents frm individuals wh ppsed wilderness designatin came frm within Wyming

150 1. DB ITllJ)J l\i!il\ ACRIS 8t1lPALQ II!!I!P "ILDI!iJUIISS STUDY AIIBA '''SAl The Buffal Hump WS~ (WY ) includes 10,300 acres f BLM administered public land., with n private r atate inhlding. (see Table 1). The area i s lcated i n nrth-central Sweetwater Cunty abut 30 miles nrth f Rck Springe. The WSA i. bunded n the e.et by the abandned u. s. steel Railrad bed, n the nrth by the IS-Mile Spring Rad, n the west by the Buffal Hump Rad and Sectin. 30 and 31, T. 24 N., R. 105 W. The suthern bundary is an unnamed tw-track rad running eaet t west nrth f Chicken Springe (Bee map 1) The primary tpgraphi c relief cnaiete f many sand valleys, blwuts, dunes, and hil l. ccurring in the suthern and eastern prtins f the WSA. Individual sand dunes exceed height. f 100 feet. Interdunal areas n the nrthern and we.tern extremities cntain pnd., grass cvered marshes, and play... The v8getatin in the WSA range. frm climax.tands f big sagebrush and grea.ewd n the nrth and we.t, t active.and dunes and meadws n the.a.t and.uth. The area cntain. valuable big game habitat (elk, mule deer, and prnghrn antelpe). Apprximately 3,072 acre. f the 41,400 acre Greater Sand Dun R.creatin ACEC are cntained within the Buffal Hump WSA. Th. WSA wa tudied und.r Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Kanagement Act (PLPMA) and was includ.d in the Big Sandy Managem.nt Framewrk Plan and t he Rck Spring. Wilderne Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS), f iled in september Three alternative. were analyzed, including all wi ld.rn, parti al wi ldern and n wildern. 2. UCO!9IIJIDA'fIOIf AJ!D JtAtlOlfALl -- 6,080 acre. public ladd r.c~.dded fr "ild.m.,220 acr public ladd rec~.dded fr DOD-wildeme. The recamendatin fr this WSA i. t de.i gnate 6,080 acre. f public land as ",ild. r n a nd relea.e 4,220 acre. f public land fr u.e. ther than wild.r n.... Al l wilderness is the envirnmentally preferable alternative a s it wuld re.ult i n t he l ea.t change t the natural envirnment. The r ecmmendatin wuld b. imp l emented i n a manner wh i ch wu l d use all prac t ica l mean. t avid r minimize env i rnmental impact. The exemplary quality f the a r ea's wilderne value. and ma i ntaining the cntinuity f the Greater Sa nd Dune. i n a pri st i n. cnditi n were key cnsid.ratin. in making this rec OC'Mlendat i n. Abandnment f the U. S. St eel Railrad track that separ ated the Bu ffa l Hump and Sand Dunes WSA enhanced the naturaln s f this WS A. Secaus. t rai ns c uld n l nger i mpair the viewshed, slitude and the natur al dune, build ing prce.s had been i nhi b i ted by maintenance f the track. The nly e v i dence f man in t he prti n recmmended fr ",ildernes. i. the railrad bed. This WSA is essentially in a natural cnditin exhibiting an undisturbed sagebrush-grassland ecsystem intermingled with active sand dunes. Intrusins cn.ist f five tw-track trail. and ne s.ismgraph line fr a ttal f 5. 5 miles; ne segment f sand fence; and tw dug live.tck pit reservirs. The tw-track trails are faint, vergrwn with vegetatin, and dead end after ahrt distances r cnnect with bundary rad.. The livestck reservirs are lcated alng the authern bundary rad. These intrusins are cnsidered t have nly minr impact n the integrity f the area. The rails have been remved frm the railrad bed which frma the eastern bundary f the WSA. The bed ia abut three t five feet abve grund level. Frm a distanc. away, within the WSA, the gravel bed ia nt visible. When a vi.itr lka east frm the WSA, the Sand Dunes WSA is what wuld be seen. Due t the tpgraphic relief and remteness in the prtin recmmended fr wilderness utstanding pprtunities fr slitude exist. Eclgical and cultural value. are als fund in the WSA. Eclgically, this area typifies a sagebruah-bunchgras. ecsystem featuring gently rlling, sagebrush-cvered sand hills, with.me active barren sand dunea. This area attract. wild hrses, mule deer, a unique de.ert elk herd, large numbers f prnghrn antelpe, and many specie. f birds. Raptrs and cytes are frequent visitrs t the area. Reprts f muntain lin sightings have been received. The additin f this WSA t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System wuld cmplement the wilderness recrrrnendatin fr the Sand Dunes WSA. Only ne ther wildernesa ar.a in the State is currently represented in the same ec.yatem as this WSA. A wildern.ss designatin wuld nt cnflict with ther resurce uses in the 6,080 acre. recrrrnended fr such a designatin. Grazing f the area will cn~inue. Off-rad vehicle (ORV) use has been restricted i n the area fr years. N pre-flpma leases exist in the WSA and unleased land in the area recnwnended fr designatin (6,080 acres) wuld nt be leased. There h been very little industry intereat in il and ga. in the WSA and prbable recverable re.erves are estimated at zer. Estimated recverable reservee i s 53.5 b i llin cubic feet. Currently there is n il and ga8 activity in the WSA and develpment is nt expected. The area nt recrrrnended fr wilderne has numerus trails and tw tracks and is cmpletely ut f the active dune field but des cntai n 397 acree f the ACEC. The wilderness values are present but are nt f the exemplary quality nted in the prtin recrrrnended fr wilderness. Mst f this area cnsists f sagebrush n very stabilized sand dunes. Oil a nd ga. lea8e8 wuld be ffered i n this area, hwever, 8ti pulatins wuld be placed n the lea 8e8 t prtect sage gruse leka and t restrict aurfaee disturbance within 500 feet f l ive water. The recreatin value. f this prtin f t he WSA are ut.tand i ng. Opprtunities tr hudng, backpacking, nature study, phtgraphy, hunting and rckhunding cmbine t ffer a diver.e recreat in e xper i ence. This area i s als part f the range t the nly knwn herd f desert elk

151 Table 1 L.nd St.tu..nd Acre.ge Su.aary f the Study Are. With i n Wilderness Study Area BLM (8urface and 8ubsurface) Split-e8tate (alm 8urface nly) Inhldings (State, private) Ttal 10, l! 10,300 Wi thin the recnvnended wilderness bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split-estate (within WSA) Split-estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM land reccm'lended fr wilderness Inhldi ngs (State, private) Within the area nt recmmended fr wildern 6, ,080 BLM Split-estate Ttal BLM land nt recnvnended fr wilderness Inhldings (State, private) 4,220.!...n..Q 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING rae WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATIONS Wild.rn... Characteristic. A. Naturalnes.: The Buffal Hump WSA is essentially in a natural cnditin exhibiting an undi8turbed sagebrush-grassland ecsystem inter mingled with active sand dunes. There are sme tw-track trai l.,.eismgraph l i nes, livestck pit reservirs, and a aeqment f aand fenc.. Hwever, these intrusina d nt detract frm the verall i ntegrity and natura In... f the area. The eastern prtin f t he WSA cnsi s t s primarily f mving and stabilized sand dunes that match the dunes i n the Sand Dune. WSA. The tw WSAa are nly separated by an abandned railrad bed. The western aide f the WSA cnsists ' f rlling stabilized sand dunes c verd with sagebrush a nd gra88es. The majrity f man's imprints are cnsidered negligi ble (see Ratinale sectin). Recmmended fr Wlklerneu Recmmended fr NnwlldernMS 1111 fffl:~ IIII SOn. Esta F00NE9 State Land utside WSA.~I ~~e~::~ed fr. Buffal Hump Prpsal t?r~~ Pd, MILES WY June, BEST COPY AVAIl.A8LE

152 8. Slitud.. Due t the tpgraphic relief in the suthern and eastern prtins f the WSA, the remteness f the area prvides utstanding slitude. Few rad. exist utside the WSA, therefre, utside s i ghts and Bunds are practically nn-existent. The numerus sand hills and verhangs accmpanied by fresh water pnds prvide Bcree f pprtunities f r sli tude. c. Pri.itiy. and Uncnfin.d B.cr.,tin. Mst f the primitive and uncnfined r.creatin pprtunities art fund in the eastern and s uthern prti n. f the unit. Th.s. activities i nclude hiking, backpacking, camping, bird watching, wildlife phtgraphy, hrseback riding, and hunting. The utstanding scenic quality f this WSA enhances the recreatinal values. The mvi ng sand dunes prvide fr a dynamic rather than static v i ewshed. D. Special '.atur... The Buffal Hump WSA lies within a mile f tw very imprtant archelgical s i tes. These are the Finley site and the Eden-Farsn s ite where a distinctive prjectile pint gave evi dence f ne f man' s earli est inhabited sites in Nrth America. Therefre, it is h i ghly prbable that ther signi f i cant sites may be lcated wi thin the WSA. The area attracts wild hrses, mule deer, the unique herd f desert elk, and large numbers f prnghrn antelpe. Raptrs and cytes are frequent visitr. t the a r ea, plus r.prts f cugar u.e have been received in the recent past. Part f the Buffal Hump WSA. lies within the Greater Sand Dunes Recreatin Area f Critical Envirnmental Cncern. The ACEC management plan prvides wildlife and cultural resurce prtectin and prmtes apprpriate recreatin use. The greatest special featur e f the WSA is the dunes themselves. Pure white s llnd changing the l andscape with every wind strm, bui ldi ng 100 ft drifts a nd hiding all lmp rints f man's vi.ita. Div.rsity i n th. Ratinal Wild. rd Pre.ervatin Sy.te. A. Ixpandipg tb. Piy.r.ity f Natural Sy.t and F.atur a. R.pre.ented by le.y.t... and landfra.. Wilderne deaignatin f t he 6,080 acrea f the WSA recnwnended in thi. reprt wuld add an ecaystem that is represented by nly ne ther wilderneaa area. There are 16 ther WSA;s in Wyming with t he.ame.c.y.tem, hwever, they d nt have the number r size f sand dunes as thia WSA. Thia i nfrmatin ia aummarizad in Tabla 2. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain! We.tern Baain Prvince/ Sagebrush Steppe NWPS Area. Areaa Acre. NATIONWIPE 67,062 67,062 Other BLH Studies Areas Acres , ,035 B. A ing the Opprtupiti fr Slitude r Priaitl.e Recr.atin Within a Pay'. Driving '1'i (Piv. lur.) f M,10r PPUl'tiLCiPt.r': The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin c.nter.. Table 3 sununarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLH atudy areas with i n five hurs drive f the ppulatin centera. ~ABLII 3 Wild.r Opprtuniti.. fr B id.nta f Majr Ppulatin C.ter. Ppulati n Centers NWPS Area Q~b!1: Areaa Acr Areas Salt Lake City-Ogden 18 1,925, Prv-Orem 21 2,225, IILI! ~tud ie8 Acres 5,705,086 5,451,

153 C. 'aiarcing th. G.graphic Di.tributiD f Wild.rn Ar.a., The Buffal Hump WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f area. within the preservatin system. Examples f reginally designated wilderness includes; Jedediah Smith (116,535 acres), Bri dger Wilderness (128,087 acres), Fitzpatrick Wilderness (198,525 acres), High Uintahs Wildernellll (160,615 acres), Nami Wilderness (14,715 acres), Mt. Olympus (8,599 acre.), Mt. Timpangs Wilderness (10,749 acres), and the Twin Peaks Wilderness (ll, 109 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add the sand dune ecsystem and diversify representatin in the NWPS. I.p.ct. n 0th.r R urc The fllwing cmparativ. impact table eurrrnarize. the effacta n pertinent r urces tr all the alt.rnativ cnsid.r.d i ncluding de.ignatin r nnd.signatin f the entire area f wild.rn. Mapeq.abilitx' (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t pre.erve its wilderness character) The prtin f the WSA recltmended fr wilderness is manageable as wilderness. There are n pre-flpka leasea. Mineral develpment is nt likely and industry intereat ia lw. Negtiatins t btain the state and private inhldings wuld be undertaken t increase the man!lgeability shuld these be i ncluded in wilderness designatin. The part f the WSA nt recnvnended fr wilderness is ala judged t be manageable as wilderness. IDerax 'Dd Mineral R urc. V.lu The U. S.Gelqcal Survey and the Bureau f Mines prepared a mineral assessment fr the Bu ffa l Hump WSA in 1990 (U. S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin 1757-G). That assessment is the primary surce fr the fllwing discussin. The met prbable recverable reserve II estimated t exist within the 10,300- acre WSA is zer. The maximum recverable reserves esti mated t exist in the WSA i billin cubic feet (BFC) f gas. The maximum recverable r e serves waf calculated frm figuree in the "Wyming Gelgical Assciati n Guidebk, Greater Green River Basin Sympe i um. " In that study, it was estimated there i. l. 32 BPe f recverable gas per 640 acr explred in the Green River Basin (15,046 square miles) i n suthwestern Wyming. This amunts t ttal recverable reserves i n the Green River Ballin f abut 50,000 BFC f gas. The Gr.en River Basin i ncl udes almst all f Sublette cunty, significant prtins t Sweetwater and Uinta Cunties, and parts t Lincln, Carbn, and Fremnt cuntieb. There are n pre-plpka leaseb. There ie ne dry hle within the WSA. It i s lcated in the SE 1/4, NW 1/4 f Sectin 22, T. 24 N., R. 105 W. The we l l teated the Ericsn Member f the Meaa Verde Frmatin t a depth f 7,997 teet. N reaults we re reprted i n this 1971 wildcat teet and the well was BubBequent ly abandned. Thara ara n knwn lcatable minerale, therefre, n activity ie expected. Minaral extractin fr ealables wu l d be a l lwed subject t Burface prtectin and rehabili tatin re~lr e ments t prtect ther r aeurc... Hwever, n such activity i. anticipated because the ealable mineral f cncern in the WSA is.and, and there are ample reeerve. available frm exi.ting surces t meet pr nt and ant i cipat.d future demands. N activity related t lcatable r l bl. min.ral. is anticipated bec.u.e there are n knwn lc atable r le abla miner.l. in the WSA

154 Wilderne Value. Mineral Re.urce. Recreatin and vi.ual re.urce. Vegetatin/ water /.il. wildllfe Habitat and Ppulatin. Live.tck Crazing TlUILB COICPJUlATIVB IIlIIIIUIKY 0,. TIIB IMPACTS BY ALTBRHATIVB Prpsed Actin Parti al Wilderne Alte"'native 6080 acre. wuld be d ignated acree wuld be withdrawn frm mineral le ing. N ORV us. n 6,080 acres. Vi.ual Re.urce Management cla wuld elevate t Cla I i n araa. Little t n effect. Reduced ORV use wuld benefit wildlife. n change ut. ida designated araa. N effect. All Wilderness Alternative 10,300 acre. de.ignat ed. 10,300 acre. withdrawn frm mineral lea.ing N ORV US! n 10,300 acre. Viaual Resurce Management Cla wuld elevate t Cla I. N effect N adverse effect N effact N Wilderness N Actin Alternative Wilderness values wuld be at risk.. Entire WSA wuld be pen t mi neral leasing. VRK class wuld remai n at III. ORV use wuld be allwed n existing rads and trails. Sme impact t vegetatin n rads and trails. Increased vehicula r use culd ca use additinal stress n wildlife. N effect ~cial add Ecn.ic Cnaideratig. Lcal Bcial and ecnmic cnaideratina were nt an issue in the BIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r Bcial character identified duri ng the atudy f this WSA. '\IM." f NSA-Specific Public C_enta Inventry: During the i nventry phaae, nineteen cmments were received n the Buffal Hump WSA. Seven favred inclu8in f the unit as a wilderness study araa and eleven were ppsed. One cmment addressed the Wyming Department f Agriculture ' s nxius weed cntrl f wilderness study areas. The submissins culd nt be used t evaluate wilderness criteria. Sme alluded t intrusins, but did nt include specific infrmatin, and sme addressed recreatinal cncerns. Initial Draft lis: During frmal public review f the i nitial draft EIS, a ttal f 184 written and 25 ral crrment. wera received. The ral cmments were received during a public hearing held at Rck Springe. In general, 186 cnvnents favred wilderness designatin and 23 ppsed wilderness desi gnatin. The cmments in favr f wilderness general felt the area wuld be a valuable additin t the wilderness system, especially in cnjunctin with the Sand Dunee WSA. Thse ppsed generally were cncerned with limitatins fr ffrad vehicle use f the area. Of "'.1 COfM\ents received, t w were frm federal agencies, six were frm state agencies, and nne were frm lcal gvernments. Of the Federal agencies, the Natinal Park. Service supprted the all wilderness alternative. The Bureau f Mine s ppsed wilderness designatin because f il and gas develpment cnflicts. The Gvernr f Wyming tk. n psitin n wilderness designatin at this time, but expressed cncern abut adverse impacts t State lands cntained withi n and brdering WSAs. Of the.tate agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department and State Senatr Jack Pugh supprted the all wilderness alternative. The Gelgical Survey f Wyming, The Wyming Oil and Gas Cmmissi n, the State's Department f "griculture, and Wyming State Engineer supprted the n wilderness alternative...viaed Draft.!tISI Because f critical changes i n the status f il and gas lease. in the WSAa, a nd because f public crrment, a revised draft EIS was prepared and issued fr public reviaw. Duri ng the frmal public revi ew f t his dcument, 422 written COfM\ents and 33 ral cmments were received. The ral cmments were received during the curse f three public meetings held in Rck. Springs, Lander, and Ckeville. In general, 337 cmments favred wilderness designatin, 105 ppsed wilderness designatin, and 13 tk n psitin. Of all cnunents received, 6 were frm federal agencies, 9 were frm state agencies, and nne were frm lcal gvernments. Of t he federal agencies, the Natinal Park. Service generally supprted the a l l wilderness alternative. The Sil Cnservatin Service, Envirnmental Pr'tectin "ganey, Bureau f Hi nes and Fish and Wildlife Service did nt state a frmal psi tin. The Air Frce tk n frmal psitin but expressed cncern abut air space restrictins and the impact n training flights. The Gvernr f Wyming again tk n frmal paitin but wuld rview impacts n state lands and resurces. t the state agencies, t he Wyming Game and Fish Department and State Legislatr Chris Plant supprted the all wilderness alternative. The Gelgical Survey f Wyming supprted the n wildernea. alternative. The Water Develpment Cmmi in, Public Service Cmmi asin, and Frestry Divisin tk n frmal paitin as lng as thair respective resurces and/r f acilities were nt adver.ely impacted and develpment and management culd take place

155 SOUTH PINNACLES WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (WSA) 1. THE STUDY AREA Acre. The Suth Pinnacles WSA (WY ) includes 10,800 acres f BLM-administered public lands, including 26 acres f split estate land (see Table 1). The WSA is lcated in nrtheastern Sweetwater Cunty, 30 miles nrtheast f Rck Springs, Wyming. The area is bunded n the ea t, nrth, and west by unnamed rads and n the suth by Cunty Rad 4-15 (see Map 1). The WSA cntains mstly flat tpgraphy, with an expsure f brken rimrcks and ridges runni~g west t east. Rugh rcky crags and unusual escarpments are prminent in this rimrck area. Greasewd cmmunities ccupy the draws while big sagebrush and Nuttall's saltbush dminate t he pen areas. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Rck Springs District Wilderness Envirnmental I mpact Statement finalized in There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS including All Wilderness and N Wilderness, which is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALE -- 0 acre. rec.. ended fr wilderness 10,800 acre. rec.. ended fr nnwilderness The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t release 10,800 Federal acres fr uses ther than wilderness (see Map 1). All Wilderness is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment. The recmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. In recmmending this area fr nnwilderness, the cnflicts between wilderness and natural gas prductin were f primary cncern. The area has high ptential fr the discvery f natural gas and cndensate. The ttal recverable reserves estimated t exist within the WSA are 24.8 billin cubic feet (BCF) f natural gas and 902,134 barrels (BBLS) f cndensate. A field f 17 wells is prjected fr develpment withi n the WSA bundary. The ther principal factr in recmmending nnwilderness fr this WSA was the lack f exemplary wilderness values, particularly primiti ve and uncnfined recreatin. BLM's intensive inventry nted that pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin were nt utstanding; the values that d exist lie mainly in the rimrck prtin f the WSA. Thus, the extent f the pprtunities is limited. The mst ntable recreatin activity in the WSA is nature phtgraphy. Other pprtunities fr recreatin are nt cnsidered t be utstanding. Out t~nding pprtunities fr slitude can nly be fund in the rimrck area f this WSA. Opprtu ~ ties fr slitude in ther prtins f the WSA are l i mited primarily due t the bundary rads that surrund the WSA. 258

156 Within Wilderness Study Area TABLE 1 LAND STATUS AND ACREAGE SUMMARY OF THE STUDY AREA BLM (Surface and Subsurface ) Split Estate (BLM surface nly )!1 Inhldings (State, Private) Ttal Within the Recnunended Wilderness Bundary BLM (Within WSA) BLM ( OutBide WSA) Split Estate (Within WSA) Split Estate (OUtBide WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recnunended f r wil derness Inhldings (State, Pr 1 vate) 10, , Within the Area nt Recmmended fr WildernellB BLM Split Estate Ttal BLM Land Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhlding8 (State, Private) 10, ,800 1/ Split estate l ands are defi ned as thse lands with Federal surface and nn-federal BJbsurface minerals. 3. CRItBRIA CONSIDBRED IN DEVELOPING THE WILPZRNlSS RECOMMENDATIONS Wilderne Charact..ri.t.i e. A. Nat.uralp"' : The Suth Pinnaclea WSA ia eaaentially natural in character. It cntains mstly flat tpqraphy, with an expsure f brken rimrcks and ridqes. Rugh rcky craqa and unuaual escarpments are prminent in this rimrck area. There are 80me seismic traile, tw-track trail., and ne abandned drill site but theae are relatively faint and bscure. OVerall, mst f the WSA shws very few 8ign8 f human activity and the intruaina d nt detract frm the natural character f the area. Rl00W R99W 8. slit.ud.. The rimrck area f the Suth Pinnacles WSA prvide utstanding pprtunity fr slitude. The numerus pckets and small draws prvide an excellent pprtunity t avid the sights and sunds t ther peple. Other pprtunities are limited due t the bundary rada. Suth Pinnacles P,_1 Recmmended fr W ildern~s Recmmended fr Nnwllderness und utside WSA Recmmended fr Wikjerness 0 I 1111fffl~1111 ~ WY MIL ES JUNE,l990 ~~ State Split Estate ~ Private C. Pri.it.iv. aad UAenfin,d R.cr \ipi Primitive and uncnfined recreatin pprtunities d exist ma i nly in the rimrck prtin t the WSIL These include wildlife bservatin and phtgraphy, rckhunding, hrseback riding, hiking and backpacking, and bservatin and phtgraphy t the many gelgic ecsites within t he rimrck area. D. Sp.ci.l r \ur,,, There are n speci al feature. id,ntif i,d in thi s WSA. 260 cl.:l

157 Diyer.ity in the Xatinal Wildeme Pre.ervatin Sy.te. A. Expanding the diver.ity f natural.y.te and feature. a. raprasented by ac.y.t and landfraa : Wilderness des i gnatin f this WSA wuld n t add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the NWPS. The Wyming Basin Prvince Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem is represented by ne designated wilderness area (Clud Peak.). Several ther WSAs r prtins theref are recmmended fr wilder ness i ncluding Adbe Twn, Hneycmb Buttes, Sand Dunes, and Oregn Buttes that cntain this ecsystem. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Bailey-Kuchler Classifi cati n Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain/ Wyming Basi n Prvince/ Sagebrush Steppe Dry Dmain/ Wyming Basin Prvince/ Sagebrush Steppe TABLE 2 ECOSYSTEM REPRESENTATION NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies Areas Acres Areas Acres NATIONWIDE 67, ,035 67, ,035 a. A i ng the pprtuniti fr.lit.ude r pri.itive recre.tin within a day '. driving tia. (five hurs) f.air ppulatin center. : The Suth Pinnacles WSA is within a day ' s driving time f tw majr ppulatin centers--salt Lake City- Ogden and Prv-Orem. There are currently twenty-ne wilderness areas and three primitive areas within a day's driving time f these ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. ppulatin Centers Salt Lake City Ogden Prv - Orem TABLE 3 WILDERNESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS NWPS Areas Areas Acres 18 1,925, ,225,116 Other BLM Studies Areas Acres 151 5,705, ,451,742 C. Balancing t.be gegrapbic di.tributin f ",ildem area.: The Suth Pinnacles area wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic d i stributin f wilderness. There are currently in excess f 4 millin acres f designated wilderness in the vicinity f these ppulatin centers. Examples f reginally designated wilderness include:.1edediah Smith (116,535 acres), Bridger Wilderness (428,087 acres), Fitzpatrick Wilderness (35, 014 acres), High Uintahs Wilderness (160,615 acres), Nami Wilderness (44,367 acres), Ht. Olympus (8,599 acres), Mt. Timpangs Wilderness (13,109 acres), and the Twin Peaks Wilderness (10,749 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a "cld" high desert badlands area t the system and diversify representatin in the NWPS. Maageability (The Area Must Be Capable f Being Effectively Managed t Preserve Its Wilderness Character) The Suth Pinnacles WSA is manageable as wilderness. Manageability wuld be difficult because f the area's accessibility by ff-highway vehicles. Lack f physical barriers and remte lcatin wuld make it difficult t prtect r defend thi s area against ORV use. Bnergy and Mineral ae.urc. Value. Leasable minerals knwn t ccur i n the WSA include il and gas and because their ptential fr discvery i s high, it is an area f i ndustry interest. The ttal recverable reserves estimated t exist wi thin the 10,826 acre WSA is 24.8 billin cubic feet (BCF ) f :"Iatural gas a nd 902,134 barrels (BBLS) f cndensate. There are n pre-flpha leasea in the WSP\. resurces are k.nwn t exist in the WSP\. Iapacta n Other R urc N ther mineral The fllwing cmparative impact table summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the a l ternatives cnaidered i ncluding designatin r nn-designatin f the entire area as wilderness (s.e Table 4)

158 I'eu' TOpics Wilderne Values Kinerals, Oil, and wildlife Habitat and ppulatin. Veq.tatin/Water / Sil. R.cr.atin Opprtuniti Liv tc k Crazing T.bl. 4 e.p.r.ti... s~ry f the I.p.ct. by Alternative All Wilderne wilderness value. wuld be retained in the entire WSA. Estimates f 24.8 BCF f natural gas ($2 millin) and 902,134 BBL5 f cnden Bate ($1 millin) culd pasibly be fregne. N.,ffect n wildlif. N adverse impacts. Hunter use wuld be reduced frm abut 2S t 5 hunter-day. annually due t.liminatin f mtrized vehicl... Sight.eeing wuld al. b. reduced. N change in r.creatin pprtunities in the r ' gin. N.ffect n grazing u. Sme additin.l c.t. t liv tck peratr. due t re.trictin n v.hicular.cc. Prp.ed Actin (N wilderness/n Actin) Wilderness values wuld be lst fr the lng-term in the entire WSA. Entire area pen t mineral entry. Estimates f ($2 millin) and 902,134 BBLS f cndensate ($1 millin) culd Suc pssibly be recvered. cess rati fr wells is relatively lw. Mderate adverse impacts wuld ccur t wildlife due t disturbance by il and gas activity. Antelpe are the mst abundant big game but adaptable t develpment. Seasnal, stress-related impacts wuld be mitigated. Big game numbers wuld nt be affected. Mderately adverse impacts wuld ccur t sils and vegetatin and minr adverse impacta wuld ccur t water due t il and gas activity. N effect n recreatin pprtunities. N effect n grazing use. Lcal«Scial«and Ecnaic Cn.icteratin. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an is.ue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r.cial character identified during the study f this WSA. Suaaary f WSA - Specific Public ca... pt. Inventry! Three cmments, all frm Wyming, were received. The cmments supprted inclusin f the unit as a wilderness study area, nting that the unit ffered utstanding scenic values and that intrusins in the area were minr and wuld nt detract frm the unit's wilderness characteristics. N cmments were received n this WSA during the MFP cmment perid. 'ar1y Draft EIS: During the public review f the Draft IS, 565 cmments were received. There was cncern that livestck. grazing and il and gab activities wuld be excluded frm designated wilderness areas. Wildlife value. and ff-rad vehicle (CRV) use were ther cncern. raiaed during thia time. Wyming Recreatin Cmmissin ppsed wilderne anywhere there w.re histric trails r areas adjacent t Natinal Frest Sy.tern RARE II land.. The Gvernr's ffice expressed cncern abut State inhlding shuld any f the areas be designated. All cmments were cnsidered and a Revised Draft EIS was released in Nvember A.vi.ed Draft EIS: Cmments were received frm 455 agencies (federal, state and lcal), rganizatins, businesses and individuals. Many f the letters received frm individuals were in respnse t envirnmental grup. ' "Wilderness Alert.. encuraging 8LM t recrrwnend all acreage under atudy t be designated. Of all the cmments received, 74, aupprted wilderne.s designatin fr all 13 W'SAs and 23' ppsed any additinal wilderness areas in Wyming. Few cmments were received addresaing aite-specific areaa. Generally, industry ppsed designatin while envirnmental and wildlife grupe supprted designatin f areas aa wildernes

159 1. :rq STVJ)J ARM lo? SAND DUHES WILDERHBSS STUDY AREA (WSA) The Sand Dun WSA (WY-040-l07) is lcated in nrth-central Sweetwater Cunty abut 13 mile. 80utheast f Parsn. The WSA cntains 27,109 acres f BLM administered public land, including 600 acrea f split estate land, 640 acres f state land, and 160 acres f private land (see Table 1). Acreage figures in this reprt and the final BIS differ frm the riginal reprt figure s published in Theae differences are the result f a change f wnership and the identificatin f split estate. The WSA is bunded n the west by the abandned U. S. Steel Railrad bed that separatea this WSA and the Buffal Hump WSA, n the nrth by an unnamed tw-track beginning at Ox Yke Springs, n the east by an ld seismic tw-track that skirts Essix Muntain, and n the.uth by the Bar ' s Tusk rad (see map 1). The WSA cmpri a large part f the Killpecker Sand Dunes. The area cntains large areas f barren active dunes with superb draws and valleys, wet meadw, greasewd, big aagebruah, and rabbit brush cnvnunities. A unique feature f the Sand Dunea are the elian ice-cells that feed pls at the base f many f the large dunea. Bars' a tusk ia a prminent landmark just utside the suthern edge f the area. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (PLPHA), and was included in the Rck Springs District Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS), filed in Octber Fur Alternative. were analyz.ed in the EIS: an all wilderness alternative, a n wilderness alternative, a partial wilderness alternative in which 16,280 acres wuld be recnrnended fr wilderness and 10,829 acres released fr ther uses, and a secnd partial wilderneas in which 21,304 acres wuld be recrrunended fr wilderneaa and 5,805 acres released fr ther uses. The secnd partial wilderne alternative ia the recrrvnendatin f this reprt. 2. I!IC9!!MII!I)ATIO!! AI!!! J!ATIONl\LI :z 1, 30t acre. rec_ended fr wilderne 5,805 acre. rec_ended fr nnwilderne The recolmlendatin fr this WSA is t designate 21,304 acres (20,704 acres rederal and 600 acre. aplit eat ate) ae wilderness and release 5,805 acres fr u.e. ther than wildernes. (eee Hap 1). A recnvnenda tin f all wilderness wuld be the envirnmentally preferred alternative as it wuld result in the le t change t the natural envirnment in the lng term. The recnvnendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use all practical means t avid r minimiz.e envirnmental impacts. 265 Sand Dunes f>rpsal ] Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land utside WSA U:@~:. Recmmended fr _. _ Wilderness Spnl Estate I 1 Slale ~pr ivate MILES WV J07 June,1990

160 TABLE 1 Land Status and Acreage SUrMlary Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly)!/ Inhldi ngs (State, Private)!/ Ttal Within the Reenynended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA)l/ Split Estate (utside WSAll/ Ttal BLM land recotm1ended fr wilderness Within the area nt recl1'l'nended fr wi lderness BLM Split Estate 1/ Ttal BLM land nt recmmended fr wlldernes'j 25, ~ 27,109 20, ,304 5, ,005 Inhlding_ {State, Prlvate)1! 800 1/ Appendix 1 is a detailed descriptin f inhlding8 and/r split estate tract. included within the study. Fr purpses f thi s reprt, split estate lands are def l ed nly as th.e lands with federa l surface and nn-federal subsurface (minerals). Landa that have federal minerals but ~~:-!~~:~~! :~~!~~~ shuld be clasblfi ed in this reprt by the wner f Variatins between acres in Table I and earlier dcuments are due t crrected errrs, map updating, new minerale i nfrmatin and a change i n land wnership. The exemplary quality f the area '. wilderness va lues and the pprtunity t add an ec.yatem that has nly ne representative t the wilderness s ystem were key cnaideratins. The naturalness f this prtin f the WSA is cn.idered exceptinal because f the lack f man made intrusins. The cnstantly flwing dunes virtually eliminates any evidence t man ' s activity in the area. The wilderne.s inventry judged this prtin f the WSA t ba natural in appearance. Th. recreati n values f this prtin f the WSA include utstanding pprtunities fr hiking, b.ck~ack.ing, nature study, phtgraphy, hunting, dune bugging, and rckhundin'l, which cmbine t fter a diverse recreatin.xper ience. The dune. are al. the hme f the nly herd f desert elk in Wyming. The WSA is ntially in a natural cnditin. It has barren, active dunes with.uperb gullie., draw. and vall.y.. The WSA als cntains wet meadw, and gr attwd, biq g.bru.h, a nd rabbitbruah cnrnunitie.. Bar' 8 TU 8k, a vlcanic plug that ha. be.n.xp.ed by ersin, i. a prminent landmark. just ut.ide the authern edge f the WSA. Elian ice cella feed pls at the b f many f the large dune.. Th. ice cells frm as snw and ice ::~~ulatin n the leeward.ide f dune. and are then cvered by blwing The dune. help.upprt bundary t the WSA i. wer. r.cently remved. the Sand Dunes WSA and the nly desert elk herd frmed by a railrad bed Thia railrad bad frma The Buffal Hump WSA. 267 in Wyming. The western frm which the ties and rails part f the bundary between The cnflicts with ther resurce uses f this WSA are limited. Grazing wuld cntinue. Off-rad vehicle (ORV) use has been restricted fr years. There are 920 acres f pre-flpma l e ases in the area recmmended fr wilderness. Drilling n the pre-flpma leases wuld be allwed. Authrizatins fr surface disturbing activities wuld be cnditined t require that the pristine active dunes nt be impaired. The 920 acres f pre-flpma lease are in the sutheast crner f the WSA. There is ne prducing well in this area and n additinal wells are anticipated. Unleased lands in the part f the WSA recrrmended fr wilderness wuld nt be ffered tr lease. The 5,005 acre s f WSA that were nt recrrmended (in the sutheaat crner and nrthern end) fr wilderness were fund t have a high ptential fr il land gas (existing wells) and t have many ORV intrusins; manageability f these are~s was a key cnsideratin in frmulating the decisin t nt recmmen.j. The suthe'lat crner lies within the ACEC and cntains the exemplary qualities f the recmmended prti n f the WSA; hwever, the presence f il and gas wells reduces the aesthetics and manageability f the area fr wilderness. The nrthern prtin lies utside the ACEC and des nt cntain the exemplary qualities f wilderness that are fund in the recrrrnended prtin f the WSA. The area nt recmmended fr wilderness designatin is an area f high t mderate il and gas ptential It is part f the Nitchie Gulch-Pine Canyn Knwn Gelgi c Structure (XGS). Oil and gas leasing wuld resume in the a r ea nt recmmended fr designati n. It is estimated that there wuld be 10 wells.jrilled, resulting in apprximately 70 acres f surface disturbance. Activity wuld prbably be cncentrated in the eastern prtin f the WSA. Apprximately seven t eight miles f new rads wuld be required t reach il and gas well sites. 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEYBLOPINO TBI WILDERNESS RlCOMMENDATIONS Wild.rne Characteri.tic. A. Haturala.e s The WSA i a essentially in a natural cnditin. Tht. i ntrusins fund in the WSA are cnsidered min lr and d nt detract frm the apparent naturalness f the WSA. These intrusins i nclude three prducing wells in the eastern part f the WSA, tw abandned well sites withi n 509 feet f the WSA bundary, an ld crral i n the suthwestern part, and a deterirating barbed wire fence in t he nrthern part f the WSA. There are als intrusins due t mtrized vehicles in the nrthern part f the WSA. The large dunes i n parts f the WSA make it pssible fr a visitr t experience the naturalness f the area because man-caused disturbances are nt apparent. The cnsta!'ltly changing nature f the dunes adds t this feeling. The rails f the abandned U. s. Steel railrad were remved fr.m the railrad bed at the western bundary f the WSA. The bed is abut three feet abve the rest f the riginal right-t-way. Currently t he railrad bed is used by fur-wheel drive and sme tw-wheel drive vehicles. Drifting aands have already bliterated sme prtins f the railrad bed. 8. Slitudes Many wind-blwn baeine exiat within the WSA. The draws, valleys, and ridges in the r.rthern a nd eastern sectins als prvide utstanding pprtunities fr slitude, due t the screening effect they lfer. The size f the WSA and the large amunt f active sand dunes create further pprtunities fr slitude. The variety f dunes, frm activ. t stabilized, adds t the uni"luene8s f the area. 268

161 C. Praiti and Uncnfined Recreatin: Outstanding pprtunities fr primitive uncnfined recreatin are readily available. Hiking in the dunes i s strenuus but can be a rewarding experience. Other activities include birdwatching, hunting, sightseeing, and phtgraphy. Bi rds, including waterfwl, shrebirds, and killdeer, are relatively abundant in parts f the area. This prvides an unusual pprtunity fr viewing and phtgraphy in nearby areas f the high desert. The utst anding Bceni c quality f this WSA enhances the recreatinal values. The mving sand dunes prvi de fr a dynamic rather than static viewshed. D. Speci.l F.atur : Eclgically, the mst uni que feature f the Sand Dunes WSA is t he elian ice cells that feed pls at the base f many large dunes. These are frmed &8 snw and ice accumulate n the leeward s ide f the dunes and then are cvered by blwing sand. These pls, r pnds, range in depth frm a few inches t ten feet deep. Sme bei ng crystal clear and almst devid f life, while thers are muddy, murky, and alive with tadples, salamanders, insects, waterfwl, and varius grasses and algae. The dune9 help supprt the nly desert elk herd in Wyming. The Sand Dunes WSA l l es within a s hrt d istance f tw very imprtant archelgical sites. These are the Finley aite and the Eden-Farsn site where a distinct i ve prjectile pint gave evidence f ne f man' 8 earliest inhabited sites in Nrth America. Therefre, it is highly prbable that ther significant aites ma)! be lcated within the WSA. The area is hme t,,-ild hrses, mule dee,r, elk, and large numbers f prnghrn antelpe. Raptrs and cytes frequent the area, a nd there are reprts f cugar use. Part f the Sand DuneE WSA lies withi n the Greater Sand Dunes Recreatin Area f Critical Envirnmental Cncern. The ACRC management plan prvides wildlife and cultural resurce prtectins and prmtes apprpriate recreatin use. The greatest special feature f the WSA are t he dunes themselves. White sands changing the landscape with every wind strm, building 100 ft drifts and hiding all imprints f man's visits. Di r.ity f tb. Ratinal Wild'rD." Pr natin Sy.t A. I"'pandipg tb. 4i r.i1;y f Datural,y.t add featur a, r.pre.ented by,c'y,t_. alld LandfA.: Wilderness designatin f the 21,304 acres f the WSA r.cofl'ltl.nded in thi' reprt wuld add an ecsystem t hat i s represented by nly ne ther wilderness area. There are 16 ther WSA's i n Wyming with the lame.c.y.tern, hwever, they d nt have the number r size f sand dunes a, thi. WSA. Thi. infrmatin i. summarized in Table 2. aailey-jicuchler Clas,ificatin Dmain/Prvinc./PHV Dry Dmainl W tern 8a.in Prvince/ Sag.bru.h Steppe TABLE 2 Ecsy.tem Representatin NWFS Areas Area. Acre. 67,062 67,062 NATIONWIDE!:!XQ./U.I!!i 269 ther 8LM Studies Areaa Acre , , 035 B. A ing the Opprtuniti fr Slitude r P[i.itlve R.cr.atin Within a Day. Driving Ti.e (P'iv. Bur.) f Mair Ppulatin Cent.r.1 The WSA is within a five hur drive f tw majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLH study areas within f ive hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. TABLE 3 Wilderness pprtunities fr Residents f Majr ppulatin Centers Ppulatin Centers NWPS Area ther BLH Studies Salt Lake City-Ogden Prv- Orem Areas Acres 1,925,081 2,225,116 Areas Acres 5,705,086 5,451,742 C. aalancing the Gegraphic Di.tributin f Wilderne Are : The Sand Dunes WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing the gegraphic distributin f areas within the preservatin system. There are currently in excess f 4 millin acres f designated wilderness in the vicinity f these ppulatin centers. Examples f reginally designated wilderness includes: Jedediah Smith (116,535 acres), Bridger Wilderness (428, 087 acres), Fitzpatrick wilderness (198, 525 acres), High Uintahs Wilderness (160,615 acres), Nami Wilder ness (14,715 acres), Mt. Olympus (8,599 acres), Mt. Timpangs Wilderness (10,749 acres), and the Twin Peaks Wi lderness (13,109 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add an extensive sand dune ecsy stem d iversify representatin in the NWPS. Manage.bility (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The prtin f t he Sand Dunes WSA recmmended as suitable fr wilderness is manageable as wilderness. The il and gas ptential fr this prtin f the WSA is rated as mderate and is unleased. Hst impacts caused by il a nd gas develpment wuld be sil cmpactin and vegetatin 10B9 but wuld be minimal if mitigated prperly n pre-flpma leases fund i n the area. The bundary f t he Sand Dunes WSA recnvnended as nnsuitable fr wilderness may nt be manageable as wilderness, depending n il and gas develpment. This area is rated as mderate t high in il and gas ptential. It encmpasses the sutheast ern and nrthern prtins f the Sand Dunes. Only tw inhldings exist in the WSA a nd ne f these is utside the area recmmended fr wilderness. A Stat e sectin lies within the recmmended area and it is assumed a mutually benef icial l a nd exchange bet-..leen the 8LM and the State will transpire t make manageability f the sectin easier fr wilderness. The private i nhlding in the WSA that is utbide t he wilderness bundary lies very clse t the WSA bundary (abut 100 yards) 1 t herefre, access t this prperty, if ever needed, wuld nt impact the WSA in a ma j r adverse actin. The inhlding is als scheduled fr exchange if the landwner i8 willing. The railrad bed n the western bundary is expected t be barricaded, and, ORV travel n this rute will be eliminated. N ther impacting actins including saleable minerals is anticipated in the WSA. 270 and

162 IDergy add Nigeral R urce Value. The U. S. Gelgic Survey and the Bureau f Mines prepared tw mineral as ssments fr the Sand Dunes WSA in 1987 (U. S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin 1757-A and 1l757-G). Thse assessments are the primary surce fr the fllwing discussin. Hydrcarbns are the mst valuable ptential mineral resurce in the WSA. Prducing il and gas fields ccur within, immediately east, and sutheast f the WSA. The WSA cntains 26,509 acres f puhlic land with 560 acres f pre- YLPMA leaaes held by prductin. The rest f the public lands in the WSA are nt leased. The mineral estate is held by the State f Wyming n 640 acres, and privately n 160 acres within the WSA. There are three prducing wells in the eastern part f the WSA. The high develpent ptential arga in the WSA includes a prtin f the Nitchie Gulch Pield (T. 23 N., R. 103 W.). The Pine Canyn field (Tps. 22 and 23 N., R. 103 W.) is lnmediately east f the Nitchie Gulch area, frming the Nitchie Gulch Pine Canyn KGS. Cumulative prductin in the Nitchie Gulch field as f 1982 was 156,062 barrels (BBLS) f il and 70.8 billin cubic feet (BFC) f gas; 21 wella were in prductin in the field during 1982 (Wyming Oil and Gas Cnwniasin 1983). Pine Canyn cumulative prductin as f 1982 was 22,278 BBLS f il and 12.9 BCl' f gas, with 11 prducers that year. The ultimate primary gas prductin fr the 10, B80-acre Nitchie Gulch field is estimated at 11.1 BCY frm the Dakta Frmatin and BCY frm the Frntier Frmatin (Tartar, at a ). The 2,124-acre Pine canyn field is expected t prduce 20.5 Bel' frm the Frntier/Dakta Frmatin (Gerge 1979). well spacing rder. fr the fielda are ne per 640 acres and ne per 320 acres, re.pectively_ N estimates are available fr the Essex Muntain Unit east f the WSA (T. 24 N., R. 104 W.). Re.erve. per 640-acre spacing in the Sand Dunes WSA are estimated t be 3.5 BC,. f natural gaa and 4,957 BBLS f cndensate based n Frntier Frmatin prductin nly. Recverable reserves within the WSA are 145 BCF f gas and 205,320 BBLS f cndensate. The average success rati fr wells drilled in the area is 54 percent and this is assumed t apply t the WSA. T indicate the relative perapective f theae amunts t reginal reservea, we have estimated the relative magnitude f regi nal reserves. These numbers are intended nly t aid the reader in understanding the relative prprtin f the re rves in the WSA t thbe which are ptentially available elsewhere. The recverable re.erves fr the Green River Basin as a whle (15, 046 square mil ) are apprximately 50,000 BC,. ttal. There are n knwn lcatable minerals, therefre, n activity is expecte d. Mineral extractin fr salables wuld be allwed subject t surface prtectin nd rehabilitatin requirements t prtect ther resurces. Hwever, <:) such acti vity i. anticipated because the aalable mineral f cncern in the WSA is sand, and there are ample reserves available frm existing surces t meet pr ent.nd anticipated future demands. N activity related t lcatable r l bl. mi ner.ls ia anticipated because there are n knwn lcatable r l b l. miner.l. in the WSA. Iapact. 00 Mh., B.surce. Th. fl l wing cmpar.tive impact table (T.ble 4) aumm.,rizea the effects n perti nent r urce. fr all the alternative. cn.idered including designatin r nn-de.ignatin f the entire area f wilderne. Issue tp; cs I~cts t wflderness I~cts t.. inerat l..,acts t recreatin and visual Iq:llctl t vegetatin! water. si ls. I~cts t wildlife resurces. N Wi lderness N Actin M' ner.l develp!leot culd significantly at ter wi lclerness values. Als Lnrestricted ORV use wuld degrade wi lderness v.lues. Entfre area MOUld be pen t "iner.l entry. Mderate adverse ill'98cts MOUld ccur t reereat i n U t j I and liias develpment ard increased vehicular disturbance t wildt ife. Mderatel y adverse i~cts MOUld ccur t veget.tin ckie t i t and gas explratin and U develpment. Mderatel y adverse illjllcts wuld ccur t wildlife clje t t I and gas explratin ard develp _t. TABLE 4 C~rat i ve SlIIII'I8ry f the Irrpacts by Alternative At I Wi lderness Al ternative 26,509 acres wuld be designated - all wi lderness values wuld be prtected. The area wuld be withdra.", froll ",ineral leasing_ Ent i re area VAM Class 1 nn resi~t hlnters wuld need pr' fessinal utfitter t hlnt the area. West bcu'ldary rad (RR Track) wuld be barricaded t restrict CRV use. Minr adverse i".,acts t sil ard vegetatin t il and gas explratin and develpnent n pre-flpma leases turning stabil hed clnes t Ictive dl.rles. N ifll)8cts. I Small Partial wi lderness Alternative 16,280 acres wuld be designated - wi lderness values in this acreage wuld be prtected. Large Partial wi lderness Alternative 21,144 acres wuld be designated - wi lclerness values in this acreage wuld be prutected. 80X f the area 21,144 acres wuld be wi thdrawl'1 wuld be wi thfrm mineral entry. drawn frm mineral leasing. 16, 280 acres VRM 21,144 acres VRM Class I. 10,229 Class 1-5,365 acres in VAM class acres in VRM II, III and IV. class II, III, Outfitter needed by ard IV. Outnn-resident fitter needed hlnters n 16,280 n 21,144 acres. acres. RR bed RR bed wuld be wuld be barricaded barricaded t t ORV's. ORV's. Same a$ all wi lderness N irrpacts. Same as all wi h~erness N irrpacts

163 Lcal Scial and Ecn.ic Cnaideratina Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the atudy f this WSA. Su..ary f WSA-Secified public C_ent. In.entry: During the inventry phase, frty cmments were received n the Sand Dunes WSA. Nineteen favred inclusin f the unit as a wilderness study area and twenty were ppsed. One tk n psitin. Thse wh favred wilderness study believed that a wilderness designatin wuld prtect the.cenic, undevelped, and wildlife qual i ties f the area. Thse ppsed expressed cncerns ver cnflicts with il land gas prductin and wilderness management. Initial Draft I5: During frmal public review f the initial draft EIS, a ttal f 560 writt~n and 27 ral cnwnents were received. The ral cnunents were received during a public hearing held at Rck. Springs. In general, 190 cmments favred mre wilderness than prpsed fr designatin, 7 supprted the prpsed actin fr designatin, and 390 ppsed wilderness designatin. The crrments in favr f wilderness general felt the area wuld prtec t the unique desert elk. herd and ther wildlife values and the utstanding scenic and natural wilderness values f the Sand Dunes. Thse ppsed generally were cncerned with the lss f the area fr recreatinal ff-rad vehicle use and abut cnstraints t mineral develpment, especially il and gas. Of all cmments received, 4 were frm federal agencies, 7 were frm state agencies, and nne were frm lcal gvernments. Of the Federal agencies, the Natinal Park. Service and Fish and Wildlife Service supprted the all wilderness alternative. The Bureau f Mines ppsed designatin. The Crps t Engineers supprted BLM ' prpsal f partial wilderness designatin. The Gvernr f Wyming tk n psitin but cntinued t express cncern ver impacts t state lands cntained within and brdering WSAs. State Senatr Jack Pugh supprted all wilderness designatin. Of the state agencies, the Wym i ng Game and Fish Department supprted the all wilderness alternative. The Gelgical Survey f Wym i ng, the Wyming Department f Agriculture, the State Engineer and the Wyming Oil and Gas Crrrni in supprted the n wilderne alternative. " i 4 Draft EIS: Because f critical changea in the stat us f il and gas Ie in the WSAs, and because f public crrrnent, a revised draft EIS was prepared and issued fr public review. During the frmal public review f thia dcument, 422 written coltments and 33 ral cmments were received. The ral c nwnents were received during the curse f three public meetings held in Rck Springs, Lander, and Ckeville. In general, 337 cmments favred wilderness designatin, 105 ppsed wilderness designatin, and 13 tk. n p.itin. the impact n training flights. The Gvernr f Wyming again tk. n frmal psitin but wuld review impacts n state lands and resurces. Of the state agencies, the Wyming Game and Fish Department and State Legislatr Chris Plant supprted the a.ll wilderness alternative. The Gelgical Survey f Wyming supprted the n wilderness alternative. The Water Develpment Cmmissin, Public Service Cmmissin, and Frestry Divisin tk n frmal psitin as lng as their respective resurces and/r fa.cilities were nt adversely impacted and develpment and management culd take place. Of a ll cnwnent. received, 6 were frm federal agencie., 9 were frm state agenci, and nne were trm lcal gvernment.. Of the federal agencies, the Natinal Park Service generally supprted the all wilderness altern&tive. The Sil Cnservatin Service, Envirnmental Prtectin Agency, Bureau f Mi nes and Piah and Wildlife Service did nt state a frmal psitin. The Air Frce tk n frmal psitin but expressed cncern abut air space restrictins and

164 APPENDIX 1 ESTIMATED COSTS OF ACQUISITION OF NON-FEDERAL HOLDINGS WITHIN AREAS RECOMMENDED FOR DESIGNATION 11 Legal Descriptin (Prir t any sljx:livisinl Ttal Acreage Parcel T.23M, R104W, Sec_ 16 N~r f Owners (If parcel has Type f Ownership by Estate (Federal, State Presently Prpsed fr Preferred Methd f Acquisitin been sljx:lividedl 2t Private, Other) Acquisitin (Purchase, Exchange, ~Yes. Nl therl Surface Slbsurface Land Prcessing Estate Estate Csts Csts State State N Exchange 64,000 Estimated Cst f Acquisitin ~ 75,000 Parcel fiz SESE, Sec. 6 M1/2 NW1/4, Sec. 8, T24N, R104W Private Private and N Exchange 16,000 Federal (cal) 14, The esti.. ted csts listed in this appendix in n way represent a frmal appraised value f the land r mineral estate, but are rugh estimates based n sales r exchanges f lands r mineral estates with similar characteristics t these included in the WSA. The estilll8tes fr purpses f establ ishing a range f ptential csts t the gvernnent f acquiring nn-federal hldings and in n way represent an ffer t purchase r exchange at the cst estimate included in this appendix_ ~I If a larger parcel as shwn in the first clumn has been recently sljx:livided r is jintly wned, list the number f wners that wuld be invlved in any acquisitin negtiatins_ ~ Where exchange is the prpsed acquisitin I!Iethd, nly eciiiinistrati ve csts f prcessing the exchange shuld be shwn. Land csts wuld nt be applicable. Where di rect purchase is prpsed, an estimate f bth the land csts end the prcessing csts shuld be prvided. 275

165 ALJtALI BASIN - EAST SAHQ DUJfIS WILDBRNESS STUDY AREA (WSA) 1. TIlE STtJPT AREA - ( Acr.,) The Alkal i Balli n - East Sand Dune. MSA (WY /317) i ncludes 12,800 acres f BLM-admi n i s t e r ed public land., wi th n pri vate r state i nhldings (see Table 1 ). The area is lcated i n east-central Sweetwater Cunty abut 21 miles nrtheast f Pint f Rcks. The area is bunded n the nrth by an unnamed rad and the nrthern edge f the active sand dunes, n the east by Cunty Rad 4-21, and n the suth and west by an unnamed rad, the checke,rbard land wnership pat tern and the suthern edge f the a c t ive sand dunes. Al l state a nd pri vate lands alng the bundary are e xcluded frm t he WSA ( 8ee Hap 1). The Al kal i Basi n-east Sand Dunes wilderness study area includes a prt i n f t he Killpecker Sand Dunes. These dune. traverse the unit frm west t east. The area ala cmpri ses a remnant f the Red Desert within the Great Div ide Ba s i n. The.and dunes them.elve. pre.ent a rlling tpgraphy and the draws and r i dges f Alkali Creek prvide tpgraphic relief. Vegetatin is limited t b i g sagebruah and bunchgrass cvered plains between sand dunes. The WSA wa s studi ed under Secti n 603 f the Federal Land Pli cy and Ma nagement Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Rck Springs Distri ct Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed i n Octber There were tw alternatives analyzed i n the EIS including All Wilderness and N Wilderness, which i s the recr.rnendatin in this reprt. 2. MCOMMEJIfDA'rION AJfD RA'r~ -- 0 Acr., R.c_.nd..d. fr Wlld.rn 12,800 Acr.. R.c~.nd..d fr Nn"lld..re The recarnendati n fr this WSA i s t release all 12,800 acres fr useu ther than wildern.... The All Wildernes. Alternative is cn.idered t be t he.nvi rnmentally preferable alternative a8 i t wuld re.ult i n the least change frm the natural envirnment ver the lng term. The recmmendati n f r thi s WSA wuld be implement ed i n a ma nner which wuld utilize all practi cal mea ns t a vid r mi n i mi ze envirnment al i mpacts. In recmmending thi. a rea f r nnwilderness, the cnflicts between wilderness and natur al ga. prductin were f pri mary cncern. The area has ptenti al fr the d i.cvery f nat ural gas a nd cndensate. The ttal recverable r rves e.timat.d t exis t i n the WSA are 73.1 BC,. f natural gas and 7 1, 238 bar rels f cnden. a t e. Twent y nat u r al ga. well. ara prjected fr develpment ver tha lng term within the WSA bundary. thar pr incipal f a c t rs in r e ccxfl11ending nnwilderne fr this WSA were t he lack f exemplary wilderne valu a nd the difficulty in which the area culd be managed a. wilderness. Althugh t he WSA cntains the wilderne values d cribed i n t he 2(c) criteri a f t he Wilderne Act, th e val ues a re nt pre nt t t he de gree deemed na c e ary fr wi ldarn d ignatin. The WSA is The Sand Dunes prvide utstanding r ecreatin pprtunities fr a unique type f uncnfined recreatin. Because the area i. cmpsed f large sand dunes, pprtuni t i es are limi ted in DCOpe. The majr recreatin activities in the WSA i nclude hunting and nature phtgraphy. Hiking and backpacking pprtuniti es are limited, mainly because f the large sand dunes that cver mst f the WSA. Lack f gd campsite. and lack f water in the area wuld nt serve t draw visitrs fr extended perids. In addi t i n, managing this area as wilderness wuld be extremely difficult. The lng narrw shape f the WSA wuld subject a v i sitr t varius utside sights and Bunds f adjacent land uses, including il and gas develpment and vehicles. Because f its lack f physical barriers and its remte lcati n, the WSA wuld be diffi cult t prtect r defend against ff-highway vehi cle use. narrw (1-2 mil ), l ng (11 mil ), and cn.i.t. p r i marily f large.and dune.. Wh i le the verall impac t t naturaln i light i n t he WSA, t he t h r abandned well site., t he.hut-i n well, and eight mile. f tw-trac k trai l. reduce. naturalne. s t the pint wh e re it is nt t ruly ut. t a ndi nq r unique. Out.tanding ppr tunitie. fr slitude are nly available in the dune., draws and ridge. in the. uthern prtin f the WSA. In t he remainder f the WSA, top<jraphy and vegetatin prvi de l i ttle natural. creeni n91 thea. prtins f the WSA wuld thus p rvi de l es. than utstanding pprtuni t i e s fr s l i t ude

166 TABLE 1 LAND STATUS AND ACREAGE SUMMARY OF THE STUDY AREA Within Wi lderness St udy Area SLM (Surf ac e and Subsurface) Split Estate (BLM Surface Only) Inhldlnga (state, Private) Ttal 12,800 ~O 12,800 Wit hin t he Re cnwended Wi lderness Bundary BLM (Wi thin WSA) BLM (Outsi de WSA) Split Estate (Within WSA) Split Estate (Outside WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recnvnended fr Wi lderness Inhl dig 8 (state, Priva te)..q withi n t he Ar e a nt ReclMlende d f r Wilderne88 SLM ( Su rface and Subsurface) split Esta t e Ttal SLM Land nt Recnwnended fr Wi lderness Tt al 12, ,800 12, CSIHSIA CONS IDERED I N DIVILQP I N9 TBI WILPIRIfISS 8ICOIIMIIfJ)ATI 9NS wild.rne Char.ct.riat ici A. Natural n! The Alkali Basin - East Sa nd Dunes WSA ia e e ntially in a natural cnditin. There are Brne minr intrusi ns includi ng 3 abandned well sites, a ahut- in gas we l l, and 2 tw-track trail s. At the time f the intensive inventry, the tw track trails, ne f the abandned well aites, and the shut-in gas well were insignificant t the verall natural character. The ther tw abandned well sites were temprary disturbances allwed under BLM Interim Management Plicy. B. Slitud'l There is pprtunity fr slitude in the suthern prtin f the WSA but it i8 nt utstanding. Many large sand dunes, draw., and ridges in this area prvide natural acreening frm lights and aunds f thers. Opprtunities fr slitude in ther prtins f the WSA are marginal aince there is little natural screening prvided by t;>graphy and vegetatin. C. Pri.itlv. and Uncnfiped Recre.tinl This area is cnducive t uncnfined recreatin such as hrseback riding, hiking, backpacking, nature study, and wildlife phtgraphy. Hunting in the Alkali Basin - East Sand Dunes WSA is mstly fr prnghrn antelpe and sage gruse. NONE R.cmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr NnwiJderness 1111 fffl:~ 1111 Spl;' Est... EOONE J State D. Special f.atur"1 The Killpecker Dunes, the largest active sand dune regin in Wyming, traverse the WSA. Thia WSA include. a remnant f the Red Desert area f the Great Divide Baain. The regin may be f scientific value fr the atudy f active sand dunea, their mvementa, and hw they ara atabilized. Valuable prnghrn antelpe habitat ia fund within the WSA. Als, the Sanda elk herd ccaainally inhabits the WSA during tha winter mntha. ~J@ Pdv.,. piy.r.ity f the NatiOnal "lld'm'" Pr,n,tin s,.t Alkali Basin/ East Sand Dunes Prpsal, 3, MILES WY /317 JUNE

167 A. IsD'pdipa the di.er.ity f p.tur,l.y.t 'nd f.,ture. a. repre.ented by ec.y.t... and laddfn., Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add a new eceystem r landfrm t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). Thie WSA wuld add a typl cal example f the Red Desert area f the Great Divide 8asin; hwever, better examples f the sagebrush steppe ecsystem are being recmnended including Hneycmb Buttes, Sand Dunes, and Oregn Butte.. This infrmatin i. aunwnarized in Table 2. 8.iley-kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain! Wyming s in Prvince' Sagebru8h Steppe TABLE 2 ECOSYSTEM REPRESENTATION NW?S Are.s Areas Acres NATION-WIDE 67,062 Other BLM Studies Areas Acres ,035 Manageability - (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The Alkali Basin - East Sand Dunes WSA is manageable as wilderness. Hwever, manageability is severely cmplicated by the area's size, penness, lack f tpgraphic relief, and cmmn character f vegetatin. The narrwness f the WSA limits the wilderness experience pprtunities because f the nearness f develped sites, nise, and the and the visibility f man's activities utside the area. Lack f physical barriers and remte lcatin wuld make it difficult t prtect r defend this WSA &gainst f,f rad vehicle use. Energy and Mineral Re.urce Value. Leasable minerals knwn t ccur in the WSA include il and g4s, and because their ptential fr discvery is high, it is an area f industry interest. The ttal recverable reserves estimated t exist within the 12, 800-acre WSA is 73.1 BCF f natural gas and 71,238 barrels f cndensate. The success rate fr wells drilled is expected t be a lw 15\. This indicates that develpment may ccur, but intense develpment is nt likely. There are n pre-flpma leases in the WSA. knwn t exist in the WSA. N ther mineral resurces are 67, ,035 B. A ipg th. pprtupiti" fr.litud. r pri.iti.e recreatin within day" dri.ipq tim- (fi hur.> f.. 10K papulatin center. : The Alkali saain - Ba.t sand Dune. WSA i. within a day'. driving time f tw majr ppulatin centers -- Salt Lake City - Ogden and Prv - Orem. There are c urrently twenty-ne wilderne area. and three primitive areas within a day's driving time f these ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f de.ignated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulati n centers. TABLE 3 I_pact. OD Other Resurces The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) sunvnarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all alternatives cnsidered including designatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. WI LDERNESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF HlIJOR POPULATION CENTERS Ppulatin Center. NlIPS Areaa Other BLM Area s Acres Areaa Studies.)cres Salt Lake Clty- Ogden Prv-Cram 18 1,925, , 225, ,705,086 5,451,742 C. B, lapcidg t h. gegr.phic di.tributip f wild.m r"'1 DeSignati n f the Alk.ali Sasin - Bast Sa nd Dunea wuld nt imprve the balance f gegraphic di.tributin f wilderne.b. There are currently in excess f 4 millin acre, f des i gnated wilderness in the v i cinity f theae ppulatin cent.r.. Example, f reg i nal ly de.ignated wilderness includes: Jedediah Smith (116,535 acre.), Bri dger Wi lderne,s (428,087 acres), Fitzpatrick Wilderne (198,525 a crea), Hi gh Ui ntahs Wilderness (160,615 acres), Nami Wilderne, (44,367 a c res), Mt. Olympus (8,599 acres), Mt. Ti mpangs Wildern (10,749 acres ), and the Twin Peaks Wi lderness (13,109 acres). Hwever, d ignatin f the WSA wul d add a "cld" high desert badlands area t the.y.tam and diver'ify representati n in the NWPS

168 I u. Tpic. Impac'te n Wilderness Values Impacta n Mineral Reeurce. Impact. n Rec:aatin and Visual Resurces Impact. n Veg.tatin/ Water /Sil. Impact. n Wildlife Valu Impacts n Live.tck Crazing Table 4 eaparati Su.aary f tb. Iapacta br Alt.rnativ. Prp d Actin (N Wild,m ain Actin) Mineral activity culd adversely alter the wilderness values if it increased in the area. Naturalness and slitude culd be impacted negatively due t the narrwness, amall size, penness, and lack f tpgraphic relief. Entire area pen t mineral leasing. Estimates f 73.1 BCF natural gas ($95 millin) and 1,424,763 BBLS cndensate ($27 millin) culd pssibly be recvered. N effect n recreatin pprtunities in the WSA. Mtrized vehicles wuld be limited t 8 miles f existing rads and trails and 14 miles f pssible new rads. Entire Area VRM Class III. Mderate adverse impacts t sil and minr adverse impact t vegetatin in the event f increased il and gas activity. All Wilderness 12,800 acres wuld be de Signated wilderness. Wilderness values wuld b retained in the WSA. The area wuld be withdra frm mineral attachment : 1-1 leasing. Estimates 0 f SCF natural gas ($95 millin) and 1, 424,7 SBLS cndensate (S27 millin) c01h.d pssibly be fregne. N effect n recreatin pprtunities in the WSA except eliminatin f mtrized vehicle use i n the area. Entire Area VRM Class I. N significant impacts t the area. Sme shrt term displacement N effect n wi ldlife. f big game in the event f increased il and gas activity. Prnghrn are main big game species and wuld nly be slightly affscted. N change in the area's big game numbers. N effect n grazing use. N effect n grazing management practices r numbers. Occasinal incnvenience t livestck. peratr because f restrictin n mtrized vehicle u.e. Lcal Scial and Ecn_19 Cn.Ad.ratip. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Suaaary f "SA-Specific Public C_ent. Inventry a A ttal f 68 colnnents were received n this unit - 64 frm Wyming and fur frm ther states. Eighteen favred inclusin f the unit as a wilderness study area, 44 ppsed it. inc~usin, and five were in between. One cmment included lcatins f il and gas wells that were used t evaluate intrusins; the thers we re a general vte fr r against wilderness, addressed supplemental values, r addressed livestck use, recreatinal use, r energy develpments. I,rly Draft BISa During the public review f the Draft EIS, 565 cnunen~8 w~re received. There was cncern that livestck grazing and il and gas actl.vitl.es wuld be excluded frm designated wilderness areas. Wildlife values and ff-rad vehicle (ORV) use were ther cncerns raised during this time. Wyming Recreatin cnvnissin ppsed wilderness anywhere there were histric trails r areas adjacent t Natinal Freet System RARE II lands. The Gvernr's ffice expressed cncern abut State inhlding shuld any f the areas be designated. All cmments were cnsidered and a Revised Draft EIS was released in Nvember Revi.ed Draft EISI Cmments were received frm 455 agencies (federal, state and lcal), rganizatins, businesses and individuals. Many f th~ letters received frm individuals were in respnse t envirnmental grups "Wilderness Alert" encuraging SLM t recrrrnend all acreage under study t be designated. Of all the cnvnents received, 74' supprted wilderness designatin fr all 13 WSAs and 23' ppsed any additinal wilderness areas i n Wyming. Few cnvnents were received addressing site-specif ic areas. Generally, industry ppsed designatin while envirnmental and wildlife grups supprted designatin f areas as wilderness

169 1. TO ST'UDY AREA - 16,990 acr ALKALI DRAW WILDERN!iSS STUDY luu!a (WSA) The Alkali Draw WSA (WY ) includes 16,990 acres f BLM lands and 640 acres f State land (see Table 1). The area is lcated 25 miles nrth f Pint f Rcks, Wyming and cntains a prtin f the Great Divide Basin - Red Desert area. The WSA is bunded n the nrth by cunty Rad 4-21, n the east, suth, and west by unnamed rads. All State lands alng the WSA bundary are excluded (see Map 1). The unit cntains a remnant f the Great Divide Baain - Red Desert area. Tw majr landfrms lie within the Alkali Draw WSA. One f these is Alkali Draw, which is dminated by the draw and its tributaries draining eastwardly frm the Bush Rim and Steambat Muntain prtins f the Cntinental Divide. A series f draws r canyns extend west-east thrugh the unit t create a "washbard" tpgraphic effect. Alkali Rim is the secnd ecsite and the "washbard" tpgraphic effect is mre tightly cnfined and rugged vers us the first ecsite t the nrth. The rim dminates the site's suthern aspect and exhibits clrful blue rck escarpments. Big sagebrush t s the dminant vegetatin cmmunity ver much f the area, alng with saltbus.l. Greas8Wd ie cmmn alng the majr drainages. Valuable habitat fr mule deer and elk is fund within the area. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Rck Springs District Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in Octber There were tw alternativea analyzed in the 8IS, including All Wilderness and N Wilderness, which is the recrrrnendat i n in this reprt. 2. RBCOMMBJ!I)ATION AND RATIONALE -- 0 acre. rec_ended fr wild.rna 16,990 acre. rec_edded fr Dnwilderne The recnvnendatin fr this WSA ia t release the entire area (16,990 acres) fr uses ther than wilderness (Bee Map 1). The All Wilderness Alternative is cnsi dered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result i n t he least change frm the natural envirnment ver the lng term. The rec..jninendatin fr th ~ s WSA wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. In arriving at a recmmendatin f nnwilderness, the WSA ' s value fr il and gas prductin and its less-than-exemplary wilderness values were primary cncerns. The Alkali Draw WSA has high ptential fr the discvery f il and gas and has pre-flpma leases n apprximately 15' (2,705 acres) f the area, mstly lcated in the western prtin. Mineral industry i nterest and the three prducing wells i ndicate that this area has ptential fr mre il and gas develpment. Five wells are prjected t be drilled n the pre-p'lpma leasea. An additinal 22 wells are projected fr develpment i n the remainder f the WSA. Recverable reserves estimated i n the WSA i nclude 38.1 Bep' f natural gas and 1. 5 millin barrels f cnden te. Althugh the wilderness values described in the 2( c) criteria f the Wilderness Act are present in the WS1\, the values are nt present t the degree deemed necesaary fr wi ldernesa deaignatin. While the verall impact n the naturalness f the WSA is slight, the 8.5 miles f tw track trails and three well aite. are nticeable and raduce the natural ness t the pint where it is nt truly exemplary r.ignificant enugh t warrant designatin. The WSA has utstanding pprtunities fr slitude, primitive and uncnfined recreatin. The terrain des prvide an excellent base fr a variety f primitive recreatin pprtunities. Hwever, the quality f t~e pprtunities ia nt necei:lsarily unique t this area nr are they sufficiently significant t warrant designatin

170 Table 1 Land Statue and Acreage Summary f the Study Area Within Wildernes s Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (state, private) Ttal 16, MQ 17,630 Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (withi n WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhldi ngs (state, private) ---..\l Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Spli testate Ttal BLM Land Nt Recmmended fr Wil derness 16, ,990 Inhldi nq8 (state, private) CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING rre WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATI ONS Wild_me.. Characteri. tica A. Haturaln : This WSA is fr the mat part i n a natural cnd i t in. There are ni ne t w-t r ack trails and three well aites i nside the area. Thes e man-made i ntrusi ns are Bubstantially unnticeable and are c urrently underging natura l r evegetatin. Sme f the tw-track trails are us e d peridica I y by l i vestck per atrs and recreatinists. NONE Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness III N#~ III Spht Estate I I State Alkali Draw Prpsal Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness I?t/~~ P,;vate MILES WY June B7

171 B. Slitude: This WSA ffers pprtunity fr slitude. The "W~9 hbard " tpgraphic screening prvided by the draws r canyns helps cntrlbute. t these pprtunities. Several persns culd be in the WSA at the same tlme and nt be aw.re f e.ch ther's presence. C. PrYiti.e and Upcnfined Recreatinl This area ffers primitive and uncnfined recre.tin, such.s hiking, hrseb.ck riding, camping, phtgraphy, and sightseeing. Sme small caves are fund in the area and ffer pprtunity fr recreatin. The rims and cliff escarpments prvide sme nn-technical climbing pprtunities a nd challenging hikes. D. Special reatures: Eclgical, gelgical, sc~entific, educatin~l" scenic, and histric special features enhance the wllderness characterlstl.c9 f the WSA. Ecene fssils (largely snails, clams, and lea,:,es) can be, fund in aeveral layers f gelgie strat., suggesting a frmer rlparian habltat which ccurred in the area ver millin years ag. Tne fssils ccur in mst f the Wasatch Frmatin and in the Ti ptn shale f the Green River Prmatin. The gray and yellw clratin asbciated with the escarpments and the sandstne frmatins invite gelgic explratin. Di.eraity in the... tiod.l Wilderueas PreaervatiD Stste. A.,m.nding tbe di.ersi:tx f D.tural ayst_s.nd fe.tures as represented by ec:syat_a add landfras, Wilderness designatin f the WSA wuld nt add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the Natinal wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). Alkali Draw is a typical example f the Red Desert area f the Great Divide Basin, and is typical f hundreds f thusands f acres f western r.ngel.nd. The Wyming Basin Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem is already repre.ented in the NWPS by ne existing wilderness area (Clud Peak) and there are Beveral ther sagebrush steppe ecsystems that fall within BLM's wilderness study area a being examined (Bee Table 2). B.iley-Kuchler NWPS Areas Classlflcatin 6llU Mn Dma1n/Prv1nce/PNV Dry Dmain/ Wym1ng 8u1n Prvince, Saqebruah Steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NATIONWIDE 67,026 67,026 Other BLM Studies 6llU ~ , ,315 B. Assessing the Opprtunities fr slitude r Prilliti.,e Recreatin Witbin a Day'S Driving Ti (Five Hurs) f... ir PpulatiD C.Dter., The Alkali Draw WSA is within a day's driving time f tw majr ppulatin centers - Salt Lake City- Ogden and Prv-Orem. There are currently 21 wilderness areas and 3 primitive areas within a day's driving time f these ppulatin centers. Table 3 s ummarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther elm 8tudy areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Ppulatin Centers Salt Lake City- Ogden Prv-Orem Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies ~ Acres Areas Acres 18 1,925, ,705, ,225, ,451,742 C. aalancing the Gegraphic Distributin f Wilderu.s. Ar.a.: The Alkali Draw WSA wuld nt imprve the balance f gegraphic distributin f wilderness. There are currently in excess f 4 millin acres f designated wilderness in the vicinity f these ppulatin centera. Examples f reginally designated wilderness includes: Jedediah Smith (116,535 acres), Bridger Wilderness (428, 087 acres), Fitzpatrick Wilderness (198,525 acres), High Uintahs Wilderness (160,615 acres), Nami Wilderness (14,715 acres), Mt. Olympus (8,599 acres), Mt. Timpangs Wilderness (10,749 acres), and the Twin Peaka Wilderness (13,109 a cres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a "cld" high desert badlands a rea t the system and diversify representatin f 1n t he NWPS. "an.geability (the area must be capable fr being managed t preserve its wilderness character) A prtin f this WSA is judged nt t be manageable as wilderness. Apprximately 1 5 percent ( 2,705 acres) f the WSA is cvered by pre-'flpma il.nd gas leases, mstly in the western part f the WSA. It is prjected that five new wells will be develped, alng with the cnstructi n f 2-3 miles f new access rads i n and t hrugh the suthwestern and western prtin f the WSA. Wilderness values f naturalness and slitude wuld effectively be lst n 2,705 acres due t the sights and Bund f develpment in this area. The remainder f the area is judged t be manageable as wilderness. Energy and Mineral Resurce Value. Mineral industry interest and prducing wells indicate that this area has ptential fr mre il and gas develpment. Apprximately 15 percent (2,705 acre.) f the WSA has pre-flpma leases and wuld cntinue t be subject t valid exis ting rights. All f the pre-flpma leases are lcated in the western prtin f the WSA. The western prtin f the WSA i8 in the Treasure Unit, which had a cumulative prductin f 9,412 barrels (BBL) f il and 103,910 thusand cubic feet (HCF) f gas frm the Huddy sandstne thrugh 1982 (Wyming Oil and Gas Cnservatin Cmmissin)

172 Th. ttal recverable reserves within the WSA are estimated at 38.1 BCF f natural gas and 1,547,892 barrels f cncentrate. These figures include paaible prductin frm the Lewis, Mesaverde, Frntier, Mwry, and Muddy frmatina. H ther mineral resurces are knwn t ccur within the WSA. Iwpa \' n th.r R urc Th. fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsidered, including designatin r nn-designatin f thg entir e area as wilderness. Issue Tpic Wilderness Values Mineral Resurces Recreatin and Visual Resurces Vegetatin/Sil/ Water Wildlife Livestck Grazing Table 4 Cmparative Summary f Impacts by Alternative All Wilderness Prpsed Actin f N Wilderness) 16,990 acres wuld be de- Mineral develpment culd sigsig-nated wilderness. nificantly adversely alter the 2,705 acres f WSA has pre- wilderness values. At least FLPMA leases and wuld be half f the natural character SUbject t valid existing f the area wuld be lst due rights naturalness, slitude, t develpment in the lng and primitive and uncnfined term 20\ f this lss in narecreatin wuld be adverse- turalness wuld be due t il ly affected by il and gas and gas develpment n preactivity perating under FLPMA leases. pre-flpma leases. The area wuld be withdrawn frm additinal leasing. Valid existing rights may be exercised n 15' f the area (pre-p'lpma leas8a). Prductin pre FLPMA leases estimated at 6.9 BCF ($9 millin) f natural gas and 278,620 BBLS ($5. 3 millin). Recreatin pprtunities as Bciated with the use f mtr ized vehicles wuld be reduced. Apprximately 35 hunter-days wuld be lst due t vehicle clsure. Entire area wuld be rated VRM Class I. Minr adverse impacts wuld ccur t vegetatin, sil, and water due t il and gas activity n pre-flpma leases. Mderate adverse impacts wuld ccur t wildlife due t disturbance by il and gas activities n pre-flpma leases. N appreciable effect n grazing use. Sme increased cat t livestck peratrs due t restrictins n use f mtrized vehicles. Entire area pen t mineral entry. Prductin f il and gas estimated at 38.1 BCF ($49.5 millin) f natural gas plub 1,547,892 BBL f cndensate ($29.4 millin) wuld be recvered. Recreatinal use f the WSA wuld remain at current lw levels. Entire area is rated VRH Class III. Mderately adverse impacts wuld ccur t Bils and vegetatin and minr adverse impacts t water due t il gas activity. Highly adverse impacts wuld ccur t wildlife due t disturbance by il and gas activity. N appreciable effect n grazing use

173 Lcal Scial and Ecn.ic CD.ideratin. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n i mpacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Su..ary f WSA-.ecific Public C_ent. In".ntry: During the inventry phase, 66 cmments were received n this unit, 59 frm Wyming and 7 frm Clrad, Missuri, and Utah. Frty-seven ppsed inclusin f this unit &s a wilderness study area and 19 favred its inclusin. Only three crrrnents were specific enugh t help determine wilderness qualities and characteristics: Tw f these bjected t the prpsed WSA and the ther dealt with il and gas explratin, liveatck uses, and supplemental values. The decisin t include Alkali Draw as a WSA was appealed t the Interir Sard f Land Appeals (ISLA). In its ruling n the appeal in 1983, the ISLA upheld the Bureau's decisin t include the area as a WSA ; N cmments were received during the MPP cnwnent perid.!arly Draft!IS: During the public review f the Draft EIS, 565 cnvnents were received. There was cncern that livestck grazing and il and gas activities wuld be excluded frm designated wilderness areas. Wildlife values and ff-rad vehicle (ORV) use were ther cncerns raised during this time. Wyming Recreatin Cmmissin ppsed wilderness anywhere there were histric traila r areas adjacent t Natinal Frest System RARE II lands. The Gvernr ' s ffice expressed cncern abut State inhlding shuld any f the areas be designated. All cmments were cnsidered and a Revised Draft EIS was released in Nvember 1988.,,1 d Draft IUS: Cmments were received frm 455 agencies (federal, state and lcal), rganizatins, businesses and individuals. Many f the letters received frm individuals were in respnse t envirnmental grups' "Wilderness Alert.. encuraging SLM t recrrrnend all acreage under study t be designated. Of all the cmments received, 74' supprted wilderness designatin fr all 13 WSAs and 23' ppsed any additinal wilderness areas in Wyming. Few cmments were received addressing site-specific areas. Generally, industry ppsed designatin while envirnmental and wildlife grups supprted designatin f areas as wilderness. 1. THE STUDY AREA - ~«515 acre. RED LAg WILDERNESS STUJ)J ARl!A (WSAI The Red Lake Wilderness Study Area (WSA) (WY ) includes 9,515 acres f BLM land with n private r state inhldings (see Table 1). The WSA is lcated in east-central Sweetwater Cunty, abut 21 miles nrtheast f the twn f Pint f Rcks. The area is bunded n the suth by Cunty Rad 4-20; n the east by the Rck Springs District bundary fence1 n the nrth by an unnamed rad running east-west and the nrthern edge f the active sand dunes; and n the west by state land and Cunty Rad All state lands alng the bundary are excluded frm the WSA. This WSA is characterized by rlling brush cvered hills and stabilized dunes in its western prtin, active and partially stabilized sand dunes thrughut the central, eastern, and suthern sectins, and the flat, dry lake bed f Red Lake in the nrth. The dune areas frm a prtin f the Killpecker Sand Dunes. Vegetatin cnsists f sagebrush species, rabbitbrush, and greasewd within the draws and grassy wet meadws between the dunes. The WSA cntains yearlng prnghrn antelpe habitat and a herd f desert elk ccasinally inhabit the WSA during winter mnths. Cytes are quite cmmn thrughut the W5A, and n rare ccasins, bbcats can be seen. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA), and was included in the Rck Springs District Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statemen~ finalized in There were tw alternatives analyzed in the EIS, including All Wilderness and N Wilderness, which is the recmmendatin f this reprt. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALB -- 0 acre. rec_ended fr wilderne 9,515 acr.. rec_ended fr Dnwilderne The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t release the entire area fr uses ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness alternative is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it wuld result in the least change t the natural envirnment ver the lng term. The recmmendatin fr this WSA wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. Althugh the wilderness values described in the 2(c) criteria f the Wilderness Act are present in the WSA, these values are nt present t the degree deemed necessary fr wilderness designatin. The area's size, tpgraphy, and cnfiguratin wece prime cnsideratins in determining the quality f the wilderness values in this WSA. The WSA is lng and narrw, with a tpgraphy that is predminantly lw rlling sand dunes. BLM ' s intensive inventry cncluded that pprtunities fr slitude in the Red Lake WSA are excellent. The tpgraphy, vegetative patterns and sand dune characteristics all cmbine t give the visitr a sense f islatin. Hwever, these qualities and pprtunities are nt necessarily unique t this a rea, r significant enugh t warrant wilderness designatin. Opprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined recreatin are als available i n the WSA, but these values are nt rated as utstanding. Because the area is primarily a large Band dune, pprtunities fr primitive recreatin a re limited in scpe. The majr recreatin activi ties include nature phtgraphy and Sightseeing. Hi king and backpac king pprtunities are limited, primarily because f the large sand dune that cvers mst f the WSA. The lack f gd campsites and the lack f water i n t he area wuld nt serve t draw visitrs fr extended peri ds

174 The area ' s naturalness is adversely affected t sme extent by adjacent land u e. The eights and sunds assciated with i l and gas field develpment that surrunds the WSA wuld cause Brne lss f the perceptin f nat uralness in the WSA. The WSA cntains an estimated BCF f natural gas and 1.06 BBLS f cndensate. The value f these resurces ($92,000,000) and the current activity nearby are the principle reasns fr the nn-suitable recmme ndatin. ~--+'-----~r--t---t--~~t=j-~~~-- IT 24 N J---'~--~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~--~~~T 22 N R98W R97W NONE Recmmended fr Wildern ess Rec mmended fr Nnwilderness 1111 N#~ IIII Split Estate ENONe J State 294 Red Lake Prpsal MILES WY June, 1990 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

175 within Wilderness Study Area Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhlding9 (state, private) Ttal Within the Recmmended wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recrrmended fr Wilderness Inhldings (state, private) Within the Area Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness BLM Split Estate Ttal Nt Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhldlngs (state, private) 9, , , , Criteria Cnaid.r.d in Dev.lping the Wild.rD R.c_.ndatin Wild.m Cbaract,riatica A. Naturaln : The Red Lake WSA is in a near-natural cnditin. Intrusi ns i n the WSA include a minr tw-track trail frm the western bundary rad; a well and accmpanying water trugh, just inside the nrthern bundary rad; and a few randm tracks frm ff-rad vehicles. 8. Slitud.: Opprtunities fr slitude in the WSA are excellent. The WSA ie relatively pen, but has tpgraphic relief and vegetati n that prvides acreening. The use f mtr ized vehicles i n cnnectin with range management activities wuld be infrequent and wuld nt affect wilderness values, except fr the shrt perid f time when the activit i es are taking place (prbably n mre than a day r two). These activities wuld prbably nt be necessary e very year. Slitude wuld be the nly wilderness value adversely affected by these activities. c. Pri.itiv. aad Upcnfined R.cr.atin t Accrdi ng t the intensive inventry, this area is cnducive t primitive and uncnfined recreatin. Raptr., wild hrsea, antelpe, cytes, and a variety f small mammals challenge the wildlife phtgrapher. Hiking, backpacking, camping, hrseback riding, hunting, and sightsee ing fr btanical, zlgical, gelgical, and archelgical features are ther experiences avail able t the visitr. Hwever, because the area mainly cnsists t a large sand dune, campsites and water are limited and thus limit the scpe a nd quality f these pprtunities. D. Sp.cial Features I The Killpecker Sand Dunes traverse the WSA frm west t east. The WSA includes a remnant f the Red Desert area f the Great Divide Basin. This regin rna:, be f significant scientific value fr the study f active sand dunes, t heir mvements, and hw they are stabilized. Diversity in the Natinal Wildern.ss Pr'.ervatin Stat A. Expanding th. Div.raity f Natural St.t and F.ature. a. R.pr ented by Be.y.te.a and Landfrllal Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). Althugh this WSA wuld add a typical example f the Red Desert area f the Great Divide Basin, Adbe Twn and Hneycmb Buttes are recmmended fr partial designatin, bth f which cntain the.altbush-grea.ewd ecsystem. This infrmatin is summarized in Table 2. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Omain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain/ Wyming Basin Prvince/ Sal tbush-greasewd Table 2 Ecsystem Representat in NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies Area Acres 6 H ~ NATIONWIDE ,549 lrll1i1l!< ,549 B. A ing th. Opprtunities fr Slitude r Pri.itive R.cr.atin Withi n a Day'. Driving ri (Five Rura> f Majr Ppulatin Cepter., The Red Lake WSA is within a day ' s driving time f 2 majr ppulatin centers--salt Lake City-Ogden and Prv-Orem. There are currently 21 wilderness areas and 3 primitive areas within a day ' s driving t i me f these ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within f ive hurs drive f the ppulatin centers. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers Ppulatin NWPS Areas Otbe[!!l.tI tud!~!! Centers Areas li nl! t. l:n Mn Salt Lake City- 18 1,925, , 705,086 Ogden Prv-Or em 21 2,225, , 451,

176 c. "l'pcipg the Gegr.phic Di.tributiQ f Wilderne Area.: Designatin f Red Lake WSA as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f gegraphic diatributin f wilderness. There are currently i n excess f 4 millin acres f designated wilderness in the vicinity f theae ppulatin centers. Example. f reginally designated wilderness includes! Jedediah Smith ( 116,535 acree), Bridger Wilderness (428,087 acres), Fitzpatrick Wilderness (198,525 acres), High Uintahs Wilderness (160,615 acres), Nami Wilderness (44,367 acres), Mt. Olympus (8,599 acres), Mt. Timpangs Wilderness (10,749 acres), and the Twin Peaks Wilderness (13,109 acres). Hwever, designatin f t he WSA wuld add a "cld" h i gh desert badlands area t the system and prvide representatin f a typical example f the Red Desert area f the Great O':'vide 8asin in the NWPS. ",p.g_abilit.y (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t pr rv. it. wilderness character) Th. Red Lake WSA is manageable a8 wilderness. Hwever, manageability wuld be extdtmely difficult because f the area's size, penness, and lack f tpgraphic relief. Lack f physical barriers and remte lcatin wuld make it difficult t prtect r defend against ORV use. The shape f the WSA a190 cntributes t the management diffi culty because the area can be easily l ngressed and egressed by vehicles at a multitude f lcatins. This adversely affects management f wilderness values. Inergy and Mineral Resurce V.lue. Leaseable minerals knwn t ccur in the WSA inc Iud. il and ga.. Althugh the ptential fr the discvery f il and ga. ia lw, it is an area f industry interest (success rati fr w.ll. drilled in the WSA is estimated at 15'). Wells drilled adjacent t the WSA n the west and suth have been dry hles. There are n recrds f explratin within the WSA itaelf, where active sand dunes make il and 9as develpment very difficult. There are n ~~e;!~:~ i~i~h:n~s~~a leases in the WSA. N ther mineral resurces are knwn tapacta n ther Resurce. The fllwing cmparative impact table (Table 4) sutl'lnarizea the effects n pertinent resurces fr all the alternative. cnsid.red, including designatin r nn-designatin f the entire area a. wild.rn

177 I,'u. tpic, Impacta n Wilderne Impacta n Mineral Reaurce. Impacts n Recreatin and Vi aual Resurces I mpacts n vegetatinl Water/Si l. Impact. n Wildlife Valuea Table e.paratiy' Su.aary f the I.pact. by Alt.ernative All "i1d,m, 9, SIS acr wuld be d ignated. Wilderne valuee wuld be retained in the WSA. R Actin (H wilderne ) Mineral develpment culd significantly adversely alter the wilderness values. Naturalness and slitude culd be i mpacted negatively due t the small size, relative penness, and l ack f tpgraphic relief. The area wuld be with- Entire area pen t mindrawn frm mineral eral leasing. Estimates le.alng. Estimates f 54.4 BCF natural gas f 54.4 Bey natural gas ($72,000, 000) and ($72,000,000) and 1,059,109 BBLS cnden BBLS cnden- sate ($20,000,000) culd ~t e ($20,000,000) culd pssibly be recvered. pssibly be fregne. N effect n recreatin pprtunities in the WSA except eliminatin f mtrized vehicles in the area. Psitive effects n vegetat in, water, sils with a mtrized vehicle clsure. N effect n wildlife. Sme ahrt-term displacement f big game due t i l and gaa activi ty. N change i n the area '. b i g game numbera. N effect n recreatin pprtunities in the WST\. Off-rad vehicles wuld be limited t existing rads and trails. Highly adverse i mpacts Visu wuld ccur t sils and mderate adverse i mpacts wuld ccur t vegetatin if il and gas act i vity increased. New il and gas l e ase s a t the far east e nd wuld be cndi t i ned t prt e c t cruci al deer wint e r range. Oil and gas peratrs wuld be r e qui red t reclaim areas n lnger needed fr il and gas explrati n a nd prductin. Lcal Scial and Zcn_ic Cnsideratin. Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue i n the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during the study f this WSA. Suaaary f WSA - Specific C_ent. Inventry: During the inventry phase, 14 cnvnents were received n this unit-thirteen frm Wyming and ne frm Clrad. Six favred inclusin f the unit as a wilderness study area, seven ppsed its inclusin, and ne had n pinin. Three cnvnents which included specific details n intrusins were used t evaluate wilderness criteria; the thers were general vtes fr r against wilderness r addressed values cvered during the inventry phase. N cnvnents were received during the MFP cmment perid. Barly Draft EIS: During the public review f the Draft EIS, 565 cmments were received. There was cncern that livestck grazing and il and gas activities wuld be excluded frm designated wilderness areas. Wildlife values and ff-rad vehicle (ORV) use were ther cncerns raised duri l"\g this time. Wyming Recreatin Cnvnissin ppsed wilderness anywhere c here were hist r ic trails r areas adjacent t Natinal Frest System RARE II lands. The Gvernr's ffice expressed cncern abut State inhlding shuld any f the areas be designated. All cmments were cnsidered and & Revised Draft EIS was released in Nvember Revi.ed Draft EtSs Cmments were received frm 455 agencies (federal, s tate and lcal), rganizatins, businesses and individuals. Many f the letter s received frm individuals were in respnse t envirnmental grups ' "Wilderness Alert.. encuraging BLM t recmmend all acreage under study t be designated. Of all the cmments received, 74\ supprted wilderness designatin fr all 13 WSAs and 23\ ppsed any addi tinal wilderness a r eas i n Wyming. Few cnvnents were received addressing site-specifi c areas. Generally, industry ppsed designatin while envirnmental and wildl i fe grups supprted designatin f areas &S wi lderness. Impact. n Li v t ck N effe c t n grazing N eff<....:t n grazing use. management practices n number.. Occa.inal i ncnveni ence t l i veatck peratr becaua. f restrictin n mtri zed vehi cle uae

178 HONEYCOMB BUTTES WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (WSA) 1. T!I!l STUDY AREA Acre. The Hneycmb Buttes WSA (WY ) i ncludes 39,908 acres f BLM land, 640 acre. f split estate land, and 640 acres f state land (see Table 1). The are. i a lcated in nrtheastern Sweetwater Cunty, apprximately 52 miles nrtheast f Rck Springs. The area is bunded n three sides by u nnamed, unpaved rad., and n the east s i de by the Rck Springs District bundary fenca. A rad and 40 acreb f private land are cherryatenuned ut f the WSA alng the Sand Creek drainage. State and private lands alng the bundary are excluded frm the WSA (see Map 1). The unit cntains several terrain types ranging frm sagebrush hills and gre.aewd flata surrunding the badlands t the erding buttes themselves with their many clred bluffe, small draws, and side canyns. The Hneycmb Butte. WSA is ne f the best examples f badlands tpgraphy in Wyming and althugh nt ae extensive r quite aa apectacu1ar, they cmpare favrably with t e Badland. Natinal Mnument in Suth Dakta. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA), and was included in the Rck Springs District Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in Octber There were three alternatives analyzed in the EI S including All Wilderness, N Wilderness, and Partial Wilderness, in which 37,287 acres are recmmended fr wilderness and 3,901 acres wuld be releasee fr nnwilderness uses. Partial Wilderness ia the recrr.nendatin in this reprt. RECOICMEIfDATIOM AJfI) RAtIONALI 37,287 acre. rec..ended fr wilderness 3,901 acre. rec.. ended fr nnwilderness The recocmiendatin fr this WSA ie t designate 37,287 acres (36,647 acres red.ral and 640 acr split e.tate) as wilderness and release 3,901 acres fr u s ther than wilderness. The All Wilderness Alternative is cnsidered t be the envirnmentally preferabl e alternative as it wuld result in the least chanqe t the natural envi rnment ver the lng term. The r dcmmendatin wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld use all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts. Appendix 1 lists all inhlding and split estate tracts and prvides additinal i nfrmati n n acquisitin f inhlding and split estate minerals. In recmmendinq thia prtin f the WSA fr wilderneas, the high quality f the area'. wildern value. was a key cnsideratin. The 37,287 acres recmmended fr wilderne deslqnatin cntaina the mst utstanding wilderne value. in the WSA and i. least affected by human activity. The highly clrful and rugged de.ert badlands prvide utstanding pprtunities fr alitude. The ruqged tpqraphy prvides mre than adequate screening t ensure that n. culd escape the eiqhte and sunds f thers. Althugh a few tw-track trails intrude int this prtin f the WSA, the area remaina in a highly natural-appearing state. The ersive nature f this part f the WSA causes mst surface impacts t rapidly fade int Obscurity. The recreatin values f the prtin f the WSA recmmended fr wilderness are utstanding. This prtin f the WSA ffers exemplary pprt unities fr hiking, camping, and rckhunding amng the many twisted and cntrted shapes f the badlands. Nntechnical climbing n the clay and rcky buttes i s an utstanding experience and caving in the ersin caves fund in the buttes is a highly unusual experience. DeSignatin f this prtin f the WSA wuld add an ecsystem nt currently represented in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). The 37, 287 acre a recmmended fr wilderness designatin cntain the Wymi ng Basin/Saltbush-Greasewd ecsystem which is nt fund in any designated wilderness. Hneycmb Buttes represents ne f the better e xamples f badlands tpgraphy in Wyming. The 3, 90l-acre area nt recmmended fr wilderness designatin is separated frm the rest f the WSA by a rad and 40 acres f private land. The rad leading t the private land frm the east is cherrystemmed," s it des nt truly lie within the WSA. Hwever, the rad cntinues west frm the private land, eventually exiting the WSA. The rad is mderately used t facilitate livestck grazing management and il and gas explratin. Releasing this prtin f the WSA fr nnwildernesa uses eliminates a cherrystem and thus greatly imprves manageability f the recmmended area by eliminating ptential cnflicts with the use f the private land

179 Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Summary f the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhlding (State, private) Ttal Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLH (within WSA) BLH (utside WSA) Split Estate (wi thi n WSA)!! Split Estate {utsi de WSAl!! Ttal BLM Land Recmmended fr Wi lderness Acres 39, ill 41,188 36, ,287 Within the Area Nt Recmmend e d fr Wilderness BLH Split Estate!! Ttal BLM Land nt Re cmmended fr Wilderness Inhlding (Sta te, private)!/ 3, , !! Appendix 1 is a detailed descriptin f inhlding and split estate tracts included within the study. Fr purpses f this reprt, split estate lands are defi ned nly as thse lands with federal surface and nn federa l subelurface (mi nerals). Lands that have federal minerals but nn federal surface shuld be classified in this reprt by the wner f the surface estate. 3. Criteria Cn.id.red in Develping the Wildeme Rec_endatin Wild.rne Char.cteri.ti c. A. Naturaln : The hneycmb Buttes WSA is essentially natural in character with sme minr intrusins. These a re primarily fund in the frm f tw-track trails. Much f the area i s h i ghly erdible and surface impacts fade relatively quickly. The Hneycmb Buttes prper and the Nrth Frk f Bear Cr eek drainage, in the cre f the recmmended area, is a highly clrfu,l and rugged desert badlands area. This area is relatively f ree f man's activities due t the severe and sharp e dged tpgraphy f this terrain. Bladed rads in the area received sme reclamatin wrk and have since healed cnsiderably due t the high ersive rate f this area. The headwaters f Red Creek and Sand Creek are relatively wide drainages bunded by rugh erded escarpments n three sides with wide flat benches between the drainages. The Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness llnd uuide WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness III Spl;t Estate I I State ~ Private HnllYcmb Buttes Pr""",1 4 I MILES WY June, BEST COPY AVAILABLE

180 large bluffa have stpped mst f man*s activities in the area althugh Bme intrusins hava taken place in tha drainage bttms and n the benches. These ara relatively minr and fairly deterirated t a pint where they really d nt affect the naturalness f this prtin f the unit. The majrity f the nnsuitable area cnsists f draws and drainages in the nrthern hills sectin that have allwed man fairly easy access thrugh the area. The accessibility has allwed the area t be mre develped with il and gas activity, higher livestck grazing use, and many mre raded areas due t the flatter terrain. B. slitud.! The prtin f this WSA recmmended fr wilderness ffers utstanding pprtunities fr slitude. The many cliffs, ridges, draws, and secl uded grtt. prvide numerus areas where a persn culd experience slitude. Tpgraphy f this type prvides fr effective screening f individuals frm each ther. The superb clratin f the buttes enhances ne's appreciatin fr the undisturbed natural setting f the Hneycmbs. This area prvides sme f the mst utstanding pprtunities fr slitude that can be fund in the Red Desert f Wyming. The prtin f the WSA nt recmmended fr wilderness des nt have similar exemplary pprtunities fr slitude. This prtin cnt:ains mre evidence f man's activities and has gentler terrain, thereby making it difficult t iind large expanses where a visitr culd avid the eighta and sunds f thers. C. 'riaiti"e and Uncnfiped Recreat.inl The Hneycmb Buttes WSA prvides ut.tanding pprtunities fr varius kinds f primitive and uncnfined recreatin. These pprtunities include rckhunding, nntechnical climbing n the cl.y and rcky buttes, spelunking in the many ersin caves fund in the buttes, and wildlife and utdr phtgraphy. Opprtunities als exist fr backpacking, hunting, and hrseback riding. The remarkable scenic quality f thia WSA greatly enhances the recreatinal values. D. Special F.atur : The Hneycmb Buttes WSA is hst t a number f int ere.ting eclgical, and gelgical valuea. Due t the wild nature f the cuntry, r elatively rare r shy animal. aa muntain lins, bbcats, and elk are knwn t use this area. The many mud caves fund in the buttes harbr little brwn bata, small fted mytia (bat), and great hrned wls. The gelo9ic features f thia WSA have spectacular erded buttes and badlands with unique clre, textures, varietiea and frma. It ia ne f the best faa i l and faail cast bearing frmatins in the regin. Numerus fragments f fssilized turtle shells may be fund scattered ver the surface f the butt... In additin, algae, wd, and many ther fssil casts may be fund n the surface. Di.veraity in t.he Natinal Wilderne Prl.enatiR Sy.t.. A. Expanding the diver.ity f Datural.y.te and feature. 1"13 repre.ented by ec.y.te and laddfra. t Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld add a new ecsystam and landfrm t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System (NWPS). Thia WSA is represented by tw ecsystems within the Wyming Basin Prvince, saltbush-greasewd and sagebrush steppe. The saltbush-greasewd ecsystem cvers 13,093 acres and the sagebrush steppe ecsystem includes 17,851 acres. There are nly three ther BLM WSA' s representing the saltbush-greasewd ecsystem and thera are 15 BLM WSA*s representing the sagebrush steppe ecsystem in Wyming. This infrmatin is summarized i n Table 2. Bailey - Kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Dry Dmain/ Wyming Basin Prvince/ Sagebrush Steppe Dry Dmain/ Wyming Basin Prvince/ Saltbush-Graasewd Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas Areas Acres NATIONWIDE Other BLM Studies Areas Acres 67, ,035 WYOMING 67, ,035 NATIONWIDE ,549 WYOMING ,549 B. A igg th. pprtuditie. fr.litude r pri.itive recreatin within day' a driving ti (five hur.) f.air ppulatin center.: The Hneycmb Buttas ia within a day's driving time f tw majr ppulatin centers--salt Lake City-Ogden, and Prv-Orem. There are currently 21 wilderness areas and three primitive areas within a day's dr-iving time f these ppulatin centers. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f designated areas and ther BLM study areas within five hurs drive f the ppulatin centers

181 Ppulati n Centers Salt Lake City- Ogden Prv - Orem Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies Areas Acres Areas Acres 21 3,080, ,705, ,810, ,451,742 I.pact. n Other Re.urce. The cmparative impact table (Table 4) 8urrrnarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr all alternatives cnsidered, including designatin, partial designatin, r nn-designatin f the entire area as wilderness. c. Balancing the gegraphic distributin f.. iid.rne area. s Designatin f Hneycmb Buttes wuld nt irr""lrve the balance f gegraphic distributin f wilderness. There are currently in excess f 4 millin acres f designated wilderness in the vicinity f these ppulatin centers. Examples f reginally designated wilderness includes: Jedediah Smith (116,535 acres), Bridger Wilderness (428,087 acres), Fitzpatrick Wilderness (198,525 acres), High Uintaha Wilderness (160,615 acres), Mt. Nami Wilderness (44,367 acres), Mt. Olympus (8,599 acres), Mt. Timpangs Wilderness (10,749 acres), and the Twin Peaks Wilderness (13,109 acres). Hwever, designatin f the WSA wuld add a "cld " high desert badlands area t the system and diversify representatin i n the NWPS. "anageability (The area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilderness character) The prtin f t he Hneycmb Buttes WSA recrrmended as suitable is manageable as wilderness. The il and gas ptential fr this prtin f the WSA is rated as lw. In additin, the wilderness public cmment prcess revealed few ptential impacts t il and gas explratin, r livestck grazing. Manageability wuld be increasingly difficult with the incluain f the 3,901 acres nt recmmended fr wilderness. The rad that separates the tw prtins f the WSA wuld be a nticeable i ntrusin and it wuld be difficult t successfully eliminate vehicle traffic frm it. The private land and access rad als separate the tw prtir'!~ and present ptential manageability prblems as the-" U"~ B f the private land Change. The area i tself has a high number f tw- track. trails. Remval f this prtin wuld greatly enhance the manageability f the area recmmended fr wilderness. Inergy and Mineral R urce Valu The U. S. Gelgic Survey and the Bureau f Mines prepared a mineral assessment tr the Hneycmb Buttes WSA in 1987 (U.S. Gelgical Survey Bulletin 1757-B). That a.be.ament is the primary surce tr the fllwing discussi n. The area has lw t mderate ptential fr areaa f very lw grade placer gld depsita in terrace gravels, lw and mderate resurce ptential fr small uranium dep.ita, mderate reaurce ptential fr accumulatin f il and gas, a nd lw r urce ptential fr cal and il shale. There are n pre-flpha lea8es in the Hneycmb Buttes WSA. There are 14 current mining claims in the area recof'm\ended a8 suitable. These claims are in the nrth part f the recmmended WSA within a mile t the bundary. Hwever, n prductin trm claims in the WSA is anticipated. Thera ia lw ptential fr aalable mineral values in the Hneycmb Buttes WSA and n activity ia anticipated

182 Ttlble 4 ca.p.retiw ~ry f the l...-etl by Alternative JI.E"'I!I!..JT:gCl!~!-"c!L- ---"M!J.!.lV!!i!!Sdrneum!mt- -""'.lv",i Ir\!M"IeSa Wilderness Valun Reereatin OJlpOrtlM"li t les end us.. wildl if. ppulatin Ltvutck Grazh,g and Management Water Dualtty Prtectin f wilderness values wuld assure future pp.ortlm"lities fr slitude anr:t primitive recreatin experiences. N change i n current use elc cept as i~cted by mineral explratin and develpnent. Prll'tltive recreatin mr- Small decrease in recreat in visits as IIsciated with mtriled vehicles. This wuld have n sppre- Oil, gas, range managetn@nt, and mtrized recreatin ac tlvities wuld i.ct wilder ness characteristi cs including the ability t elcperience naturalness, sl i tude, and primitive, LrlCnfined recreatin. ~~;~m~ 1'ri ~~reat i n rv:f~~i!etn w:~~ ~~i ~he ~A. regi n. N..., i rdjced changes In wildli fe habitat. EstiNtes f 64.2 SCF f natural gas wuld be fre' gne In the lisa. N ~ts anticipated n sl id Minerals. N effect n livestck ~~tj~:~f~f ~ ~~i~:rl~tvg:a~rs N effect n livestck manage ~i:t!~tct~ =r~.~f~~~.:,:=~i:it1~f~i~:~e pr~ed Actin Partial Designatin Within the designated prtin, ptential prblems assciated w explratin f mineral resurce n adjacent lands wuld be avi The bl.ndary resulting frm thi alternative wuld be readily id ~!~~~t f t T~arif i ~~e t~: s T;g:~:d area. liithi n the des ignat ed prtin, there wuld be a decrease in hlm"lter use and ther recreat in activities that have histrical used mtrized vehicles. This wuld s hi ft t ther nearby are =~e~rr li,~~:!y~~afr1~~~~~ venience t 1 ivestek peratrs due t restrictins n mtrize vehicle use. IIOtrlzed vehicle use. Increased cst t peratrs. N Nn induced change Mineral explratlnldevelpnent N i~ct i n des ignated ares. wuld ccur i n the current and reservir maintlmvjnce Sme degr&eistin In 8rl!aS nt water quality. activities culd re-,ult In ac designated if develpn'll!nt f celer.ted ersin In an. tready il and gas r range facilities ~~,=lt~~=ltnf~~~~:iin ccurs. wuld have adverse affect n streams and water cllecting facilitlu, bth natural pnds and livestck reservi rs. Lcal. Scial. and Bcn_ic Cn.id.ratina Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r acial character identified during the study f this WSA. sum.ary f WSA - Specific Public C"'nt. Inventr y : During the inventry phase, twenty-fur crrrnents were received n this uni t. Furteen favred inclusin f the unit as a wilderness study area, nine ppsed its inclusin, and ne was in between. Only ne cmment was specific enugh t help determine wilderness qualities and intrusins. The area was reduced in size frm the riginal 75,123 acres due t intrusins i n the nrthern hills and suthern flatlands sectins f the unit. Early Draft BIS : During the public review f the Draft EIS, 565 cmments were received. There was cncern that livestck. grazing and il and gas activities wuld be excluded frm designated wilderness areas. Wildlife values and ff-rad vehicle (ORV) use were ther cncerns raised during this time. Wyming Recreatin Cmmissin ppsed wilderness anywhere there were histric trails r areas adjacent t Natinal Frest System RARE II lands. The Gvernr's ffica expressed cncern abut state inhlding shuld any f the areas be designa::-.ed. All cmments were cnsidered and a Revised Draft EtS was released in Nvemb~r Revi d Draft EIS: Cmments were received frm 455 agencies (federal, state and lcal), rganizatins, businesses and individuals. Many f the letters received frm individuals were in respnse t envirnmental grups' "Wilderness Alert" encuraging BLM t recmmend all acreage under study t be designated. Of all the cmments received, 74' supprted wilderness designatin fr all 13 WSAs and 23, ppsed any addi tinal wilderness areas in Wyming. Few cmments were received addressing aite-specific areas. Generally, industry ppsed designatin while envirnmental and wildlife grups supprted designatin f areas as wilderness

183 Esti.ted Csts f ~isitin f lin Federal Hldi~ Within Areas Reel ded fr Designat in U legal Descriptin Ttal 10. f T~ f OWnership Presently Preferred Meth. Esti.ted (Prir t..., ~ ~rs by Estate (Federal, Pr~ fr f ~isitin Cst f ~ivisin~ (if Parcel states Private, A~isitin (Purctiase, Ex- A~isitin has been ther change. ther) ~ivisin) 5w'face SUlsurface land Prcessing Estate Estate Csts Csts 2l Parcel.,. 640 Federal State Yes Exduwlge II/A 16,000 T.2611.& R.99W., Sec. 1 U The estimated csts listed in this appendix in n way represent a frmal appraised value f the land r mineral estate, but are rugh estimates based n sales r exchanges f lands r mineral estates with similar characteristics t them included in the WSA. The estimates ~r purpses f establishing a range f p~ential c~sts t the gvernment f acquiring Nn Federal hldings and in n way represent an ffer t purchase r exchange at the cst estimate included in this appendix. Prcessing csts are all miscellaneus expenses ther than land csts. These wuld include wrk mnth csts, appraisals, title wrk, escrw csts, etc. ~ere exchange is the prpsed acquisitin methd, nly administrative cst~ f prcessing the exchange is shwn. Land csts wuld nt be applicable. 312

184 1. TII8 8'JUDJ UD. (5.700 acre.' Th. Oregn Butte. Wildern WSA (WY ) inclucl 5,700 acr f BLM ad.aini.t.red public l.nd., with n pri... t. r.tat. ioolcling_ (.e. Table 1). Th r i. lc.ted id nrtb-c.ntral S... tw.t.r Cunty,.pprxiaat.ly 30 ailes nrtb t f ".r.n. n r i. budcled n.11.id by uniaprv.d tw track r.d.. n. nrther bwldary.1.0 inc Iud abut n il. f private land bwld.ry. n. autb.rn edg. includ but tw ail. jg.kirting a atate land ctin (... p 1). Th. Oregn Butt ia prainent 1andaark, ri.ing ut f the nrthweatern prtin f tbe Red De rt t ad.1... tid f 8,612 f t.bve level and 1,200 f t ab tb. d rt flr. 'l'h. Butt p a "ide vari.ty f... eget.tin type., including li.:ab.r pin t.nd.,.nd tbick, ialated.t.nd. f pen. Wuaeru. p. ba d... lped ".t adw.. The WSA c nuin... luabl. big g... habitat (elk, a'll. d.er, and prngbr.ntelpe),.nd i. ala an laprtant elk c.l... ing grwld. The WSA include. 3,360 acre. f tb. Oregn Butt CUltural Area f Critical BnvirlUlental Cncern (ACEC). A ",ild.rne deaign.tin wuld nt cnflict "ith ther r urc. u.e. in the.rea. Oraainl) wuld be allw.d t cntinu.; there are n il and ga. 1 in the WSA. The MSA ba. b u cl el t ORV 'I.e fr rear. and.ineral d.velpaent (cal, il.bale and ur&diua) i. nt anticipated t ccur better.urce. f the.e aineral. e"iat n.arby. Th. WSA " tudied und.r Sectin 603 f tbe Ped.r.l Land Plicy and Hanag_ent Act ( PLPMA), and " included in tbe Rck Spring. Di.trict Wild.rne Bn... irdaental I.p.ct St.te.ent (BIS), filed in Octber ltern.tive. wer. an.lyaed in the BIS, including all "ilderne, (the r.c_end.tin f this r.prt),.nd n "ilderne ,mqIa.' JUID unmu.w - 5,700 Acr.... ccc Acre..e Tw d,ad fr Wilderne n dad fr IIn_ilderne The reca.aend.tin fr this WSA i. t de.ign.te.11 5,700.cr wildern (Map 1). The r.c..end.tin f.11 "ildern i. the en... irnaent.lly pr.ferabl It.m.ti... a. it wuld re.ult in the l.a.t ch.nge t the natural.n... irdaent. Key cn.id.r.tin. fr r.ca..ending this MSA t the "ilderne...y.t.. are the.z_plary quality f the.re.'. "ilderne... lu, l.ck f.. n- de idtru.in, it. natur.l.ppear.nc. and bi.trica1.ignific.nce a ciated with the Oregn Trail. OpprtWliti fr ut.tanding.litude in tbe WSA are gd. There are tiny pck.t fr t cattered.rund the butt "bicb pr",ide pprtunities fr. litud.. Mucb f tbe.urruading cuntry.ide i. und elped and.nbanc tb litude f tb r. Recreatin ",alu f th. MSA ar. ut.t.nding. Opprtuniti fr biking, bac kpacking, natura.tudy, phtgrapby, hunting, rck cliabing, and br back riding coilbine t ffer a di",.r recreatinal ezperience

185 Within wildernell study Are. TAIILB 1 LAND STATUS IUID ACREAGE SUMMARY OF TIlE STUDY AREA BLH (Surface and Sublurface) Split Zatate (BLM Surfaca OIlly)!! Inhlding (State, Pri... ate) 5,700 0 Within the Rec_ended Wildernell Bundary BLM ("'ithid "'SA) BLM (OUt8ide "'SA) Split Zatate ("'ithid "'SA) Split Eatate (OUtaide "'SA) Ttal BLH Land Rec_ended fr Wilde me Inhlding (state, Private) Within the Are. nt Rec_ended fr Wilderne BLM Split Eatate Ttal BLM Land Nt Rec_ended fr Wildeme Inhlding (State, Pri... ate) 5, ,700 0!I split e.tat. land. are defined a. thl. land. with Pederal lurface and nn-p.deral sublurface aineral. 3. CJtITIIIlIA a.sidiiitiid I. DB9JILC)PIIIO '1'B!!!fJL!!!!!O!J!8S RB~Ia.S Wild'm'" Cbaract,ristics A. "t.dr.id, Th. Or'gn Butt WSA appeara t b. in an nti.lly natural cnditin. Tb. butt ar. a re.. rkable landaark. Tb.y dainate the lurrunding cuntry.id. with their grandeur and di... r.it:r. Vi.ibility fra the butte tp. i. ut.tanding, ffering aile. f.cenic... i.ta. including th. Wind River Muntain. n the nrth t the Unitah Muntain Range t th uthwe.t. There are tw.ei.ltograph trail. and 13 tva-track trail., wbich Iligbtly r.duc. th. naturalnell f the WSA. Bw.ver, all f the intru.in. becille bscure; l.e end a. haphazard tire track. aer the hill. and dry clay like lil, ther. end abruptly at the tp f a bench r.addl. ridge, and thers ar. vergrwn with.agebru.h and gra. Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr NnwlldertN!'lS 1111 N<M, IIII Spli' Ella'e EMH@ State Oregn Butt.. Prpsal, ~~~ Priva'e MILES WY June BEST COPY AYAILABLE

186 B. Slitudez Opprtunit.ie. fr slit.ude are gd. Rwever, much f t.his i. due t. t.he undevelped nat.ure f t.he.urrunding cunt.ry.ide. The t.ps f t.he But.t.e. ar. r.lat.ively inacce ible. Thi. plus t.he.cat.t.ered.t.ands f liaber pine n t.p prvide.creening fra t.he i_ediat.e.urrunding t.errain, prviding.lit.ude and t-en.e vi.t.a. f t.he.urrunding cunt.ry.ide. c. Priaiti ad 11DC01IfiDed Recreatinz Opprtunities fr priaitive and uncnfined. recreatin ar. ut.tanding in the WSA. Beig pri.e raptr habitat., the butt.e. prvide bird wat.cher. with a v.riet.y f.pecie. and unint.errupt.ed b.ervatin. The WSA ia ala a priae area fr.cenic and wildlife pht.graphy, ffering a unique variety f sett.ing. and.ubject... Ot.her recre.t.in pprtunit.i include biking, rck cliabing, rckhundig, backpacking, hunt.ing, hr.eback riding, and.ight. ing. D. Special r_tureaz A great nuaber f.pecial feature. are fund in this "'SA piece. f pet.rified wd are abundant. The Oregn Buttea i a a dainat.i.ng landfr. which i. hi.t.rically i.prtent.. The Butte. were a majr landaark fr t.raveler. f t.h. Oregn Trail, which i. lcated Ie t.han seven aile. t. t.he nrth f the WSA. bigrant.. v iewed t.he But.t.e. a. t.he halfway pint n their jurney froll Independeace, Mi uri, t the Pacific Ocean. Tbe Butt als dented t.he pint where the._igrant. paa d ver the Cntinental Divid. and int t.he Pacific wat.r.hed. Nearly 300,000 e.igranta paa.ed t.hia way bet.... en 1843 and The we.tern prtin f the Oregn Butte. KSA i. u.ed a. a calving area by the nly de.ert elk herd in Ky_ing. The WSA cntain xcellent raptr habit.at and.everal kdwn ne.t.ite.. There ar~ bi.tric peregrine falcn aerie. n t.he... t face f Oregn Butte.. I... tur. peregrine falcn are infrequently.een ther. during raptr.urvey The reaain. f Indian tipi ridg. can b. fund in the Oregn Butt Cult.ural ACEC prtin f the WSA. The bjective. fr aanaging t.he Or.gn Butt. Cultural ACEC (3,360 acre. f wbi ch are i n t.he 57,00 acre Oregn Butte. KSA) include the prtectin f t.he ar.a ' cenic integrity a. a hi. t ric landaarjc. piy,r.ity ip the tipal Wild.ra,.. r,..e,.atip 8T.t.. &. lzp!ipdidg til. di.er.itt f Dataral.T.t-. apd f ture. a. repre.ea.t.ed. br PCO'YIt.., apd lapdfral z Wilderne de.ignat.in f thi. WSA wuld nt add a new ec.y.t_ r landfr. t. t.be Nat.inal Wilderne Pr ervat.in Sy.te. (WWPS). Thi. WSA i. a repre.ent.at.ive f the Wy_ing Baain Prvince-- gebru8h t.ppe. Bailey - Kuchler Clas.ificat.in Daain/prvince/PNV Dry D.. in/ Wyaing Ba. in Prvince/ Sag.bru.h St.eppe Table Z Ec.y.te_ Repr nt.at.in I!!!ZS Area. ther BLM Area. Acre. Are Nat.in Wide 67, Wyaing 67, Studies Acre. 230, ,035 B. A idg the pprtuditi'. fr alitade r priaiti.e recreatin wit.hin a clay'. dri.idg t~ (fi bura' f _1r ppalat.iod ceater.z The Oregn Buttec: i. within a day'. driving t.i..ae f tw aajr ppulat.in center., Salt. Lake City - Ogden, and Prv - Ore.. There are current.ly t.went.y-ne wild.rne area. and t.hree priait.iv. area. wit.hin a day'. driving ti.e f the ppulatin center.. Table 3.\maArise. the nuaber and acreage f de.ignat.ed ar and t.ber BLN.tudy ar.a. wit.bin five hur. drive f tbe ppulatin center Ppulat.in Cegter. Salt Lake City - Ogden Prv - Or Table 3 Wilderne Opprtunitie. fr Re.ident. f.. ajr Ppulat.in C.nt.er. HWPS Area. ther BUC St.udie. Aleal Acre. Ar.al Acrel 18 1,925, ,705,086 n 2,225, ,451, BEST COPY AVAILARII= BEST COPY AVAIlABLE

187 c. Bal_ciDa the gegraphic di,trilnitid f.ild.rne" are.,a D.'ignatin f Oregn Butte' wuld nt i.prve the balance f gegraphic di.tributin f wilderue... There are currently in exce f 4 ail lin acrea f d.signated wilde rue in the vicinity f the.e ppulatin center.. Ex ple. f r8cjinally de.ignated "ilderue include; Jedediah Saith (116,535 acres), Bridger Wilderue (428,087 acre.), Pitapatrick Wild.rne (198,525 acrea), Bigh Uintah. Wildeme (160,615 acre.), Ha.i Wilderu (44,367 acre.), Mt. Olyapu. (8,599 acr ), Nt. Tapang. Wildem (10,749 acr ),.nd the Twin Peak. Wildeme.. (13, 109 acres). B".ver, de.ignatin f the WSA wuld add "cld" high de.ert badland. area t the.,.te. and diver.ify repr.sentatin f the RWPS. llaaaaeabuiu 1ft!! area.art be capable f beidq effecti IT.anaged t pr8.erye it. wilderae cbaracter'a The Oregn Butte. WSA i... nage.ble a. ilderne... The bundary i. identifiable, there are n il and ga. Ie r.tate r private inhlding.. Mineral devel~ent i. nt anticipated. While auch f the WSA i tak.d fr uraniu-. claia., there ha. been n develpment and nne i. anticipated. Ther. are n th.r knwn aining cl.i in the.re. EDeAT add KiD_ral Resurce 1ue.a The "SA i. currently unl d fr il and ga.. Hydrcarbns are the a.t valuable ptential aineral re.urc. in th. WSA. Bth.urce rck. and pt.ntial re.ervir rck. are fund in the WSA. The are. b laoderat. t high il and ga. d.velpaent pt.nti.l. Tbe.at prbable rec.erable re.erve. e.tiaated t exi.t witbin the 5,600.cre WSA are a. a billin cubic (BCP) f natural ga. The Buccaneer Unit 11.ell in sectin 23, T> 26 K., R. 102 w. (apprxi t.ly three aile uth.e.t f t.he WSA).a. u.ed t. det.eraine t.be 1K).t. prbable re.e"e.. Althugb it ba. ne.er been prduced, due t the lack f a pip.line in the.rea, ext.en.i.e.ell t.e.t.ing.hw. very favrable re "e.. Deep.r fraatid., t.e.ted nly by ne "ell in Sectin 3, T. 26 N., R. 101 W. als.hw. gd ptent ial fr prductin. Thi. ptential aay nt be re.li20ed in the n.ar future due t.xce i drilling depth., tbe lack f a pipeline in t.he area, and the ri.ks invlved in drilling.tr.tigraphic reservir.. Ther. are tw depleted prducer. in Sectin 24, T. 276 N., R. 101 W. If il.nd g.s are prduced fr. the "SA, it wuld ast likely be fra tb. d.eper fna.tina. There.re n il r gas w.ll. witbin tbe WSA and seven dry hi have be.n drilled within. aix.ile radius f the "SA. The tw wells drilled were in excea. f 17,000 feet, juat suthwest f the WSA, te.t~d gd ptential in the deeper Cretaceus Frm.tina and nly th. well in S.ctl.n 8 w plugged as unecnllic. All f the WSA is within a USGS cal cla ificatin rder and within a cal landa withdraw.l by Executive Order (Nveaber 15, 1919). The Oregn Buttes WSA b.a lw ptential fr the ecnmic develp.ent f the cal resurce. There i. a ptential fr tbe ccurrence f a c. 1 bearing qu.nce at depth s in.xce f 2,300 t 5,000 fe.t. N c. 1 bed. utcrp within the WSA. SOlD. il ab.l. ccur. in tbe Wilkin. Peak.nd Laney Sbale aber. f the Green River Frmatin in the WSA, but tb. bed. are thin and lw grade. The il shale resurce haa lw develpment ptential in tbe Oregn Butte. WSA. Nrtb f the WSA n the sutbeast.dge f the Prap.ct Muntaina, uraniulll ainer.li20.tin ccur. in nd.tne and cngl.er.te th.t are prbably in tbe Wasatch Frm.tin. In the WSA the frmatin. f aajr interest appear t be Terti.ry in.ge. A large prtin f the WSA has been cl.im staked fr uranium. Bwever, n dev.lpa.nt ha. ccurr.d.nd nne i. freaeen. Sediment d.p.its f Quaternary age aand and gravel utcrp in the vicinity f Oregn Butte.. Ther. i. n nearby develp.ent and ~ubsequ.ntly n, demand fr tbeae resurce. wbich b.ve lw d.velpaent pt.ntl.al. Tbe dep'l.ts culd be u.ed a. a gravel.urce if develp nt incr in the vicinity f the.e depsit.. The re.urce wuld th.n bav higb.r develpm.nt pt.ntial. la_ct. 00 ther Re.urc : The Pllwing cmparative i.pact table summarizes tbe effects n p.rtinent re.urce. fr all the.lternative. cnaidered including de.ignatin r nn-de.ignatin f tb. entire area as wildern.ss. The.."lau-. recverable re.erve. e.tiaate "' calculated fr. figure. in the Wyaing Gelgical As.ciatin Ouidebk, Or ter Oreen River aaain Syapaium ("SA 1973). In t.b.t.tudy, it ",as esti.. ted tbat there are BCP f r ec.erable ga. per 640 acre. explred in the GreeD River S in (15,046.quare ail.a). Thi aunt. t a ttal recverable re.erve in tbe Oreen River basin f abut 5 0, 000 BC,. f ga J19 320

188 TABLE 4 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACTS BY ALTENATlVE Resurces Affected Prpsed Actin (All Wilderness) N Wilderness/N actin Wilderness Values 5,700 acres wuld be designated. Wilderness values wuld be retained in the entire WSA. Wilderness value. culd be lst in the lng tera. Minerals, Oil ~ Gas The area wuld be withdrawn fra aineral leasing. Recverable resurces wuld be reaved fra ptential prductin. The entire area pen t aineral entry. Recreatin and Visual Resurces Wildlife Habitat and Ppulatins Vegetatin/Water/Sils Livestck Grazing Entire area VRM Class I. ORV restrictins wuld apply. There wuld be an insignificant reductin in hunter use due t vehicle restrictins. N effect n wildlife. N adverse lapacts. N effect n grazing use. Sae additinal csts t livestck peratrs due t vehicular access restrictins. Minr Adverse lapact. due t il and ga. activity and ORV' Entire VRM area Cla.s II. Minr adverse iapact. due t il and ga. activity. Nuabers culd be reduced if lapact. t calving area. nt aitigated. Mderately adverse lapacts wuld ccur t.ils and ainr adverse lapacts t vegetatin due t il and ga. activity. N effect n grazing. 321

189 Lcal!!cial add _c CIIaidara~ Lcal aeial and ec:d.1c cnaideratida ware Dt an i ue in the EIS. There vere DO lap.cta t tbe lcal acado., r acia1 character identified during the tudj f tbi lisa. IR!II!I!!J r MIlA - SPIICInC PUBLIC C!!!!B!!'ft The Rck Spring. Diatrict ba. prduced tw draft Wildern BIB'.. The firat n. v publiabed in January 1983, the re.iaed draft w publiabed in Sept"'er 1988 t reflect chang that bad ccurred in the Diatrict'. WSA'. aide. the firat draft,.aatly the expiratin f pra-plpma 1 and the aband... nt f railrad bed that par.ted tw "SA'.. Public invlve.ent ccurred thrughut the "iideru review prc f bth BIS' a. IU-Wa, Public: lyly_ant ccurred thrughut the wildern review prc... Certain c.-ant. received during the In... nt.ry prc nd c_ent perid were u.eel t. d... lp.ignificant..tudy i ue. and riu. alt.rn.tive Open hu nd public... ting. were h.ld thrughut. the di.trict V'r perid f... r.l y r. with fin.l d.ci.in. publi.beel in t.h pring f A.uppl... nt.l lu.tin f thi. p.rticul.r unit. cnfiraeel th.t r.l.. pping.rrr nd.i in. were.ad. a. t t.h. e.t.nt f huaan.ctivity. Sub.equ.ntly, 2,329.cr were drpped fr. further.tudy. IIrly pr.ft US, During the public r.yi.w f the Dr.ft BIS, 565 c_ent. were recei.ed. Th.re w cnc.rn th.t li tck gr ing and il and g ctivitie. wuld b cluded fr. d igu.ted wildern ar.aa. Wildlife lu nd ff-rad hicl. (ORV) u w.r. th.r cnc.rn. rai.eel during thi. ti. wyaidg R.creatin ea.i in pp.ed wild.rn....nywhere th.r. w.r. hi.tric tr.il. r.re djac.nt t.atinal Pr t. Sy.t._ IlAJlB II l.nd.. Th. G rnr'. ffic pr ed. cncern abut Stat.e inhleting.huld any f the ar.a. b. d i91latect. All c_ent. were cn.iet.red and a R i.ed Draft. BIS wa. relea.ed in.."'er Draft lis, CO_.nt. w.re recei.e4 fr..55 agenc1 (f.d.ral,.tat. nd lc.l), rgani tin., bu.in and indi.idual.. Many f the l.tt.r. r.c.i.ed fr. iddi.idual. wer. in r'.pd.e t en.. iru..ntal grup. ' Wildern Alert...ncuraging BLII t r.ca...nd all acr.age under.tudy t b. d i91lated. Of all the c_.nt.. r.cei.ed, 7.,.upprtad wildern et i91latin fr all 13 WIA. anet 23' pp.ed adf addit.inal wiles.rn... ar.a. in Wyaing. r.w ca-ant. w.r. recei.eel addr ing.it..-.pacific ar.a. Oen.rally, indu.try pp.ect d'.ignat.in while.n.iru..ntal and wildlife grup upprtad d'.ignatin f ar.a. a. wildem 1. WBU'I!!!ORS1l CIUII!J[ WILD_SS II'rUDY IUUIA (WSA) rbii II'rUDY IUUIA - ',002 lie... The Whitabr.e Cr k "SA (WY ) includ 4,002 acr f BLM-adaini.tered public land. witb n private r.tate i nhlding. ( Table 1). Th. area i. lcated priaarily in.uthea.t.rn PreJ'lOnt Cunty, with.0 f the area t.nding int S", t",ater COunty. It. i. abut 30.il.. nrtbea.t f rar.n, Wy.ing. Th. WSA i. bund.d n the Ruthea.t by a j p trail tbat par.te. tbi. WSA fr. t.he Oregn Butte. WSA. Th uth",e.t bundary i. a j p tr.il. Tbe nrth.ide i. bunded by jeep trai l nd private l.nd nd the t i. bunded by tb. Cntin.ntal Diyide and priv.t. l.nd.. All.t.t. and priv.te l.nd lng the bundary.re e.eluded fr. t.h. MSA (.e,.ap 1). Th. unit. cnt.inl aultitude f habit. ~.s.nd l.ndlc.p,., including all grve. f a.ped and liab'r pine.tanda, high,.be.r I.nd.tne cliff nd an area f.agnificent. badl.nd. tpgraphy. A.ajr prtin f the WSA i d. up f a grup f erding r.d, green, and gray butte.. 'l'pgr'phy ia th. central.nd ", tern.ectin. cn.i.t f fl.t,.ag. cv.r.d ba.in, ri_ed by.ud.nd cl.y e.c.rpa.nt. ri.ing up t 650 f t.bye th. vall.y flr. Th. WSA cnt.in. iaprt.nt raptr h.bit.t. Prairie f.lcn nd red-tail.d h.",k. bav. be.n fund in the WSA. ~he WSA "' tudied und.r Sectin 202 f the r.der.l Land Plicy.nd Man.ge nt. Act (FLPMA),.nd "' included. in the Rck Spring. Diatrict Wild.rn Envirnaent.l I.p.ct Stat nt. filed in Octber Ther. tw.ltern.tive. analya.d in the BIS, including all ",ild.rn and n ",ild.rne, wbicb i. th. r,c_end.tin f thi. reprt. 2. U"9"'PP"rIOW AJfD JlA2'IC*ALI -- 0 acre. ~ed fr WileS.rn.,002 acre. rec~ed fr.aawildern ",.r. Th. r,c_end.tin fr thi. WSA ia t. r.l the.ntir r fr u ther th.n "'ildern... The All Wild.rn Altern.tiv. i. cn.id.r.d t. b. th enyirll8ent.lly pr.f.rable.it..rn.tive it wuld re.ult in tb. l t cbange fr. tb. natural envirna.nt ver th. lng t.ra. The r.c_.ndatin fr thi. WSA wuld b. i.ple nt.d i a nner which wuld utilia 11 practic.l a na t. avid r.iai.ia virna.nt.l iapact. Althugh th. ",ildern valu d cribed in the 2(c) criteria f the Wilderu Act are pre.ent. in th. MSA. ut.lt.nding pprtunitie. fr llit.ude r pri.itiv nd " ncnfin.d r.cr tin.r. nt pre nt t tb. degree d d n.c ry fr wild.rn d ign.tin. BLM'. int.n.iv. inventry nt t.h.t pprtuniti fr.lit.ude.nd pri alti v. r.cr tin ar. p.rticularly high in t.he.utb t prtin f the MSA,... t f tbe COntin.ntal Divid. and.uth f P t.l But.te, wb.r. t.h. large carp nt nd butt are lc.t.ed. Tbe re ind.r f tbe "SA cn.i.t. f fl.t, g.-cv.red b in th.t lack. intere.ting f.atur and wuld nt prvide lucb pl.ry pprtuniti Th.re ar 1.0..e cnflict. ",itb ther r urc. u.e. ccurring withi n the MSA. Whil. th rea i. nt currently u d fr.ny extractive c_erci.l purp.e., th. pt.ntial fr the prductin f n.tural ga. h been r.ted a. ItOderate thrughut th. MSA. Tbe..t p r bable r.cv.rable re.en t i a.t.ed t i.t withi n th. MSA i.,. 2 BC,. f natur.1 g... S.ven and 3-5.il f acc 1 r.d a r. prj.cted t ccur in tbi. WSA. Tb. rec_.dat.in fr thi. "SA e.ph ia aait.ini ng acc t tb ar fr.t ural g explr.ti n.nd t r.cti n

190 "nageabi l i ty codcerna al. played a part in the nodwilderne rec_enda t i n. The central and we.tern prtiod f th. "'SA c.i ata pri.ari ly f a lar ge aagebrueh ba.i, wi tb l i ttle tpgraphi c reli. f. aecau.e there are n ptlyaical barri.ra t vehi cle uae i n thi s prtin f tb. "'SA, i t i. l i kely t hat unautbri~ed.,ehicle u wuld cntinue in tbe area. Managing the WSA wild.rn, "hil. nt iapa.ible, wuld r.quire frequ.nt n.l p.trl. t regulate tb. ff-rad ua. by bunt.r. and th.r ff-rad r.cr tiniats. NONE Recmmended tr Wilderness Recmmended tr Nnwilderness 1111 fffl~ IIII Split Estate ENONE J State 324 Whitehrse Creek Prpsal Land utside WSA Recmmended tr Wilderness ~~ Pd.ate MI L ES WY J25 June BEST COPY AVAILASLE

191 Wi thin Wilderu... study Are. Table 1 Land Statu. and Acre.ge su.aary f the study Are. BIM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLII surface nly) Inhld:iDg (atat., pri.ate) Ttal Within the Recaaended wildern Budary BLM (wit.bid "SA) BUI (utside "SA) Split Estate <within "'SA) Split Estate (utside "SA) Ttal BLM Land aecaaended fr Wilderu Inhlding (atate, private) Within the Are. Nt Rec..ended fr Wilderu BLM Split Estate Ttal 8IM Nt R.C~.Dded fr Wildern ',002 4, , ,002 c. Priaitiy. and 1JDcafiDed a.tcreatiods Opprtunitie. fr pri.itive and uncnfined recreatin include rck elillbing and.tudying the unique badland. tpgraphy, nature a04 wildlife pbtgrapby, bird watching, and big ga budting. D. Special P tare,1 The badland. witbin th. WBA are laced witb p.trified wd, agate bed., and f il. f.ail. and cl..., which prvide ut.tanding rckbudding pprtuditie Diy.r.ity La \be.. tiaal Wil4!rp." Pr.I.rY.tiqp.y,t.. A. '7P'nclinq the diy.r.ity f DatuAl 'ylt.. a:ad f_tare 1 repre.ea.ted by ec.y.t_ and landfraas Wilderne de.ignatin f tbi. WSA wuld nt add a ne. ec.y.t r landfr-. t the.. atinal Wildern Pre.ervatin Sy.te. (NWPS). Thi. MSA repre.ent. the Wy.ing aa.in Prvince Sagebruab Steppe ec.y.te.. rbi, ec.y.t_ i. already repre.ented, bwe.,.er, by ne unit f the NWPS (Clu4 Peak). ther BLM MSA. tbat are reca.aended f r wilderne de.ignatin, including' Bneycllb Butte., Oregn Butte., and tbe Sand Dun all cntain thi. ec.y.te.. Thi. infraatid i uaaariae4 in Table 2. Bailey-Kucbler Cla ificatin a in/prvince/pnv Table 2 BeAy.te. Repre.entatin ther BLM Stud i &I:n Acr 3. CltITIIIlIA c.sidbioid III DIIVIILOPIJID TIIIl IID.IIIIIIIIIISS ~IOIIS &...tarald., The _jrity f the "SA ia in natural cnditin. There are a few tw-track trail. that enter the... tern flat prtin f the "SA and aae that l d up t the ba f the butt 00 the t aide. There are al. ::Y:~:l w~:~.ryoir. and tber range t.pr.,._nt. lcated in tbe.. e.tern prtin Dry / Wy.ing Ba.in prvince/ Sagebru.b steppe IlATIOIIIfIDB 67, ,035. ~ Bli blclel Tbe Whitebr.e Creek WSA ba... nj pprtuditie. fr.li tude. Opprtuni tie. fr.litude are particularlj bigb in area. west f the Cntinent al Di.,.i de, nrth f Oregn autte., and.uth f Pa.tel Butte. rbe rugged terrai n and the erded e.ea~ent. pr.,.ide pprtuditie. t avid tbe a i ght. and.und. f ther.. Pr. tbe tp f tbe largeat butte in tbe area, wh i ch riae. 650 feet ab.,.e the ba.in flr and 7,915 feet abve.ea l... el, a.en.e f i.latin and alitude i. felt a. ne lk. dwn int the "3:e-like.et ting created by the erded e.ca~ent. lining' the Whitebr.e Cr eek aa.i n. 67, ,035 B... ida the pprtuditi fr alitud. r prt.!ti". recreatin witbin day'. dri.idcr t~ Ifi bur.) f.. jr ppalat.iod ceat..r.: Tbe Whitehrs. Creek MSA i. witbin a day' a dri.,.ing tt.e f tw.. jar ppulatin center. - Salt Lake City-Ogden and Prv-Ore.. There are currently 21 wildere" ar and 3 priaitive area within a day " driving tt.. f tbe.e ppulatin centers. Table 3.uaaariae. the u.m.ber and acr.age f de.ignated area. and tber BLM.tudy area. withi n five hur. drive f tbe ppulatin center

192 Table 3 Wild.ru Opprtunitie. fr R idente f Majr Ppulatin Centera Ppulatin IIWPS Are ther BLM studi.. Dllll ~!llh ~ Acre. Salt Lake CUr- 18 1,925, ,705,086 OqdeD Pry-Or_ II 2,225, ,451,742 Iwpact. p tber "101Irc The fllwing c.paratiy. iapact table (,rable.).u.aariae. the effect. n pertinent re.urce. fr all the alternati.. e, cod,iderad, including 4 ignati r nn-da.ignatin f th. entire area ild.rn c. lalaacidq the geqrapbic diatri!natioli f "llara area.: The Whitehra. Cr k "SA wuld DOt iapr th. balance f gegraphic distributin f wild.rd.... There are currently in exc f,.111id acr f d.aigaated "ild.ru in the YiciDity f th ppulatin centera. Ex.. pl f reginally 4 igdated wild.rd idclud, Jeded.iab &aitll (116,535 acr ), Bridger 'U,lder ('28,087 acr ) I Pit.patrick Mild.rn (198,525 acr ), Bigh Oint.h. Wildern (160,615 acr ),.! Wildern (",367 acr ), Nt. Olppua (8,599 acr ), Nt. Tt.paAga Wild.ra (10,749 acr ), and the Twin P ke Wilderne (13,109 acre.). Bwe.. er, de.igdatin f the MSA wuld add. cld high d rt badland, area t tit y,t_ and di.. er.ify repr entatin in the IIWPS. BlPageabilitr (TIt. ar.a."at b. capabl. f b.ing effecti.. ely.. nag.d t pre ne it. wilderne character. ) The Whitebr Creek MSA. ia.. nageable a. wild.rne". Bwe.. er, cncern. abut de.. el~nt need. fr tber re.urce u.e. and tb. a.. ailability f v.bicular acce in tb. cncerned area. are the priaary aanageability cncern,. The.r. rugged prtin f tbe MSA. wuld be relati... ly.afe fr. any il and ga. e:.plrati n and de.. elpmit due t tb. badland, tpgraphy. In tb. 1 rugge:t area., a lack f pby.ical barrier. and reete 10catiD wuld aake it difficult t prtect r defend tbi, MSA. agaidat ORV u.e. _ru ADd aimal lalow.rc:e hlm' The Whitebra. Creek MSA cntaina bth.urce rck. and ptential re.ervir rck. fr il and ga. and ia cn,iderh t ba.. a.adarate de.. elpmdt ptantial fr il and ga.. the.at prbable ree.. arabl. ra ne. e.tiaated t a"i.t.ithid the "0 i Cr f natural ga.. Tw _II., drilled in a.ca,. f 11,000 feet jurt.utb,t f tb. "SA, t ted gd pt.ntial. in tha deeper Cret.aceu. Praati n. ly e f th a 11 a. plugged a. unecn.ie. ner. are DO well. witbin tbe MBA. '1'h.a tn.,itebr.e Creek "SA ba. cal, il abale, uraniua, and gld pre.ent. BOW'eYer, tbeir d.. els-ent ptedti al i. lw. All f the "SA i. included.ithia a U S. cal cla lficati D rder and.itbid a cal land.ithdra.al by ec:tlti.. e Order (JI.. etlber 15, 1910). Tltere i. a ptential fr the ccurrence f a cal-bearing.~enc. at d.~b. in e.ce f 2,300-5,000 f t. 110 ca l bed. utcrp.ithin th SA. A large prtiod f th. MSA ba. b.en ataked fr uraniua and..t f tha. c1aitl...-r. pra-flpma. At. pre nt, thera i. n de.. e10pmdt f uraniua and ptejlti.a1 i. lw fr acaic dap.it. f uraniua. S... eral placer gld clai Ila Hell.taked 1D tha "SA, but n gld prductin ba. b n reprted

193 ... 1", _... VRMa-m.. 1V JIIIdI- WiIcIiIe V" ~abl. I ~rau. _ry ~ tile Illpact. by Alt... th. Anene _ pads WOIIId cnt' t JOIDde.. die _I... WSA... n.e " woiiid be reuiiied die IItrt taw. 4,001_ ~... be,..... dlewsa... tiie ACEC _...). De... be witwr'i'wii rr. _... _01 U IICY ( _ piiiy...,_. N_....,... r JIIJ1_e disbu' Jt.r:e..d8Ied widi.-... d..,.. JliiI Ktirity. c.~. w..w be ,... a_ c.... et-4lys.pmt "'WSA. lin... VRM a- I. N... enttft'ett... 1nI1IIc WIIter.rlOill.... [.-:".at.-. -_..... _"... ~.,i"....,......,..,."... padiy.. 0tuII0MI,,-'-te.. I". UYIItOck ptner'.1ibiity -... _... ~-pr".,.,... Di- "di~"'t~ rr,..i!n!!ii4!nw!n Adil WiIcIetwss "aiues wuld be prtected in tile 160.re ia the ACEC. Mire arn pell t ldidtral le:asin&. ~.. 0' 6.1 BCF.. tara! pi ($ ) '0UDd.. detpu 'nnatias c.w pssibly be recnted. but DOt ill die..,. fuhre. Wuld be ptetial '01' 7 il ud pi welt t be drilled. nsuitiac ia 4'.re 0' surrace dis _.0... aad.._... N effect.. reuatid ppl"hldities ia die WSA. Mtrized "ebide use wuld truis... apprcm....,. 3 t 5 awes 0' DeW puibiy...,_ il aad... rads N effect 011 recremi pprtuaitiel ill tile WSA. except ~ 0' mtriz.ed "eiiide.ae. die IU"M. H... Ier-ciays wuld ~ _e '-ten wuld DOl. be able 10.e.tri:&ed,, lei ia the WSA. Mderately Id"tne -J*ts wuld ccur t.--. _... r adntse icaj*ts t sil if il... pi ICti'fity _rases ia "'WSA. s-e _pl.c 0' elk ud deer ia tltt WSA. T,......,.. seuaai retrictias.. NOS ~ fjm(ffa part 0' WSA....aitipte "J*tI.. elk cahi.rtc... Herd... cnpia a " 1IIraer..., 10 _ben wuld be. "eettd. N effett _... 1IR. U"atck peratr', ability t.aitaia existia,... "pr"~" ud tim pssibility t t be a"auabie Lcal SOCial add Ik:cmaaic Cp.id.eratiOD. Lcal.cial and.cn.ic cn.id.r.tin "er. nt.n i u. in th. BIB. There ".r. n iapact. t the lc.l ecn.y r.cial char.ct.r id.ntified during the.tudj f tbi!fsa. S_a f IIIIA - Bl!!!Cific Public C:-at. luntn, 7w c_.nt., bth fr. Wy.ing, w.re r.c.i.ed during th. inv.ntry ph... Bth.upprted r.tentin f the unit a "ild.m tudy ar.a. Public ce_.nt.nd fi.ld in.pectin r l.d rad l.ading t r rvir.nd a large nuab.r f je.p tr.il.. Althugh the area f.ll b.lw the 5,OOO-.cre.iDia..., it. tpgraphy wa. fund t b n t.n.id f Or.gn Butt nd the ar wa. r.tain.d fr.tudy in cnjunctin "ith Oregn Butt. N c.. ent. ".r. r.c.i d during the MPP ca.-.at perid. IarAy Draft. II.. During th. public re.iew f the Draft BIB, 565 c_ent. were r.cei d. There "a. cnc.m th.t li.e.tck gr.aing.ad il.nel ga. acti.iti wuld b. excluded fr. d ign.t.d "ildem ar.a.. Wildlife.alu and ff-rad.ehicl. (ORV) u ".r. th.r cnc.m. rai.ed during thi. tia. "y.ing Recreatin C_i in pp.ed "ildeme anywhere th.r... r. hi.tric trail. r area. adj.cent t.atin.l Pr t.y.t_ RARB II land.. Th G mr'. ffic xpr d cnc.m abut State inhlding.huld.ny f tb r.a. b. d ignat.d. All c_ent. "er. cn.id.red and R i.ed Dr.ft SIS "' r.l d in Nv.aber Bui.td praft 118, C_.nt... re r.cei.ed fr. '55.g.ncie. (f.deral,.t.t and lc.l), rganiaatin., bu.ia and indi.idu.l.. Many f tb. lett.r. r.cei.ed fr. indi.idu.l. ".re in r pn.e t.n.irnaental grup. ' "Wildem Al.rt... ncuraging BIM t r.c... nd all acr g. under.tudy t be de.ign.t.d. Of all tbe c_.nt. recei d,,.,.upprted "ild.me de.ignatin fr all 13 "BA. and 23' pp.ed.ny additinal "ild.m area. in "y.ing. Pew c_.nt. ",.re r.cei d addre ing.ite-.p.cific.r. O.n.rally, indu.try pp.ed d ignatin ",bile.n.irna.nt.l and " ildlife grup upprted de.ign.tin f ar.a "ildeme

194 !!IUL!! PLl\JC!IO!!!!!! - JlfDl!!UftU!!lL!Ip!!I!BB n!!!ii up (IIIIA) 1. JII I'JUPI MIl acn, The De"il. P1aJ9rUJld - Twill Butte. If SA (IfY l/402) La lcated i ll a... t.ater Cunty, apprxiaat.ely 28 ail auth, autbw t f t.he city f OreeD. U r add a ail nrth f Manil., Ut.ah. The WSA cnt.ain. 23, 841 acr f wbicb 1,280 acr.. are apil t. tat. ( Table 1). The tern-lioat budda ry I i 1 ail at f,,1.. i9 Grge t.inal Recr.at.in Ar, 2-track trail. add ridgetp funiah prtin. f t.he Drtbern, autbern add we. tern bundari.. ( Map 1). The "SA i a charact.erllr by bighly erded badland. da.id f vegetatid wi th acat.terad patch f guru.h, gr, and juaiper. Th. lioat. pr.inent pi nt. ar. alack Muntai n add '%'WiD But.t., bt.h large... which are lcat.ed in t.h.. at central and aut.barn prtin. f t.be "SA«ft. WSA atudied UDder ctiod 603 f the Pederal Land Plicy and IIanag... nt Act and "a. included in the Rck Spring. Di.trict Envi rnaental I apact..t.at... nt. (BI8) filed in OCt.ber There.. ere t.w alt.emat.iv &nalyeect i.d Ue 81., including All wild.m,.. bicb i. t.he r.c_endat.in i n tlli. reprt &Ad 110 wi ld.m AID M%I~ - 23, 1 acre. rr c 1d1ed fr wild.rne a acre. :Eec 1ed fr DODwildern z..!!ttow The rec a-endat.i D fr t.hi. WSA i. t. d ignat.e 23,"1 acr a. "ild.rn (._ Map 1). The r.ca-end.tia f all "ilderae i. the envir a.ntally pr efer able.ltemati.e a. i t wuld re.ult. in the le t change t the natural en? i rdiwat.. '!he key cn.ider.ti n. fr r.c~ndiag thi. MSA fr "ildera de.ignatin.. re t.he _pl ary qu.li ty f t he ar.a '. "ild.rae lu... Althugh the ar ca t.. ida er.l. i nr i ntruai n., th. t.pgr.phy aad. i f t.h. WBA l i.it t.he iapact. t. t.he na t.uraln f th. ar.a. Th. intru.ina, "hen.i."ed in tlae cnt.ert f the.ntir. " SA, ar. aubat.ant.ially \ld.dt.iceable. '!'b. WSA ' i and abundant t.pgrapbic d i rai t.y cr.ated by the nua.ru. dra inage. pr.id pl c r aiag ad that utat.anding pprtuniti fr alltud. can" fund ati. lly in the.nt.ire MSA. Vi.itr. wuld.a.ily b. abl. t a.id tb. e ight. a nd.und. f tb.r. ia t.he MIA. Th. additinal acreag_ betweea t.he TwiD Butt and Black Muntai a a bowll n.. p 1 i. t.b... type f cuntry. Add ing t b i. a c r.ag. a nd drawig t.he bundary alng rad alag the. a.t.id. wuld.. ke a.ar... nageable uit. BUI'. int..a.i l nt.ry r ated t h. a r a a aa ha.ing ut..tandi ng pprtuni t i fr a "ld ari.ty f prt.iti r.cr.atin act.i.it.i... OUt..t andi ng pprtuait.ie. fr hiki.ng, b ackpacking, h r back ridi ng, pht.graphy, and aigllt... iag aljujld id tllla IfIA. Recmmended fr Wilderness II Spli t Estate Recmmended fr Nnwilderness I R I State 332 eyil', Playgrund/Twin Butte, Prpsal ~~ Private MILES WY /402 JUNE BEST COPY AVAIlABLE

195 TlUILZ 1 Land St.tu. and Acr g. S~ry f the Study Ar!!ithip t.b. "lldtm... stud! Ar SUI (.urfac. &Del.uh.urfac.) split t.t. (BUI.urfac. nly) Iablding (.tat., pri.at.) TOTAL Witbip 'hi ca.ftpdtd "lid.ra." IURd," 111M (witbid If SA) 111M (ut.ide If SA) Split tate (witbid If SA) Split tate (utide "SA) Ttal BLM Land. R.ca..endtd fr Wild.ra!fithin tb. Ar.. lt R,caw.eQ4t4 fr "ild.rp 111M Split tat. (fed.ral.urfac.) Ttal BUI Land. Dt ca..endtd fr Wild.ra Inhlding (.tat.., pri.at.) 33,561 1, ,841 33,561 1, , CllDaI. OQRJDAID IW QUILOPIW9 DI "U... 1." _ 'Wl'IOW!J.1duM" CUr,d,ri tie. A. at-ow'" Th. WSA i ati.lly natural in charact.r, althugh it includ 23 i ie and 2-track trail., 17 r,nir., and :I f.dc... Th. i.. ie trail. and 2-track trail ary fre f,iat aad bleur. t blad.d.car. add. ub.taatial1r uadtie.aiil. rad Th r i. eh.ract.riaed by highly.rded badland. ar urrunding tw l arg. _ f higb r.li.f. Bl atin r.ng f~ ',200 f t in the nrtb.r wa.b f O..il. Playgrund t 8, 012 f t n the Twin.utt. V. ry little. eg.tatid grw. ad the badland. wbieb c.pri the va.t aajrity f th. MIlA. Bw r, th.r. at' 011' pek.t. f.ag.bnab, ltbu.h add j=iptlr. a. IOli,W. O..il. Playgrund-Twill autt MaA'. tpgr.phy and.i caeill. t d,i.per u pr.i41ng.. pl. pprtuniti.a t.xperi.ae litud P'r at recr.atld u f th. "IA ea.l.t a.. lnl, f hunt lg aeti.iti nd ff rad biel tra r.iag tb. ar.a. s.. rflw u fra. th. Pla.ing Org tinal a.er tia Ar i. ccurri n9 in t h. flw f ff highw.y driving nd. ight ing. ni. u... y iner a. th. ppul.rit, f th. Pl ing Org. ar.a idcr C. PeWt", ap4 1lacafiaed Mer",la' Th. WIA ff.r. ut.tanding pprtujiitl fr pruiti and uncafin.d r.cr.ati. Ca.pig, rckhunding Ind hikltag ccur n an infrequ.nt b i a. ADt.lpe and d r but.ra utili... tb. Ir aad th.r. i. aee pprtunity fr budtig cyt... M.t ff-rad biel. u b b D r.lated t hunting.eti.iti D. Special r.i,.n,. Th r.a ba. it.r ting.nd unu.ual g.lgic f.atur... PO.lil es,plit nd ies.c. f 'Irly "0 can b. fund tbrughut tb. WSA. Indi.n. pur.uig a n_die, budt.r-gatb.r.r lif trl. ccupi.d th. ar cntinuully fr 9,000 y r.. Th. Pin. Springl.rcb.lgical.it., a cultural ACSC, i. adjac.nt th. WSA. Th 0utb'.lt flanlel f Illacle Muntain ar. c red by 00' f the..t t.nli (and lignificant) tipi ring.it in luthw t.rn Wy.ig...ilting cultur.l r.lurc. d.t Upprtl tb. cnclu.in tbat tb. WSA i I.nliti ar f bigbly.ignificat lu. Diy,rllty ill '" lluipal Ililderull 'nl,nlti99 a,_ '... ) hptp4'm ", pu,r.it.. f "'9nl h.t_ apd ru'pn'r a. rapa nted &. by Ie' '_ ap4 Lap4f...' Wild.rn d ign.tin f thi. WSA wuld.dd t th COlYlt_ di rlity curr.ntly i th. 1IWP8. O..il. Playgrund-Twin Butt i. r.pr.l.nt.ti f the,.bn.h 8t.ppe.cly.t in th. WYO.i09 B.lin Pr. inc cr.gin. 8i.t n.r curr.ntly und.r Itudy r'pr.l.nt thi..cly.t f which r.l b b n r.c_.nd.d uit.bl. fr wild.rn ( 9., B.ycab autt ). It. Ihuld b. ted t.b.t Deyil. Playgrund-Twin autt MSA i. the ly... pl. f badland I lc.t.d w t f tb. Or n Riv.r in lutbw t Wy.ing. a Tlbl. 2 fr I~ry f tbi. infraatin. alil.y-kucbl.r Cla.lificltip Daain/Pr.ic./PNV Dry d.. i.. / WyO.i09 aalin Pr.inc./ aag.bru.b at.ppe TlUILZ 3 Bc.,.t_ R'pr tatin liwpa Ar th.r BUI Studi Ar Acr Ar Acr NUIONWIDI 67,n , ,n , 035 a. a im t:m Opprtui1;i (r 101i,94. r Priaitiy. Jlecnl1;in " i tbin a DIY" _"1M tim 'S IMmr.) f I.. 1r Ppwll'ip CM'.r, Th1. NSA i. witbin fi hur dri f tw.. jr ppulatin c.nt.r.. T.bl. 1 Iu..ari... t.h. nuab.r Ind.cr g. f d ignated ar 1 and th.r 8LM Itudy.r.a. within a 5 hur dri f the ppulatin c.nt.r 'GpulatiA C.pt.r. lalt Lake CitJ Ogde.. Prv-Or_ TlUILZ "ild.rn Opprtuniti fr It'lid.nt f Najr Ppulatin C.nt.r. NWPS Ar Ot b.r 8LM Stud! Ar.a. Acr Ar Acr 11 1,9l5, ,705, 086 H 3,335, ,.5l,7. ~

196 c. "lmciaq the a.qrapllic Di.trilnatia f Wild.m area.1 Designatin f Deyil. Pl.ygrUDd-Twin Butt a. wild.ra wuld nt iaprve the ba lance f gegraphic di.trihutin f wild.ra... Th.r r. curr.ntly in axe f 4 ail lin acr f d ignated wild.ra in th icinity f th ppulatin c.nter...a.-pl f reginally d ignated wildera inc Iud s Jed.diah Saith (116,535.cr ), Bridg.r "ild.ra (.28,087 acr ), Pitap.trick Wild.ra (198,525 acr ), 8igh Uintah. "ild.ra (160,615 acr ), Hami Wild.ra (,367 acre.), Nt. Olyapu. (8,599 acr ), Nt. Tiapang. Wild.rne (10,7.9 acre.),.nd tbe Twin P k. "ild.rn (13,109 acre.). Hwe.er, de.ignatin f tb. WSA wuld add a "cld" high d ert badland. area t tb y.t... nd diy.r.ify repre.ent.tin f ecly.te i n the HWPS....,ili\'I (th r.a au.t be c.pable f b.ing.ff.ctiv.ly... n.g.d t pr rye i t. wild.rne character) The.rea i.anageabl. a. wild.rn... Hwe... r, tb. bund.ry.rund m. t f tb. "SA i. a dirt r.d; the r.d.nd the int.rnal.ei ie tr.il r. u d by budter..nd ther i.dcid.nt.l ORV u r. fr.cc... int tb..r... It wuld be n.c ry t i ncr peridi c patrl., in.dditin t bund.ry ligni ng, particularly during bunting n, t.. nag. the.r wildern... 'I'h..tat. wue4 ala.ral. i.d 3 ctin. wuld n.ed t b cquired. _rgy IPd ","cal "109". yal Th. U.'. Gelgi cal suryey prep.red.n pen file reprt n gelgy, a ineral r urce., engine.ridg gelgy.nd I.Dd.cape gecbe.i.try f Sweetw.ter-It_erer Area i.d 19'6. Tbat reprt i. tbe pria.ry.uree fr the fllwi.dg di.cu i n. &splr.tin add gelgic prjectin. in the J..aedi.te.re hw n knwn rec... rabl e re.erye t tbe lc.tin f the "SA. Recver.ble re.erve. have b n i gned a... lue f.er. ne. r i. UDd.r.D i l.b.l. withdr.w.l (.x.cuti... Ord.r 53:2', M.y 20, 1930,.Dd Publ i c Laa es Ord.r.522, 1'67) aad i gregated fra aiding entry. Pt. ntia l f r d e l s-ent f il.bal. i. lw; tb. d.p.it. ar. lw in grade add tbid bedded.0 t hey'r. f l i ttle ca...rcial i.dt.r t. UraDiua, pb.put Dd c.l a r. uwu t ecur ill. th. MSA but hav. lw d e... l;-et ptential. e.l i. foulld i n thin, di.cnti nuu. bed.. The pt. ntial f r trna dev.lpaent i.d.rat.. Winety- fi.. e percent f the.tudy area i. withia tb. Gr een River bwu SOdiua laa.ing Area. Bwe ver, d... e l paeat ia unlik. ly t ccur i D t he fr bl. f uture the r. ur ee. f t rna are beiag a iaed a earby wbih.a.il y.e.t... rk.t d.aand. n e.and aad gra.. el r ry', althugh.ub.t.dti. l, h lw ptent.ial fr d. v. lpaellt l i aee it i. fuad n the t p. with.t p t.rraia and i., a t I t fr nw, unacce ibl. 'Mea ' f t.im r "POlIrc.' n. fllwig ca.parati... upact. tabl. ('I'able ').u.aari the.ff.ct.. n a ffected r ",rc f r all tb. alte n ativ c n.i dered i ncl udi ng de.i gnatin r DODd ignatin f t he.nti re are a a. wilde m e I u' Tpic. I.p.ct. OD "ild.rn Valu I.pact n Oil.Dd Oa. Bxplr.tiD and Prductin Iapact n Wildlife Babitat and Ppulatin. Iapact n R.cr.atiOD OpprtWliti.. Tabl. & e.parati..-ary f t.b. I... ct.. bf Alt.naati JIG Wild.rae WilderDe.. valu wuld nt b. affrded.tatuatry prtectin. M.t f the Wild.m.. alu wuld r_ia becau n 10ng-ter8 di. turbanc. i. expected and th. recreatin 'I" f tb. MSA i. nt.xp.ct.d t chang. N.xplratin r prductid f il and ga. 10 anticipated fr. tb. lisa. Tb. OpprtWlitr fr il add ga. d... elpaedt wuld b... intained.buld technlgy iaprve cbanc f finding Dew r recv.ring curr.dt r erve. Ther. wuld b. DO.ffact n wildlife babitat r ppulatin a becau.e cbang. id 'I f tb. WSA i. antici pated. Tb.r. wuld b. little chadge i tb. u... f tb. lisa. TIl. Pl.. idg Grge Natinal R.cr.atin Ar.a, whicb i. in tb. i_edi.t... i c i nity, b.. a.ucb great.r drawing pw.r and receiv. a.uch b i gh.r l.vel f recreatinal u.e i n Duab.r. f vil i tr..rp... Actin All Wild.rD The area'. wild.rne.alu wuld b aintained becau u f atr yehicl.. add d.velpa.nt wuld b. r. atricted. Surfac. ccupancy fr.xplratin and prductin wuld be prhibit.d; bw.ver, n prductin 10 wuld ccur b,cau r.c... rabl. r erv.. in tb. WSA ar tiaat..d a. r. Ther. wuld b. DO i apa ct.. t wildlife habitat r ppulatin. becau.. n additinal.urface d i. turbance r change. in u. f th. MSA ar x p.cted. Tb.r. wuld b. DO.ff.c t n r.cr.ati D pprtunitie. b lleau. e th. 1...,1. and typ f u.e id th. WSA are v.ry l w and wuld b. ea.ily accllod.t.d i n n.arby are

197 Lcal Scial add lcdaie CP.id.ratiaa Lcal.cial add.en-ie cn.id.ratin. ",.r. nt an i.6... in the ZIS. There wer. n iapact. t t.h. lcal.en-, r.ei.l character identified during the.t.udy f t.hi. "SA.... n f!1m-specific hblic r pt. laywtr.n' Public in.. l.. e nt. ccurred thrughut t.he ",ilderne review prc... C.rtain c~at. rec.i.. ed duriag the in.. ent.ry prc and c_ent perid were u.ed t. d... lp aipifie.at..t.udy i ue nd.. ariu. alt.ernatives. Open hu.e. add public.. at.ing' wera hald t.hrughut the di.trict var a perid f... ral y.ar. ",ith final d.ci.i. publi.hed in th. 'pring f A.uppl_ntal... lu.tin f thi. particular unit cnfinted th.t ver.l.. ppidg.rrr nd ai i. were.. de a. t the ext.nt f huaa activit.y. Sub'equent.ly, 2,329 acre. were drpped fra furtb.r atudy. larly Draft 11., During the public re.iew f tha Dr.ft. BIS, 565 c_ent. were recei.ed. Ther... cncern t.hat. li.e.t.ck gr ig and il and g activities wuld be e.cluded fr. de.ip.ted ",ilderne area.. Wildlife.. alue. and ff-rad.ehicl. (ORV) u.e wera tber cncarn. rai.ed during t.hi. t.iae. wyaing Recre.t.in e-i i:::tn pp.ed ",ild.rne anywh.re t.h.re.. er. hiat.ric t... ail. r.rea. adjacent t "at.in.l Fr.at. SJ'at._ RARE II land.. Tbe GtJvernr'. ffie :a:pr ed cnc.rn abut. st..t.. i.nhl dig.huld. anj' f the.rea. be d.e.ip.t.ed. All ca..ent.. wer. cn.id.red ad a i.ed Draft. EIS was r.lea.ed in 1I""'er lui194!prjf" III: c-nt. wer. rec.i.ed fr..55 ag.nci (fed.ral, state and lcal), rgani.at.in., bu.in and idividual.. Manf f t.he let.t.ers recei.ed fr. indi.idual. wer. i r p t..n.irn..ntal grup" "Wilderne Al.rt" encuraging 81M t r.cg..and all acre.ge under.tudy t be d ig:nat.ad. Of all tha c.,..enta r.c.i.. ed, 7",upprted wilderne de.ipat.i n fr all 13.. SA. and 23' pp.ect any addit.in.l wi ldeme area. in ",OIIig. rew c..ant. were recei.ed addlre ig.ite-.pacific area. Oen.ra11y, indu.try pp.ed d ign.tin while.n.iraa.nt.al and wildlife grup.,upprted d i pati f are.. a. "ildern. 1. rb!! B'ftIDJ IIIUIA AC!t!!S Tha Red Cr k Badl.nd. WSA (WY ) i. lcated in s", tw.t..r Cunty, apprxiaat.ly fi... il nrth f t.h. Utah-Wf.lng brder and 35.il uth f Rck Spring.. Th. WSA cnt..ina 8,020 acr f BLM land nd 640 acre. f.t.te l.nd ( a Tabl. 1). Th. nrth" t bundary pint f the MSA i..n unn d dirt. rad, which fllw. au unn... d ridget.p.ut.he t. t t.w-t.rack tr.il.nd tben.ut.b t Cunty Rad '-27. Red. Cre.k R.ncb ia adj.cent t tbe auth.rn bundary.nd... f st r Cr k add.ther udaaed ridgetp cn.titute t.b. ", t.ern bundary ( Nap 1). The Red Cr k Badland. MSA i. a highly acenie.r, a.alu.bl. wildlife are., and. ppular bunt.ing ar.a. Th. "SA i. a fragile... t.r.bed ad cnt.in. highly.rdi.l:jl. r.d.hal nd.and.tn ranging in.1e.atid fr. 7,0(\0 t 7,900 f t. V.get.at.in vari fr. gr wd in t.h. dra". and.ag.bruat. n bench.r.a., t. juniper n th. upper.lp Th. " SA "' tudiad under Sectin 603 f t.he r.d.eal Land Plicy.nd Manag nt Act. (P'LPMA) and " included in t.h. Rck Spring. Di.t.rict. Envirna.nt.al Iapact St.at nt. (SIS) fil.d in Octb.r There ",er. tw alt.rnativ an.17 d in th. SIS, including,ul "lld.rn nd N wild.rn ",bich i. tb. r.c_andatin in t.hi. r.prt. ' 2. U'?'""'P!TIOW UP MlIfMN.B -- 0 acre. ",z cccii_.. Id"'" fr.ild.ra,020 acre. r.c «ed fr aawildara Th. rec_endat.in fr tbi. "SA i. t. r.l acr fr u t.ber tban wild.r ( Map 1). Tb. All Nild.rn Altarnati.L. i. cn.lder.d t be the.nvirnaant.lly pr.f.rable.ltarn.t.i.e it. wuld r ult in the l t. change fr. tb. nat.ur.l en.irna.nt ",er the lng t.ra. 'rh. r.c_endat.in fr t.hi. WSA wuld ba iapl ent.d in a.. nnar "bieh wuld utili.e.11 pract.ical.e.na t. avid r.ini.i.e en.. iru.ant.al i.pact. Th. p ibl. n d fr ar.in cntrl liea.ure. in tb. WSA wa. the pri.ary fact.r in arriving.t. tb. nodwild.rne r.c_endat.in. The MSA i. part f a fragile wat.r.h.d witb e:a:e i.e at.ural er.in. Natur.l.r.in cntribute di.ent and.alt.. t th. Gr.en Riv.r.nd... nt.u.lly t the Clrad Riv.r.y.te D.aignatin f t.hi. "SA a. wilderne wuld liait. BLII '. abilit.y t. i.pl.ment er.in cnt.rl ur... Abut. 92' (7,380 acre.) f th. WSA are included in the 59,532.cre.ed Cr.ek Water.bed Ar.a f Crit.ical Bnvirnaental Cnc.rn (ACSC). The intent f th. ACBC i. t aggr i.ely.anage th. ar.a t i.prve water quality thrugh reductin f.alinit.y and.ilt lad. n.., aff.cting the Or.eD Ri... r.nd Clrad Ri 'C.y.te.. Al t.hugh n.r.in cnt.rl prject. have b.en pl.nned within t.h. WSA, a aj' b. needed in the future. Wild.rn de.ignatin culd ha.per fut.ur ffrt. t reduce.alinity and.ilt lad. nw b.ing d.p.it.d in t.he Ore en River. JJ8 JJ9

198 TlUILII 1 Land statu, add Acr.ag'.~ry f the Study Ar Within the Wild'rD." Study Ar BLM (,urfae. and,ublurtac.) Split a,tat. (BLM,urf.e. Dly) Inhlding (atat., pri t.) TOTAL Within the R.c.aend.d Wild,m,., Bupd," 81M (within If SA) BLII (ut,id. WSA) Spi lt tat. (within W8A) split Zatat. (ut,id. MSA) Ttal BLM Land R.c.aended fr wild'rd'" Within the Are. Nt R.C.a.Dded f r Wi ld.m 81M Split Zatat. Ttal BLM Land Mt R.C...Dded fr Wild.rn Inhlding' (atat., pri t.) 8,020..-!ll 8, , ,010 "0 3. ClI'l'IPtIA c.c:.sidbllll) III QKYBLOPJW DI "D"'PM' r.,...,...,mrla. "ild.p'" Cbarac:t.riatic. A...tarala as Th. WSA ia a highly ac.nic, fragile wat.r.h.d area including valuable wildlife h.bitat. Th r i. ch.r.ct.riaed by rugged t.rrain c.p d f.h.rply.rded cliff., butt. tp., b.nch,.nd dr.w. with interwitt.nt.tr draining int Red Cr k.nd ntu.lly th. Or.e River. El.v.tin in the WSA r.nge. fr. 7,000 t 7,900 f t ab l.v.l. V.g.tatin type. f und in the WSA inc Iud. juniper and g.bru.h c_unitie. in th. high.r el.vatin. with gr wd.nd ltbu.h c..uniti inh.biting the.. y wa.h nd l wl.nd.r... Th. b.dl.nd. ar. lm).tly d.vid f vegetatin. Th. WSA i ti.lly in n.tural.tat., with l.! i ic lin, tw-track tr.il.,.nd.0.b.dn r.d r.v.g.t.ting t pint w!l.r. th.y ar. bar.ly v i.ibl B. Slitudes The Red Cr.ek B.dl.nd. WSA ff.r. ut.tanding pprtunities fr.litud.. Rugged terr.in.nd veg.tatin.cr ning f the badland. cntribut. t th. f ling f reat.ne... Liv tck gr.aing and r.creatinal u r n.l. Littl. r n pt.nti.l.xi.t. fr il, g, r.lid ain.ral explratin r prductin. Recmmended fr NONE Wilderness Ilnl Recmmended fr Nnw"derness Land utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness 1%/4J1a 1IIIfffl:~ ~OONE~ State Spl it Estate Prlven e ~ WY Red Creek Badlands I Prpsal MI LES June c. Pri.8iti add Uncnfined R8Crea tips Th. "'SA ff.r. a vari.ty f pprtuniti fr pri.itiv. and uncnfin.d recr.atin. Acti viti including wildlife b.ervatin, hiking, br.eback riding, and rck hunding ccur n I i_it.d b i., bwev.r. Tb. pri.ary recreatin u i n the ar i. bunting. Of f - rad v.hicle u.e i ainly re.tricted t hunting activi tie BEST COPY AVAIlABLE

199 D. Ipeck1 PMt.1lI'9" Th SA cntain. higbly.rdibl. red.hal ad a.adatn.a. '%'b. clratid f the rck. add cliff., aixed witb tb. varius.had f.eg.tatid pr.id. a..t idtere.ting land.cape. Pi nn pine atads, a rare cc\l.rr.ce at tbi. latitude, cad ala be fund... t deace f idtezwitteat u.e by Daadic Indian bunter., including tipi riga, ba.e been fund id the.urrunding area. &..",'rum t;m PiDniU f llat1lal hat.. apd Peat_rea a. Ilepr ented by Icultwl... LaPdflM' Wildere.a deaignatin f the WSA wuld nt add t the ec:ayat_ di.er.ity currently in tbe IIWPS. The Red. Creek Badlad. WSA i. repr atati.e f tb. Sagebru.h steppe.cay.t_ in tb. Wyaing aaain PrYiDce. Sixt.." ar.a. curtently under atudy repr ent thia ecayate. f _iell r.1 ba.e bead reca..anded.ui tabla fr wilde rue.. ( table 2). A.iga.ifie.nt prtiod f the Pr t S.nic. adaini.t.red Clud Pe.k Wilderness i. idcluded ill tbia ec.y.t_. Bailey-Kuchler Cl ificati g DaaiD/PrYince/PWV Dry d-.id/ lfj..u.9 Baa id Pr.iDc./ hgebrusb Steppe TlUILI!: 2 &c.y.t_ aepre.entatin IfWPS Are tber alm Studies Ar Acre. Are Acre.!!ATIOnID' 67, ,035 67, ,035 s. b... ida "' OpDrt_itie. fr alitade r Priaiti... aecr.ati" WithiD a Pty" priyiaq tim,$ ba) f.. i r Ppalatia Cgt.rl Thi. WSA i. witbin fi.e hur dr1.. e f tw.. jr ppulatin c.nter.. Tabl. 3.~ riae. tbe Duab.r.nd aer.ag. f d ignat.d ar.aa and tb.r auc atudy ar.aa witbin a 5 hur dri f th. ppulatin cent.r., l2m!lls:i2r '--D~.' I a Lake Citr - 09d e D PrO'W'-r_ wild.ru Opprtuniti fr a ident. f.. jr ppulatin Center. IfIIPS Are ther IIIM Studies &[111 ~ lu:n.i ~ 18 1,925, ,225, ,705,086 5,451,742 c. "l_cillq th. Geqrapb'c Di.trilnatip f.'lcleo." area.. D ign.tin f Red Creek Badland. a. wilderue wuld Dt iapr... the bal.nce f gegr.pbic di.tributin f wildern... Th.re ar. currently in exce f 4.illiD acre. f de.ignated wildern in the vicinity f the.e ppul.tin center.. Ex.. ple. f reginally d ignat" wilderue include.. Jed.diab Saitb (116,535 acre.), Bridger Wilderne (.28,017.cr ), P'itapatrick Wilderue (198,525.cre.), 8igh Uintab. Milderue (160,615 acre.), Haai Wilderue (44,367.cre.), Nt. Olppu. (1,599.cre.), Nt. Tiapanqa Wilderue (10,749 acre.),.dd the Twin P.ak. Mild.rue (13,109 acr ).... _pility (tbe are. au.t be capable f b.ing effectively.. n.g.d t pre.erve ita wilderue char.cter) Tbe Red Creek Badland. WIA i... n.geable a. wilderne... Signing tbe b1l.ddarie. wuld be n.c ry.lng with peridic patrl., particularly during h1l.dting.ea.n. The ar.a'. naturalne nd.litude wuld be.. intained bec.u.e f the l.ck f prj.ct" aurface-di.turbing.cti.itie.. Tbe likelibd f.ineral de.el~nt i ery ".raj' a.acl KiD.ral blo1lrc. Vala The U. S. Gelgic.l Survey prepared.n pen file reprt n gelgy, ain.ral reaurce., engineering gelgy and land.cape gecbeai.try f Sweetwater-Ite_erer Area in Tb.t reprt i. the priaary.urce fr the fllwing di.cu in. The WSA i. underlain by cal f 1l.DknOWD extent aad.c).t f tbe are. i. within a c. 1 land witbdrawal e.tabli.bed by Executive Order f July 13, carbnaceus.bale and lenticul.r bed. f cal are clllton in tbe upper 3,000 feet f tbe w tch fr.atin. Part f tbe MSA f.ll. within.n il.bale withdraw.l (Bxecutive Order 5327 and Public Land Order 4522),.e.ning tbe.rea i. cl.ed t aining clai. Expre in. f public intere.t in il.bale develp.ent within tbe Rck spring. Di.trict indicate develpllent intere.t fcu.e. n dep. i t. ut.ide tbe WSA. Develpaent ptential fr trna i.c)deratei bwever, due t the thinner, deeper bed. f.ixed.diua and balite (.alt), de.elpllet i. unlikely. Setter.urce. f trna are nearby. Tbere are n knwn recverable re.erve. f il and ga. in the WSA. N explratin r prductin i nticip.ted. Tbere are n indic.tin. f ther.iner.l value. r public intere.t in tber aineral v.lue. witbin the WSA. Iwpact. f ther.elource. Tbe fllwing c.parative :lap.ct table (T.ble 4).va.ariae. tb. eff.ct. n affected re.urce. fr.11 tbe.lternative. cn. ide red including de.ignatin r nnde.ignatin f the entire area wild.rn

200 I'IM 'Ipis "i~d.ra." Valu MiD.ral. ~ule, ~r.ti.e S_EY f ~ct;. by &lte... tbe lid WUclerae /110 lictiri.aturaln,.litude, and pprtuiti.. fr prl.iti add uncnfined r.cr.atin pr ned beeau u... ar. nt.xpected t chang M.t prbable r.c rabl. r. I.n, r. N il r ga. r.c red. 110 effect n gra.ing u All "ild.rae.,.aturaln,.litude, and pprtuniti fr pri.itiv and uncnfined recreatin prtected in the entire WS lf il and ga. prductin fregne b.cau.e prjected r.c.erabl. re.erve. e. tiaated at a.r. OCca.lnal incnv.nienca t li tck peratr becav. f ra.trictin. n.tria hicl. v. and nni.pair.. nt crit.ria fr new rang apr nt Lcal Icial ap4 Icpaic Cp.id9Atm, Lcal.cial and acn.ic cn.id.ratinl w.r. nt an i u. i tb. EIS. Th.r. war. n upact. t th. lcal.cn.r r.cial ch.ract.r id.ntified during th. tudy f thi MSA.... rr f!la-specific Pgblic r 't:' Ip... t;n' Public i.l... nt ccurred thrughut the wild.rne r.vi... prc... C.rtain c_.nt. r.c.i.ed during tb. in ntry prc and c_.nt p.rid ",.r. u d t d lp.igdificant.tudr i u and.ariu. alt.rnativ Open bu and public ting. w.r. h.ld thrugbut tb. di.trict v.r a p.rid f r.l y.ar. with final 4.ci.i. publi.hed in the 'pring f Thi. particular unit wa. r.in ntried and a. a r ult f public c_.nt., th. unit ",a. r.duc.d in.i fr. 34,000+ acr t 8,020. larix Draft II', During th. public r iew f tbe Daft EIS, 565 c_ent... er. rec.ived. Th.r. ",a. cnc.rn tbat li tck gra.ing and il and ga. activiti wuld b xcluded fr. 4 lgnated wild.rn ar.a.. Wilcllif alue. ad ff-highway hicl. (OBV) u... r. th.r cnc.rn. rai.ed during thi. ti.e. Wy.ing R.cr.atiD CO_i in pp.ed wild.rn anjwber. there were bi.tric trail. r.r adjacent t N.tln.l Pre.t Sy.t_ RAJlB II land.. Tb OO rnr'. ffic. expr ed cncern abut St.t. inhlding.bv.ld.ny f the.rea. be de.ignat.d. All c_ent. ",er. cn.idered.nd Re.i.ed Draft EIS.. a. r.l.a.ad in Nv.aber by"'" pr,ft: II c_.nt. w.r. rec.i d fra agenci, (federal,.tate and lcal), rganiaatin., bu. in and individual.. Many f the lattar. r.c.iv.d fr. individual. w.r. i r pn t.n.irnaantal grup. ' "Wild.ma Alert.. ancuraging BLII t r.c_.nd all acraag. und.r.tudy t b. de.ignatad. Of all tb. c_.nt. r.c.i.ad, 74',upprtad wild.rna de.ignatin fr all 13 ",SA. and 23' pp.ed any additinal wild.rn ar in Wyaing. P.w c_.nt. w.r. r.c.i.ed addr ing.it..-.pacific araa. Oen.rally, iddu.try pp.ad d ignatin while.n.irnaantal and wildlifa grup upprt.d d ignatln f ar.a. a. wild.m

201 SUMMARY ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC WSA RECOMMENDATIONS CASPER DISTRICT WSAs BLANK PAGE 341

202 GARDNER MOUI!TJ\IK!!ILDIIII!I" IT!lI!X AI!IA (!! TIlE STI/DY AREII aer" The Gardner Muntain WSA (WY ) include. 6,423 acres f publi c lands with n state r private inhlding.. The WSA i8 lcated 40 miles suthwest f Buffal and 72 miles nrthwest f Casper in Jhnsn Cunty, Wyming. Private land brders the WSA n the nrth and west aid... A ranch rad, which is lcated n public land, frma part f the suthern bundary f the WSA, alng with an imaginary line leading t the suthe.st crner f the WSA. This bundary was establiahed t exclude impact a frm man-made feature.. This line fllws the bttm f a steep slpe. The WSA 1a bunded n the east by state land and anther ranch rad n public land (B Map 1). BtANK PAGE The area is generally rugged terrain f the suthern Big Hrn Muntains dminated by pndersa pine, Duglas-fir, limber pine, scattered muntain mahgany, and meadw.. Included in the WSA are the deep, steepwalled canyns f Beartrap Creek and the Nrth Prk f the Red Prk f the Pwder River, and their tributaries. The vegetative type. and tpgraphy fund in the WSA are typical f the lwer elevatins f the.uthern Big Hrn Muntain. The WSA was studied under.ectin 603 f the... deral Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPHA), and wae included in the Buffal Wilderne.s EIS filed in June Tw alternatives were analyzed fr the Gardner Muntain WSA in the final wilderness EIS, a. fllw. : N Wilderness: N wilderness designa t in f 6,423 acrea. Management wuld be as defined i n the Buffal RMP/EIS. All Wilderness: Wilderness designatin f the entire 6,423 acrga f the WSA. 2. RECOMMENDAT ION AND BATIONALI - 0 acr.. rec_ended fr wildern ".23 acr e. rec_end.d fr nn-wildern The recmmendatin fr the Gardner Muntain WSA i. t release the entire area fr uses ther than wilderne.s. The envirnmentally preferable alternative ia the all wilderness alternative aa it wuld re.ult in the least change frm the natural envirnment ver the lng term. The Gardner Huntain WSA i8 nnsuitable fr wilderness designatin fr the fllwing reasns: Apprximately 750 acres f cmmercial frestland and 980 acres f wdland prvide fr an annual sustained yield f MB F f timber and crds f firewd. The cntinued use f t hese resurces i8 imprtant t the lca 1 ecnmy. 349

203 The vegetatin and tpgraphy f the WSA are cnsidered typical f thse f the Big Hrn Muntains. The WSA des nt pssess any unique r utstanding examples f resurce values that are nt fund elsewhere within the Big Hrn Muntains. The picturesque canyn. f the WSA are its mst dminant feature, but similar canyns can be fund elsewhere within the Big Hrn Muntains. The Clud Peak Wilderness Area (19,500 acres) n nearby Frest Service lands adequately represents the area in the NWPS. The additin f this WSA t the NWPS wuld nt cntribute t expanding the diversity f natural systems within the NWPS. The Gardner Muntain WSA is representative f the Duglas-fir ecsystem, which i. already well represented in the NWPS (aee table 2). There are abundant pprtunities fr sli tude r pri mitive recreatin within a day'. drive f all majr ppulatin cent.era near this WSA. There are between 2.2 and 4.0 millin acrea t designated wilc!erness within a day ' s driving time f each ppulatin center. There has been very little lcal supprt fr designatin f this WSA as wildernes.. The majrity f public colm\ent received favred the prpsed acti n f n wilderne ss designatin tr the Gardner Muntain WSA. The prpsed management under the preter.ced alternative wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all pr4ctical mean. t avid r minimize envi rnmental i mpacts. A85W A84W 350 NONE I;~I Gardner Muntain Prpsal Recmmended f r Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness l and utside WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness 0 I fffl~1111 SpO t Estate ~ WY M ILES June, 1990 ~l\one~ f%/~m!pi State Pr iva te BEST COPY AVAI LABLE

204 TABLE 1 - LAND STATUS AND ACREAGE SUMMARY OF THE STUDY AREA Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (State, Private) Ttal Within the Recmmended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) Ttal BLM Land Recmmended fr Wilderness 6, , Inhldings (State, Private) Within the Area nt Recmmended fr Wilderness B~ Split Estate Ttal BLM Land nt Recmmended fr Wilderness Inhldings (State, Private) 6, , CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING THB WILDERNESS RECOMMENDATIONS Hild.rg, Cbaraet.ri.tie. A. N.tur.lA ' The G rdner Muntain WSA is predminantly natural. The area is dissected by tw majr picturesque canyns that average abut 400 feet in depth. The WSA varies in elevatin frm 5,700 t 7,800 feet. The eastern prtin f the WSA is characterized by steep frested terrain with bth small and large grassy meadws. The western prtin is almst. entirely pen, gently.lping grassy parks. Bald eagle and peregrine falcns, bth classified as endangered species, migrate thrugh the a r ea; hwever, nne are knwn t nest in the area. Th&ra ara few visible human imprints. Thse xisting are assciated with nging ranga manag ment activities. Fances lcated in tha western prtin f the WSA ara g.narally mar. visibla because f the number f pen parks, wharaa. thse n tha aastarn prtin ara lcatad in timber and muntainus t.rrain. Cn.tructad ras rvir ra small and ra cne ntratad in the suthern prtin f tha unit. The r servirs appe r t h ve been in place fr many years nd blend well int tha n tural setting. Small ccess rutes aery each reservir but d nt advers ly aff ct the natur 1 character f the landscape. 352

205 8. Slitude' OVerall this WSA ffers pprtunitie& fr slitude because it has rugged terrain, frested areas, and several canyns. Althugh the intens i ve inventry i dentifies sli tude as an utstanding characteristic f thi s area, nly the canyns prvide an utstanding pprtunity. Apprximately 1,000 acres ffer little pprtunity t avi d the sights and sunds f thers i n the WSA. The western prtin f the WSA, except _ fr the canyns generally lacks the varied tpgraphy and vegetative screenl.ng neces.a~ fr experiencing slitude. The suthern prtin is characterized by steep rcky terrain with a light cvering f juniper and grass. Neither the wester n nr the suthern part is cnsidered t ffer utstanding pprtunities fr experiencing slitude. C.. Pri.iti and Uncnfined Recreatins The Ga~dner Hunta~n W~A ffers utstanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfl.ned recreatl.n l.? the frms f hiking, fishi ng, hunting, and sightseeing. Steep canyn wall l wl.th a limited number f access pints and steep muntainue terrain are natur~l barriers that affect human mvement within the WSA and enhance the priml.tive character. D. 'Hcial f.atur, Bth the Red Prk f the Pwder Rive ' and Beartrap Creek are cnsidered " imprtant trut waters-fisheries f reginal imprtance" by the Wyming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). Prtin. f Du l l Knife Battlefield, a natinal histric site, extend int the suthern bundary f the WSA. The histric site is significant t Wyming h i.try and early Indi an-white battle. Di r,ity in the "'tial Wild.m Pr natin Sy.t A. InaRding the Di r.it. f Natural Sy,t... aad f.ature" A' Repr ented by Ic,y.t... add LlPdfnl" Wilderness designatin f this WSA wuld nt add a new. c.ystem r landfrm t the NWPS. Th. Gardner Muntain f the Pwder Rive r WSA i a in the Rcky Muntains Prest/Duglas-fir ecsystem. Tabla 2 Ecsyatem B. A ing the Opprtunitie. fr slitude r Pri.itive R.cr.atin within Day" Driving Ti (five hur.) f Mair Ppulatin Cent.r. : Tw SHSAs, 8illings, Mntana, and Casper, Wyming, are within a day's drive f the WSA. Ppulatin Centers Casper, Wy Billings, MT Table 3 wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas areas acres 27 4,080, ,808,142 Other BLM Studies areas acres , ,427 C. Balancing the aegraphic Di.tributin f Wilderne Ar.a.: Designatin f the Gardner Muntain WSA as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic distributin f wilderness. As f January 1985, there were 3,077,381 acres f designated wilderness and apprximately 1,973,600 acres f administratively endrsed areas in Wyming. The Clud Peak. Wilderness area lies 30 miles t the nrth f Gardner- Muntain WSA. Manageability The WSA is cnsidered manageable as wilderness. Hwever, due t its narrw a nd erratic land cnfiguratin, management csts in persnnel and assciated cs ts wuld be exceedingly high. En.rgy and Mineral Re.urce Valu The Gardner Muntain WSA cntains n knwn r suspected depsits f any ecnmic minerals. This includes il and ga8, uranium, and energy r critical minerals. There are n il and gas leases in the area, and n ntices f intent fr explratin f lcatable minerals have been filed fr the area. There were n mining claims in the area as f January 23, I.pact. n Other Re.urc aailey-!tuchler Cla"iflcatln NWPS Areaa a real acre, NATIONWIDE ther BLM Studies ar.a. acres The f llwing cmparative impacts table (Table 4) sunvnarizes the effects n perti nent resurces fr all the alternatives cnsi dered including des ignatin r nndesignatin f the entire area as wilderness. Dry Dmainl Rcky Muntain Pr.,t P'rvince/Duq l rir rr.at 18 1,349, , , ,

206 Tilb!r Prc:b:tl n l ivntc:k Grazing nd_' Oil and Gas Explratin and Prc:b:tln lecr.. t in USe and u.ltty TAIIlE 4 CXlFAUTIY'E ~T Of ".ACTS.T AlTERMATlY'ES CAROllER JO.JkITAllI PMIpOMd Act in 110 Vilderness existing wilderness values fou'ld In the VSA wuld be prherved fr at leest the next yeer. In the absence f prtective II'I8NIgeaent. the ev~tuel lss f wilderness character wul d be likely. Apprxi_tely 750 acres f ccltwll!rcial frestland end 980 ec: r H f wdland wuld reme in i n the allwable t iar harvest base. An IMUIl sust a ined yield f 40 t 55 MBF n colnderci.l lends and 15 t 10 crds n wdlands wuld be rea l ized U'1der this al ternative. In t he shrt te"', t ivestc:k prc:b:ti n wul d renin the SIIIIe. In the lng te..., l Ivestck prc:b:tin wul d increase fr. 189 ALMs t 425 AUMs. Operating csts f the grazing \M"Iifna inside end utside the \/SA. N effect n 01 l and gn explr at ln ~-.d prcd.ctln. lecreatln us. levels wuld be expected t Increase frell the current 500 t 2,500 vi s itr deys per year by Recreatin qjll ity Is expected t renin high. Existing waur qjllf ty wuld be affected slightly by i ncrened s edi.rlt lads frolft a future tiar ule and Increased vlsit.tln. existing pp.il.tlns f 100. lk and ,le deer wuld be liiintalned. Ther. wuld be a re4jc:t l n In trut ppulatins alng,eartrap Cr k fr trut per 1II1l. t SOO trut per.il All Vilderness Vi Lderness values in the YSA wul d receive lng term pr tectin as a r esul t f wi lder ness designatin. Apprximately 750 Icres f cnnercial frestland and 980 acres f wdland wul d be remved frem the t irrber harvest base. This wuld nt hive a significant adverse iq»ct n t irrber prductin r n the lcll tlitur Industry. SIIII'Ie IS the "n wi ldt:rness" Ilternative exc~t tht l ivestc:k peratin csts n the prtin f the alltments within the lisa wuld be S2. 50 per ALIM nigher thin n t he prtins utside the lisa. Oil and gls explrati n wuld be fregne. Since ptential fr 01 l and gas d iscvery i s vi rtually nnexistent, there wuld be n i ~ct n prducti n. Same II the "n wi lderness alternative". Same IS the "n wilderness alternative," except wa ter qjlllty wuld be slightly highly becluse there wuld be n i..,.cts frm tiri:)er harv"tlng. SlIM as the "n wi lderness el ternatlve" except water qual Ity wuld be slightly higher because there wuld be n f..,.eu fr",. t imer harvest ing. S... IS the "n wilderness" alternatlv. Lcal Scial and EcDaic Cnaid.ratina Lcal scial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. There were n i mpacts t the lcal ecnmy r scial character identified during t he study f this WSA. The recmmendati n fr the Gardner Muntain WSA in this reprt is cnsistent with lcal, cunty, state and federal plans. Varius gvernment agenci es were cntacted, and n incnsistencies were fund. stlmma.rx r WSA-SPECIrIC PUBLIC COICIIIIIT' Iny.ptn I N crrrnents received during the inventry phase were deferred fr cnsideratin in the study. Draft lis, Cmments received during RMP d.v.lpnent dealt primarily with wilderness planning criteria. The BLM Slicited cmments t help in identificatin f issues and public cnc.rn.. A ttal f 19 f the cmments received cncerning the Gardner Muntain WSA ::Jtated a preference fr designatin r nndesignatin f the WSA as wilderness. Of these, 1 cmment favred wilderness desi gnatin and 18 favred nndesignatin. In ther cmments received, n preference fr r against wilderness designatin culd be determined. The cmments ppsed t designatin said wi1derne.s de.ignatin wuld have adverse effects n water qualit y, livestck, big game, and adjacent private lands. The cmment supprting wildernells de.ignatin cited the need t prtect mre land. in their natural state fr future generatins. The U. s. Envirnmental Prtecti n Agency sai d that wilderness designatin fr the Gardner Muntain WSA wuld prtect and imprve water quality a nd ther resurces. The Wyming Gvernr' s Office cncurred with the recrrrnendatin fr nnde.ignatin and suqgested that the BLM util ize existi ng authrities and spec ial ma nagement practices t pt'tect the significant natural values in the WSA. The Wyming Game and Fish Department said that the agency preferred "multiple use management" rather than a wilderness deaignatin since designatin wuld reduce hunter access a nd therefre wildlife management pprtunities. The Wyming Recreatin Cmmissin said it is ppsed t the designat in f any additinal wilderness areas within the et3te. The Wyming Oepartment f Agriculture recltltlended nndesi gnatin a. wilderness fr the WSA because the agency said the WSA de. nt meet established criteri a

207 The Water Quality Divisin f the Wyming Department f Envirnmental Quality recl'mlended wilderness designatin fr the WSA as a methd f prtecting water resurces. The Jhnsn cunty cormiissiners said t hey have dec i ded that there is n need t place these areas in a wilderness classificatin. NORTH FORK OF pawner RIVER WILDBRHESS STUDY AREA (WSA) 1. THB STUDY AREA acr The Nrth Frk f the Pwder River WSA (WY ) includes 10,089 acres f public lands with n state r private inhlding.. The WSA is lcated 30 miles suthwest f Buffal and 82 mi les nrthwest f Casper in Jhnsn Cunty, Wyming. Private and state land brders the WSA n all aides except fr a prti n n the east side, which is brdered by a ranch rad n public lands. On the western brder a "cherrystem" excludes a rad and a stck watering pipeline frm the WSA (see Map). The WSA cntains mderately steep frested terrain dminated by pndersa pine, Ot:glas-fir and limber pine, interspersed with pen grass-cvered parks. Included in the WSA are tw deep, rugged and scenic canyns-pass Creek and the Nrth Frk f the Pwder River. The area is typical f that fund i n the suthern Big Hrn Muntains. The WSA was studied under secti n 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA), And was included in the Buffal wilderness EIS filed in June, Tw alternatives have been analyzed fr the Nrth Frk f the Pwder River WSA in the final wilderness EIS, as fllws : N Wilderne s N wilderness designatin f 10,089 acres. Management wuld be as defi ned i n the Buffal RMP leis. All Wilderne 1 Wilderness desi gnatin f the entire 10,089 acree f the WSA. 2. RECOMMENDATION AND RATIONALS - 0 acre. rec_ended fr wilderneaa 10,089 acr rec_ended fr nn-wildern The recnunendatin fr the Nrth Frk WSA is t release the entire area fr uses ther than wilderness. The envirnmentally preferable alternative is the all wilderness alternative a8 it wuld result in the least change frm the natural envirnment ver the lng term. The Nrth Frk f the Pwder River WSA is nnsuitable fr wilderness deaignatin fr the fllwing reasns; Apprximately 2,900 acres f cnunercial frestland and 3,950 acree f wdland cntaining an annual sustained yield f 261 Har n cnvnercial frestlands wuld be available fr all types f freet management activities, including timber harvesting, thinning, and planting _

208 The eteep freated elpee are cnaidered typical f thse f the Big Hrn Muntaina. The WSA d nt pa.. e. any unique r utstanding examples f reeurce value. that are nt fund el.ewhere within the Big Hrn Muntai ns. The pictureaque canyn. f the WSA are ita mst dminant feature, but s i mi lar canyns can b. fund el.ewhere within the Big Hrn Muntains. T 47 ~~~~~~~.r~~~~~~~----+'----b~~~~r---~n The additin f thia WSA t the NWPS wuld nt cntribute t expanding the d i veraity f natural syatam. within the NWPS. The Harth Prk WSA i. repre.entative f the Duglas-fir ecsystem, wh i ch L9 already well represented in the NWPS. There are abundant pprtunities fr.litude r primitive recreatin within a day #. drive f all majr ppulatin center. (SHSAa) near this WSA. There are between 3.3 and 4.0 millin acre. at de.ignated wilderness within a day #s dri ving time f each SHSA. There ha. been very little lcal.upprt fr designatin f this WSA as wildernes.. The majrity f public cnrnent received favred the prpsed actin f n wi lderne.s deeignatin fr the Hrth Frk WSA. T ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ -I46 N T 45 N R84 W R83W NONE Recmmended fr Wildern ess Recmmended fr Nnwilderness IIII fffl~ IIII Spli t Estate ENONE J State 359 Nrth Frk Prpsal Land utsid e WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness I ~~~ Private MILES WY June. l 990 BEST Cpy AVAILABLE

209 TABLE 1 - LAND STATUS AND ACREAGE SUK'iARY OF THE STUDY AREA With i n Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) 10,089 Split Estate (alm surface nly) 0 Inhldi ng. (State, Private) 0 Ttal 10,089 Within the Recrrrnended Wilderness Bundary BLK (withi n WSII) BLM (utside WSA) 0 Split Estate (within WSA) Split Estate (utside WSA) 0 Ttal BLK Land RecOtm1ended fr Wilderness 0 Inhldi ng_ (State, Pr i vat.) Within the Area nt Recrrrnended fr wilderness a C. fll.j!1ti and Uncpfiped R.cr.'1;tR' The WSA ffera utstanding pprtuniti 18 fr the user t e ':perience primitive recreatin because visitrs can particip,te in hiking, bac-itpacking, fishing, hunting, and Sightseeing. Recreatinal 18e f the ma'i '... r canyns will be limited fr the mst part t canyn bttm.. Acces. ~int. int th canyn. are limited; the canyns are very ateep and rcky. D. Speci.l,.,ture.1 The entire Nrth Prk WSA prvides critical winter range fr elk. The Wyming Game and Fish Dept. has rated the Nrth Frk f t'" 'J Pwder River Class II (fishery f statewide imprtance) and Pass Creek Class III (fishery f reginal imprtanc.). Di r.ity ia tb. M,tipal Wild.m 'r.,."'t;ip 'y,t;.. A. lap'adipg t;b. Diy.r,i1;y f "\ur,l Iy'\_' 'Ad "'1;ur"e,. R.pr ented by Ic.!.\... 'Rd Llpdfq., Wildern d.signatin f thi. WSA wuld nt add a new ecsystem r landfrm t the NWPS. The Nrth Prk f the Pwder River WSA is in the Rcky Muntains Pre.t/Dugla.-fir ec.ystem. BLK Split Estate 1/ Ttal BLK Land nt Recrrrnended fr Wilderness Inhldinga (State, Pri vate) 10,OB9 0 10, CRl:n:RIA CQNSIDZUl) IN DEl/ILOPINO TIIB WILI!BJ!!!JSS RBCOIIMBNDATIONS Wild.m Cb.rlct,ri.\ic. A. "aturald t The Nrth Frk f the Pwder River WSA is predminantly natural, with aeveral minr human imprints that are assciated with range imprvement facilities. The WSA i8 mderately frested n steeper slpes and gra.s cvered n the gentler elpee. The area is dissected by fur canyns, tw majr and tw minr, all f which ffer spectacular untuched natural.cenery. Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dry Dmain/ Rcky Muntain Frest Prvince/Duglas Pir Frest Table 2 Ecsystem R.pr.s.ntativ. NWPS Area. area. acre. NATIONWIDB ther BLM Studies ar.a. acr 18 1,349, , ,433 72, 146 Bald eagle. and peregrine falcna, bth classified as endangered species, migrate thrugh the area; hwever, nne are knwn t nest i n the area. Mat f the human imprint. are aasciated with grazing management facilities: fence., re.ervira, windmill, and water trugh. Several.hrt vehicle r utes that ent.r the WS1\ are ciated with grazing management; the effects f th n naturaln are minr. Imprvement. are.cattered thrughut the WS1\, nt cnc.ntrated in anyne area. Mst f them have been in place fr many y.ar., and they generally blend well int the natural setting. B. A ing t;be Opprt.upit;i fr Slitude r Prillit;i R.cr t;i witbin nly" Driyipg ti (fiy, hur.) f Mair 'l'1;i,1 C.p1;,ra: Tw SHSAs, Billing., Mntana, and Casper, Wyming ar. within a day's drive f the study area. There is currently 4. 8 millin acr f wilderne, respectively, within ne day's drive f thae SMSAs.. Ilituc1.J The Nrth Frk f the Pwder River WS~. cntains utstanding pprtuniti fr slitude. The WS1\ is very rugqeci, predminantly freated and bi.ected by veral majr canyn. which prvid& numerus pprtunities t av\... J.d the.ight. and aund. f ther v iaitr.. Freedm f mvement i n and ut f the majr canyns is limited by the ateep tpgraphy

210 ppulati n Center Classificatin Casper, WY Billings, MT c. Table 3 wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr ppulatin center NWPS Areas areas acres 27 4,080, ,808,142 Other BLM Studies areas acres , ,761 Balancing the Oeqraphic Distributin f Wilderness Area. Designatin f the Nrth Frk WSA as wilderness wuld nt imprve the b a lance f the gegraphic distributin f wilderness. As f January 1985, there were 3, 077,381 acres f designated wilderne and apprximately 1,973,600 acres f administratively endrsed areas in Wyming. The Clud Peak Wilderness lies 20 miles nrth f the Nrth Frlt KSA. Manageability The WSA ia manageable as wilderness. Hwever, due t its narrw and e r ratic land cnfiguratin management cats in persnnel and assciated csts wuld be exceed! ngly high. Igerqy and MiDeral Resurce Value. Sme ptenti a l exi sts fr the ccurrence f il and gas beneath the castern.<.::ge f the Nrth Fr k WSA. Prtins f t w pst-flpma il and gas leas es cntaining t he wi l derness stipulatin, extend int the WSA, cvering appr ximate ly 150 acres. N knwn r suspected depsi ts f lcatable minerals i n ecnmic quantit i es are within the WSA. The ptential f r any energy r critical mineral resurces within the Nr t h Frk WSA i s cnsidered extremely lw. As f January 23, 1985, there were n mi n i ng clai ms within the WSA. I.pact, OR 9t.ber Re.urce. The fllwing cmpar ative impact. table (Table 4) summarize. the effects n pertinent resurce. fr all the a l t ernati ves cnsidered i ncluding de signatin r nnde.ignatin f the entire a rea a. wi ldernebs. ValUH Affected Wildemeu ValUH TAIlE 4 COFARATI't'E SUllARY OF "FACTS" AlTERIlATI't'ES.. TN folic Prpsed Actin 110 Wilder1"leU Given the pssibility f il and gas ecplratin and ~I~t. ti.. ;, harvesting. and the Dente f prtective ~t. the eventual lss f wi Ide,.,... ch8racter wuld be likely. r;~r PrcdJctin ApprJli.tely 2.CXMJ KrH f c~rciat frestland and 3,950 acres f wdland wuld,...in in the allwable ti~r harvest base. An... l _taintd yield f 261 IIIF n c~rcial frest t "P t 350 crda n wdl... wuld be relit fled...ner this alte..,.tive. Livestck Crazing In the shrt te,.. there wuld end..."t be n charee in livestck prclactin. In the 10f1l te,.., t increase fr. 906 AlMs t 965 AlMs. Operating csts f the grazing leases wuld be fofw inside rd utside the USA_.0 effect n i I...t gas ejlplr- atin and prcdjctin. Of 1 end Gas hplratin.-w:i PrcdJctin All Wilderness "i Idef"1"lltU VIIllIft in the USA wuld receift 10f1l-te,.. prtectin... r-esul t f IIIUdemeu desilntin. AJlp'OJli.tely 2,CXMJ Kres f ~rcial frestland and 3,950 acres f wdland wuld be r~ fr.. the ti..,. harvest base. This wuld resul t in It ecfverse illllj*t n ti..,. prcljctin prcljetin and n the IQQ1 tf..mr i~try. s.e _ the -n liii ldemessalterr.tfve ueept ~atin caets liiithin the USA wuld be per... hi... th.. thse utside the USA. Of t and gas ejlplratin wuld be fregne. Prrb:tin f i' rd... ia nt ellpkted. Recreatin USe'" Recrelltin use lewls wuld be s.e.. the -n liiilder1"leu Quality expected t increase fr. the alternative. arrent 500 t 2,500 vi.itr days per Yetlr bv lecrhtin q.tality is expected t r_in high. water Quality Big c.e Fi shll!ries [Jlis ting watll!r ~I hy wuld be affected sl ightly by increased sed'..,t lads fr. a futw'e ti.r sele ant incrll!ued visitatin. bisting ppulatfolw f Ie deer end 100 elk wuld be.intained. TeIIIIp)rary displacmll!nt f elk and.. te deer wuld result fr. a ti~r sale, ~ing areas. and il rd gas ac"ivity. Trut ppula ttolw a'of1i P... Creek wuld be recl.lced by 180 trut per.up. s.e.. the -n IIIHdemess al te..,.tive. - except.. ter q.tal fty IllQUld be sl ightly higher becaae there wuld be n illllj*ts frc. tflllber harvesting. s-.. the -n liii tdemessalteltllltiw except flll!p8cts usciated liiith ti.r harvesting and il and gas activity wuld nt ccur. s-.. the.,., liiildernesa altenwtfve

211 LOCAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS Lcal Bcial and ecnmic cnsideratins were nt an issue in the EIS. Thet 3 were n impacts t the lcal ecnmy r Bcial character identified during the study f this WSA. The recrrmendatina fr Nrth Frk f the Pwder River WSA in this reprt are cnaistent with lcal, cunty, state, and federal plana. Varius gvernment agencies were cntacted, and n incnsistencies were fund Su-.a" f tlsa-.heltie Public C_eDt. 19 ptul N crrments received duri ng the inventry phase were deferred fr cnsideratin. Draft. lis: Cnwnenta received during RMP/EIS develpment dealt primarily with wilderness planning criteria. The BLM BIS Slicited these cmments t help in identificatin f is8uea and public cncern.. A ttal f 2S f t he cmments received cncerning the Nrth Frk WSA stated a preference fr designatin r nndesignatin f the WSA as wilderness. Of thes., 6 cmnents favred wildern.ss desiqnatin and 19 favred nndesignatin. In ther cmments received, n preference fr r against wilderness designatin culd be determined. CrmMInte received at the public hearings in Buffal and during the cmment perids ttaled 20 ral and written cmments. The U. S. Envirnmental Prtectin Agency said that wilderness designatin fr the Nrth Frk WSA wuld prtect and imprve water quality and ther resurces. The Wyming Gvernr'a Office cncurred with the recrrwnendatin fr nnd.signatin and suggested that the BLM utilize existing authrities and special management practices t prtect the significant natural values in the WSA. The Wyming Game and F ish Department recmmended that the Nrth Frk WSA be cnsidered fr inclusin 1.n the NWPS. The Wyming Recreatin cnnissin said it is ppsed t the designatin f any additinal wilderness areas with the state. The Wyming Department f Agriculture recmmended nndesignatin as wilderness tr the WSA because the agency said the WSA des nt meet established crit.ria. Th. Water Quality Divisin f the Wyming Department f Envirnmental Quality recrrrnended wilderness designatin fr the WSA as a methd t prtecting water resurces. The Jhnsn cunty Crrrnis.iner aid they have decided that there is n need t plac. th re in.. wilderness cla ificatin. FORTIFICATION CREEK WILDERNESS STUDY AREA ewsa) 1. THE STUDY AREA - 12«419 acre. The Frtificatin Creek WSA (WY ) includes 12,419 acres f public lands and ne state wned inhlding f 640 acres. The WSA is lcated 36 miles nrtheast f Buffal, in nrtheastern Jhnsn cunty and nrthwestern Campbell Cunty, Wyming (see Map l). Private land brders the WSA n the nrth and east. On the suth and west, additinal public lands separated frm the WSA by il fields and ranch rads serve as bundarie., alng with private land. An inhlding f 640 acres f atate land lies in the nrth central prtin f the WSA. The landscape f the WSA ia steeply slping, highly dissected, and gullied terrain. Narrw ridges and numerus drainages dminate the WSA. Bull Creek, Little Bull Creek, and Deer Creek, which are the main drainages, traverse mst f the WSA. Vegetatin cnsists f juniper, sagebrush, and grasses. The larger drainages cntain mderate t heavy utcrppings f juniper. The rest f the WSA cntains grasses and sagebrush dtted with small clusters f juniper. The WSA was studied under sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Buffal Resurce Area Wilderness Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in June Three alternatives have been analyzed fr the Frtificatin Creek WSA in the final wilderness EIS, as fllws: N Wilderne J N wilderness designatin f 12,419 acres. Management wuld be as defined in the Buffal RMP/EIS. All Wildern : Wilderness designatin f the entire 12,419 acres f the WSA. N Wilderness, with n surface ccupancy. N wilderness designatin f 12,419 acres. Oil and gas explratin and develpment wuld be permitted but surface ccupancy wuld be prhibited. l. RECOMMENDATI ON AND RATIONALE - 0 acre. rec.. anded fr wilderness 12,419 acr r.c... nd.d fr nnwilderne The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t releaae the entire area fr uses ther t han wilderness. The envirnmentally preferable alternative is the all wilderness alternative as it wuld result in the least change frm the natural envirnment ver the l ng term. Althugh the recmmendatin is nt the all wilderness alternative, the recmmendatin fr this WSA wuld be implemented in a manner which wuld utilize all practical means t avid r minimize envirnmental impacts

212 Althugh the WSA cntains high wilderness values, the area als has high ptential fr.nergy prductin which wuld be precluded by wilderness de.ignatin.the entire WSA, especially t he western half, has been determined t have. high ptential fr il and gas prductin. Engineers have esti mated the reserve. t be a. high a millin barrels f il and billin cubi c fe.t (rrmcf ) f natural gas. Wella drilled in the area adjacent t the.uth f the WSA in the Ams Draw knwn gel gie structure (XGS) supprt these re.erve e.t imate. The WSA cntains S40 acres f state land that has a guarantee f reasnable.cc... A. a result f the high prbability fr the discvery f il and gas within the WSA t it can be assumed that this state sectin, which has tw exi.ting il and gae lea.es n it, will be develped in the future. Any develpment f these land. wuld require extensive rad building, which wuld impair the wilderness values f the WSA. Because this state land is near the center f the WSA, the BLM cannt prevent impairment f wilderness values in the lng term. Therefre, impacts n the management f the area wuld be.evere. There has bean very little lcal supprt fr designatin f this WSA as wilderness. The majrity f public cnrnent received favred the prpsed act i n f n wilderness designatin fr the Frtificatin Creek WSA. 367 NONE Frtificatin Creek Prpsal Recmmended fr Wilderness Recmmended fr Nnwilderness Land uuide WSA Recmmended fr Wilderness 0 I IIII fffl:51111 ~ f WY MILES June I W ~ Split Estate I State Pri vate..jlj9

213 TABLE 1 - LAND STATUS AND ACREAGE SUMMARY OF THE STUDY AREA Within Wildern, Study Area BLM (Burfac. and Bubsurface) Spllt B.tat, (BLM Burface nly) Inhldinga (Stata, Private) Ttal Within the Racnrnended Wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (ut.ide WSA) Split Etate (within WSA) Spli t E.tate (ut.ide WSA) Ttal!lLM Land Recnwnended fr Wildern Inhlding_ (Stat., Private) Within the Ar nt RecOftl11ended fr Wilderne 12, MQ 13,059 0 D. Sp.cial F.ature'! Apprximately 99' f th6 WSA 1. cnaidered crucial yearlng range fr elk a8 de.ignated by the Wyming Game and Fish Department. Elk have histrically used the area fr winter range because f the available frage and cver. Diver.ity in the Natinal Wild,rD, Pre.ert'atiD Sy.t A. Exp'nding t.he di"er,itiy f pat.ural.x.ti and f.at.ur. a. r.pr entied by.c.y.t apd landfrw" The Frtificatin Creek WSA is representative f the Sagebrush Steppe ecsystem/great Plains Shrtgrass Prairie prvince. Designatin f this WSA wuld add a new ecsystem t the NWPS-this ecsystem is nt fund in any designated wilderness r administratively endrsed area, r in any ther WSA. Hwever, the Sagebruah Steppe is represented by 76,699 acres under the NWPS and 4,356,340 acres f WSAs within the Intermuntain Sagebrush Prvince, which i. generally lcaled in nrthern Nevada, eastern Oregn, and suthern Idah. This prvince ie in the same divisin as the Great Plain. Shrtgraee Prairie, and they are similar in certain aspects. BLM Split Batat. Ttal BLM Land nt Recrrrnended fr Wilderness Inhlding' (Stat., Private) 12, , ClITlRIA CQlIIDIBID II DIYILQPllfO TIl WILDlMlSS RZCOMIIZHDATJONS "i1d,o'" Cb,r.ct.ri,tic. A. "tur,lp"" Th. Frtificatin Creek WSA appears t have been primarily affected by the frc f nature, with little evidence f human imprints. The natural charact.r f the land haa been maintained and preserved because f the area. ruggedn Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dry Dmain/ Great Plains Shrtgrass prairie Prv ince/ sagebrush Steppe Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin NWPS Areas are.a acre. Other BLM Studi es areas acres 12,419 WYOMING 12,419 Identifiable imprinta are aaaciated with range imprvement prjects such as re rvir., fence., and a ciated vehicle rute.. OUtside sights and sunds affect CDO.t f the WSA t a mderate degre.. Impacts are assciated with.und. froid railrad., view. f high vltage pwer lines, cunty rads and adjacent il develpnent prject. a. Slitud.. The Frtificatin Cre.k WSA ff.r. utstanding pprtunities tr slitude. The MSA cntaina.te.ply.lping and dissected drainages and ridge., which divide the ar.a. In additin, with the majr drainages there ar. numerus pprtunities t experience.litude.nd avid the s i ghts and eunda f ther. within the WSA. B. A"",ing t.h. pprlunitii fr.litiud. r 9ri.itii". recrlatin within day" dri"ing t.i (fiy. bur.) f.air ppulat.in cent.r.: The Frtificatin Creek WSA i. within a day's driving time f tw majr ppulatin centera (SHSAs), Billings, Mntana, and Caliper, Wyminq. There are currently 3.5 and 4.0 millin acre. f de.ignated wilderness, re~pectively, within ne day's drive f thse SMSA. Table 3 wilderness Opprtunities fr Residents f Majr Ppulatin Center c. 'riaitiy. 'Dd. Vpcpfip.d. R.cr.at.iQ' The cmbinatin at size and ruql9edn f terrain in the WSA affrd. utatanding pprtunities fr primitive and uncnfined type. t r.cr.atin. Opprtunities ex i st fr hiking, backpac)dnq, huntinql, hr back riding, and.ight i ng. Ppulatin Center Classificatin Casper, WY 8111ings, MT NWPS Area. are.. acrel 27 4,080,891 2,294,377 Other BLM Studies area. acre , ,

214 C. SalaDclDq th. Gegraphic Di.tributiD f "ild.m Ar a: Designatin f the Frtificatin Creek. WSA as wilderness wuld nt imprve the balance f the gegraphic d i atributin f wilderness. Aa f January 1985, there were 3,077,381 acr t. designated wildernesa and apprximately 1,973,600 acres f administratively endrsed areas in Wyming. The nearest is the Clud Peak wilderneaa 50 miles t the west. ",Dageability (the area muat be capable f being managed t preserve its wilderne character) The Frtificatin Creek WSA is manageable.s wilderness. Hwever, because f the WSAa lcatin surrunded by private land, it wuld be mre expensive in persnnel cata t manage the area as wilderness. Ipergy and NiD.ral Re.urce yalue. Parts f three pst-flpma il and gas leases extend int the WSA, cvering apprximately 1,840 acres. The WSA is cnsidered t have high ptential fr the d i acvery f il and gas depsits. Re.erve e.timates are as high as 44.4 millin barrel. f il and 39.6 mmcf f natural gas. Oil and g&s explratin and develpment are intensive n lands adjacent t the Frtificatin Creek WSA (map). N explratin fr lcatable mineral. is knwn t have ccurred, and n mining claims had been filed within the area aa f March Iapact. OR th.r a urc Th. fllwing cmparative impact. table (Table 4) summarizea the effects n pertinent r.aurce. fr all the alternatives cn.idered including designatin r nnd ignati" f the entire area &S wild.rn. Velues Affec.ted Wilderness velues Oil rd Gea Explretin rd PrOlb:ti n lecrut t n Use nd _llty 8ill c.- TAiLE 4 D:WAUTIVE SUIWIY Of ACTS I' AlTEIllATiVES fc.tlflcatlcii ClEEk Prpsed Actin 10 Wi lderneu Wi ldemess values wuld be lat n 12.'19 ec:res.. a raul t f il WId... dewlc.-'lt. Liwstck prolb:tlan wuld... creese by &rder the... t likely "_ria-... by &rder the... 1_ dewl~t "_rl.- Operating cats n ell prtira f the IIruing lean wuld be W'lifCMW_ All il rd... rncurces culd dewlped. 80S ~ cnwntlan.l -.trei,-,t hi.. drlllfng WId 201 ~ directiclnl drhling. Thi. wuld result In.".. caet rd diffievlty then If all culd be _lped.., etreight hle drll t Ing. The types f recreetin... within the USA..auld.--In ~; the lewl f visitetin wuld fncre..e ~ at lmat 150 vieftr..,., yeer. lecreetin ~l fty wuld be effected aewnl y by expected il rd... dewlc-nt. Under the... t likely "_ri. a lng-tenl lu f 400 K,... f bi II hebf tet wuld resul t in a decline f deer alk. I.hIer the -..xl... wlc-nt "_ri. - e lng- ter. lu f acre. f bf, hlbltet MOUld rnult In a.. cl Ire f SO- 100 deer rd alt. All VII... Wildernesa values n 12.'19 KI"ft In the USA wuld receive lng-t~ prtectin thrl4h "i lderneu deelr-tln. _'r-tfn.... ecgiiy8t_ MOUld be added t the..s. Liwstck prdjctfn MOUld r_in at CU"rmt leftl Operatin cate wfthin the lisa _ld be 12.50/_ higher then thr uteiela the lisa. Prcb:tin fr. p:iiit-flpm l_ MOUld be (i.fted t n.".. then 4.' _HUn _rel. f i l..:i 4.0 -=f f.. twel... The typae f recreatin UN within the USA MOUld r_ln ~. with the lewl f visitatin Inc,..lng by 150 vlaitr dy In The ""llty ~ltty f the recreetin experience wuld.--fn high_ Papuletin ~ fr bth deaf" WId alk wuld r_in crat.m. WId bll hebitet MOUld be prtected_ 10 WUcItrness with 10 SUrfece Oec\p!c.y wi ldemess values IfOUld be preserved n eeres wfthin the USA. Dewtw:-nt f three ulath.. pst-flpm lmhs wuld resul t in " eeres f... feee dist~ rd wllde",,"e VIIlues ~ly wuld be lat n the effected Liwstck prolb:tfn MOUld r_fn et current lewle. ~rating catg wuld be W'lifOnl n all prtira f the IIrezi ng leases. All the il rd... culd be dewlped; 90S by directionl drilling (~red t 201 i n the prpsed eetin) WId 101 by cnventionl straight hte drf l l Ina. lecreatin uae levels in the USA wuld be expected t fncreese by 1SO vieitar days, Y'Hr. The CfJ8lity f the recreatin exper Ience wuld re.in high. Ii, e-e habitat end pcpuletina wuld r_fn at current lewls_ BEST COPY AVAIlABLE

215 Lcal Scial aad BcDaic CD,ideratin. D ignatin f the Frtificatin Creek WSA aa wilderness wuld have n significant acial effecta. Designatin f thia WSA a. wildwrne wuld cauae an ecnmic effect. Because the area haa a high ptential fr i l and ga. diacvery, deaignatin wuld result in ptential la. f develpment and the aa,ciated jbs. SUMMARY ANALYSIS FOR SPECIFIC WSA RECOMMENDATIONS The recrmlendatin, fr Frtificatin Creek WSA in this reprt are cnsistent with lcal, cunty,.tate, and federal plana. Variu. gvernment agencies were cntacted, and n incn.i.t.ncie. were fund. lu.an f Public COWtpt. f r the Frtificatip Creek f the Pwder River WSA IRyeptns N ccrwnenta received during the inventry phase were deferred fr cn.ideratin. Draft lis: Crrment. received during RHP/EIS develpnent dealt primarily with wilderne,. planning criteria. The BLM slicited these crrrnents t help in identificatin f i.,ue. and public cncern.. A ttal f 25 f the cmments received cncerning the Nrth Frk WSA.tated a preference fr designatin r nndesignatin t the WSA a. wildern... Of the, 6 ccxrrnent. favred wildernebs designatin and 19 favred nnd ignatin. In ther C0CM\8nt. received, n preference fr r against wildernea. de.ignatin culd be determined. LEWISTOWN DISTRICT MONTANA Cccmlent. received at the public h"aringa in Buffal and during the cmment perid ttaled 20 ral and written cmment The u.s. Envirnmental Prtectin Agency.aid that wilderness de.ignatin fr the Nrth Frk WSA wuld prtect and imprve water quality and ther resurces. The WYC"IDing Gvernr'a Office cncurred with the racnwnendatin fr nndesignatin and augge,ted that the BLM utilize existing authrities and special manageme nt practice. t prtect the.ignificant natural value. in tha WSA. The wyming Ga.me and Pi.h Department rectl'nended that the WSA be managed t retain it. primitive qualitie., but under multiple u.e rather than wildernea designatin. The Wyming Recreatin crrmi in.aid it i n ppsed t the designatin f any additinal wildern araa. within the.tate. The "fater Quality Divi.in f the Wyming Department f Envirnmental Quality recamended wildern d.aignatin fr the WSA a. a methd t prtecting water re.urcea. the Jhnan Cunty Cnwni inara.aid they have decided that there i8 n need t place the ar.aa in a wilderne cla.aiticatin

216 PRYOR MOUNTAIN IIILI!!!lRNI" STUDY I\J!BI\ 1. TB!i STUDY AREA - 12,575 acres - Mntana 4,352 acrea - Wyming The Pryr Muntain Wilderne Study Are. (HT ) ia lcated alng the mid-elevatin, suth-trending slpes f the Pryr Huntaina. 12,575 acres f this WSA are lcated in Carbn Cunty, Mntana; the remaining 4,352 llcres are in Bighrn cunty, wyming. The Wyming acreage will be reprted by Wyming BLM (See Table 1). The nearest cnwnunity 18 Lvell, Wyming, apprximately nine mil es t the suth. The 4,352 acrea in Wyming will be reprted by the Wyming BLH BLANK PAGE The Sykes Ridge Rad frma the WSA'B eastern bundary; the Burnt Timber canyn Rad and Custer Natinal Freat lands brder the western aide. The suthern bundary ia frmed by a regularly used cunty rad, as well a s by legal wnership bundariee and tpgraphic linea. The WSA averages 12 miles in length and 2 miles in width. Elevatins range frm a r und 8,480 feet at the nrth end (r head) f Big Culee dwn t 3,780 feet in Big culee at the suthernmst tip f the WSA. The upper elevatins f the Pryr Muntain WSA are characterized by patches f Duglas fir, particularly n the nrth slpes, with ccasinal pen parks. Understry is generally sparse in the dane Duglas fir stands. Shrub species include snwberry, pinebark, spirea, and juniper. Limber pine is als present, alng with bluebunch wheatgrass, needle-and-thread grass, bluegrasses, frbs, and sedges. In the pen, unfrested area, vegetatin is cmpsed primarily f shrubs and grasses. Big sagebrush and shrubby cinquefil are the dminant shrubs. Grasses include muntain brme, Kentucky bluegrabs, and bluebunch wheatgrass. Cmmn frbs are balsamrt, geranium and Eri gnum. The mid-elevatins f the WSA cnsiat mstly f muntain shrubs. Utah juniper ccupi es the upper elevatina, gradually blending i nt muntain mahgany and eventually int big sagebrush. Black sage, rabbit brush, and skunkbrush sumac may alb be present alng with bluebunch wheatgras8, needle-and-thread grass, three-awn, and Sandberg bluegrass. The Red Desert/aaltBhrub ccurs n the lwer elevatins f the WSA. Vegetatin is generally sparse and scattered. Saltbushes f the Atriplex genus cmpse the majrity f the vegetatin. The WSA was studied under Sectin 603 f the Federal Land Plicy & Management Act {FLPMA } and was included in the Billings Resurce Management Plan Envirnmental Impact Statement {RMP/EIS}, finalized and filed in Nvember 'l'he Billings RMP/EIS addressed fur alternatives : Tw depicted a n all-wilderness alternattve f 16,927 acres, tw included a n-wilderness alternative. In the Recrd f Decisin fr the Billings RMP/EIS, the all- 376

217 wilderness 16,927 acres were brught frward fr further study. The Billings Resurce Area Wilderness Final Envirnmental Impact Statement filed in June 1988 cntains an all-wilde ~ neaa alternative, which ia the recmmendati n f this reprt, and a n-wilderness alternative. There are an additinal 822 acrea f acquired lands recmmended fr wilderness designatin included i n this reprt. 2. ItECOMICBN'DATIOM AJII) RATIONAL!: -- 12, 575 acres recmmended fr wilderness acres recmmended fr nnwildernes8 The recmmendatin fr this WSA is t designate the entire area as wilderness, including the 4,352 acres in Wyming. This is cnsidered the envirnmentally preferable alternati ve as it will result in the lease change frm the natural env irnment ver the lng term. This WSA cntain. ame f the mst rugged, islated Prtins f the Pryr Muntain Range. The wide expanses and tpgraphic screening in this area ffer utstanding wildernesa values. This unit is in the heart f the Pryr Muntain Wild Hrae Range (PMWHR), and the supplemental attributes f free-raming wild hrse herds enhance the wilderness characteristics f the area. The few signs f human activity are well distributed thrughut the WSA. Vegetatin and tpgraphic screening Significantly limit any detractins frm the WSA's extensive natural setting. The rugh, brken, and highly varied tpgraphic features f the WSA prvide excellent pprtunities fr islatin and slitude. The WSA exhibits a rapid elevatin change, drpping frm 8,400 t 3,800 feet in less than 13 miles. Its even, pen ridge tps ffer a strng sense f Blitude and islatin; the suthern aspect prvides a vast panrama.. Opprtunities fr nature phtcgraphy, rck climbing, hiking, backpacking, nature study, and viewing a variety f multiclred ersinal gelgic features are utstanding. The WSA cntains a wide spectrum f gelgic and bitic features, ranging frm elements typical f desert envirnments t thse fund nly i n sub-alpine muntainus settings -- in les8 than 13 miles. Cnflicts with ther resurce U8es in the WSA are minimal. Tpgraphy severely limits any ptential crss-cuntry vehicle travel. Cmmercial timber harvesting in the WSA is nt allwed. There is n licensed livestck use i n the WSA, nr are there any il r gas leases. The develpment ptential fr petrleum resurces is rated lw t mderate. The WSA cntains a majr prti n t t he Pryr Muntain Wild Hrse Range (PMWHR); hwever, since the management plan tr the PMWHR was written with pssible wilderness designatin in mind, very little cnflict exists wi th management f the wild hrse range. 377 c:j I NON! I NONI.. II!COMM!ND!D FOil WILD!IIN!S' II!COMMEND!D FOil NONWILD!IIN!" LAND OUTIID! W'A IIICOMMINDID FOil WlLDIIINI.. I NON! I NON! NON! SPLIT!ST A T! STAT! PRIVAT! RV5W IItI4W Pryr Mun... n Prpu' MT-OI1-2OI SEPT!MI!R, 1_

218 Table 1 -- Land Status and Acreage Sunrnary f the Pryr Muntain WSA Within Wilderness Studv Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (atate, private, ther) Ttal Within The Recmmended Wildernes. Bundary BLM (within WSA) BLM (utside WSA) Split Estate Inhldings Ttal BLM Land Rec0tm\8nded fr Wilderness Withi n The Area Nt Recnwnended Pr Wi lderness BLM Spli testate Inhldings Ttal BLM Land Nt Recnwnended fr Wilderness (Mntana) Acres 12, , , , C!!IT!!lRIA COI!SIDI!!B!! II! DIVILQPII!9 TIl NILDI!!J!ISS R!!COMMENDATIONS "iiderae.. Cbaracteri.tic. (Wyming) Acres 4, ,352 4, , ~ 0 A. Naturalne : The majrity f the WSA i. in a natural cnditin. Tpgraphy severely limits any pssibility t cree-cuntry vehicle travel and the WSA des nt exhibit s i gnificant evidence t human use. The limited evi dence f human presence within the study area ie nt cncentrated in any particular area and mstly i s well scr.ened by tpgraphy and vegetatin. The area cntain. ne range-management excl.ur., ne water catchment, ne reservir, three wild hrse traps, 4.5 miles f fence. and 6 miles f vehi cular ways. There a re ~ t leaet twenty-three prspecting pits fr uranium within the study area, mstly lcated alng r near bundary rads. The verall i nfluence f human features within the study area as perceived by the average vis itr i. negligible. a. ~: Opprtunities fr 80litude thrughut the majr ity f the WSA are ut.tand i ng. The intricate drai nage pattern. and tpgraphic relief ffer i nd i vidual. r grup. ampl, pprtunities fr i.latin. The WS A is e xtensive, being 13 mile. in length and ne t three miles in width. Elevatin. riae frm arund 3,800 teet in the suth t nearly 8,500 teet in the nrt h. The tpgraphy vari frm an arid snran landfrm in the.uth, t munta in ft h i ll. i n the central regin, t densely freated muntain. i n the nrth. Each prti n ffer. excellent pprtunities fr eli tude. The expanse f t he suthern prtin cmpensates fr its lack f vegetative scre~ning. Patches f juniper and erded hills prvide sme screening. The central prti n is mre brken with many patches f timber. The muntain tpgraphy i n the nrth is characterized by steep cliffs, dense timber, and excellent pprtunities fr slitude. Big Culee is the majr nrth-suth drainage near the center f this WSA. This deep channel with an array f rugged side drainages wuld tend t spread users and increase pprtunities fr slitude. c. Pri.it.ive and Uncnfined Recr t.ig: The WSA'. fthills and canyns ffer excellent pprtunities fr hiking, backpacking, nature and wildlife phtgraphy, rck climbing, natura study, and viewing gelgic features. Hunting pprtunities wuld nt be utstanding i n relatin t the higher frested areas t the nrth. Hrseback riding pprtunities wuld be excellent, but n a shrt-trip basis. The lack f "'later and grass wuld limit this activity unless hay was brught i nt the area. Water i s available at nly a few lcatins. This WSA is lcated in the central prti n f the Pryr Huntain Wi ld Hrse Range and wild hrses can be bserved thrughut the area, especially arund watering places. The presence f wild hrses ia ne f the majr reasns fr the current recreatinal use i n the area.. Special Peature. : The designatin f the Pryr Muntai n wild Hrse Range, the first in the United States, is a ntewrthy feature. The presence f wild hrse herds, in assciatin with native wildlife species, enhances the wilderness qualities f the area. Apprximately 120 wild hrses ram the PHWHR. Several archelgical sites have been fund in this study area. Dminant s ite types are lithic scatters, sme f which als cntain hearths, and discarded r lst stne tls. Als, bth vertebrate and invertebrate fssils have been fund in the area. The Crked Creek Natural Landmark i s a Natinal Regis t er s i te fr vertebrate fssils. The primary big game species fund in the study area are mule deer, Rcky Muntain bighrn sheep, and black bear. Mule deer are the mst abundant f t hese species. Black bear are als quite abundant in t he nrthern prtin f t he WSl\; t his area prvides the necessary hibernating, frage, and cver requ i r e ments

219 Diy.r.ity in th. Natin.l "ild'rd'" Pre.ervatin syste. A. Ixpapcling th. diy.r.ity f natural.y.t and feature s represented by.c.y.t_.: Wilderness designatin f the Pryr Muntain WSA wuld nt expand the diversity f natural systems and features, as represented by.c.yetams and landfrms. This WSA is lcated within Ecregin M 3110/11 Rcky Muntain Frest Prvince, Duglas Fir Frest (Bailey-Kuchler Ecsystems f the United States). Currently there are 17 areas in this ecregin prvince are cmpnents f the Natinal Wildernest! Preservatin System and 23 WSAs being cnsidered fr wilderness designatin. Table 2 summarizes this infrmatin. Bailey-Kuchl er Claeeificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV Rcky Muntain Frest Prvince/Duglas Fi r Freet Table 2 Ecsystem Representatin (July 1990) NWPS Areas areas acres NATIONWIDE 14 1,046, ,874 Other BLM Stud ies areas acres 12 98, ,052 a. A idg the pprlupitie. fr.litude r pri.itive r.cr.atin within a day" "riyipg till. (fiv. hur.) f.. ir ppulatin c.nter.: The WSA is within five hurs' driving t ime f three majr ppulatin centers. Table 3 8ul""narize. the number and acreage f desi gnated and ther BLM study areas within five hurs' driving t i me f these cities. ~ Ppulati n Ce nters Billing., Mntana Gr.at rall., Mntana C per, Wyming Table 3 Wilderness Opprtunities Fr Residents Of Majr Ppulatin Centers NWPS Areas areas acres areas 12 4,808, ,922, ,022, Other BLM acres 3,466,800 4,617,100 3,658,295 c. aalapcing 'the g.graphic di.tributin f wild.rd'.' ar.a.: Designatin f the Pryr Muntain WSA wuld nt help balance the gegraphic distributin f wilderne area.. The 920,377-.cre Absarka-Beartth Wilderness, administered by the U. s. Freat Service, ia apprximately SO airline miles t the west f the Pryr Muntain WSA. This wilderness area ia quite accessible t resident. f Billings, Mntana, and amaller cmmunities near the Pryr Muntaina. The higher elevatins in the Pryr Muntains are used extensively by area residents, and wilderness designatin wuld cmt=lement this usage. "agageability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserve its wilder ness character) The Pryr Muntain WSA is manageable aa wilderness because there are n valid existing rights r land wnership cnflicts that culd impact lng-term wilderness management. As wildernes., the WSA wuld cmplement the Frest Service' a 9, 520-acre Lst Water Canyn Study Area t the nrthwest, the BLM ' s tw adjacent study areas (Burnt Timber canyn WSA and Big Hrn Tack-n WSA, ttaling 5,430 acres), and the nearby 8,108-acre WSA f the Natinal Park Service. The WSA, while brdered by tw Primitive rad., haa limited vehicle access, which culd easily be managed. Tpgraphic features wuld preclude much craa-cuntry vehicle use, s this cncern wuld nt be a significant management factr. The PMWHR, which includes this WSA, has been managed fr many years under a near-wilderness situatin. The area ia clsed t ORV use, is nt leased fr il and gae, and is nt licensed fr livestck use. Cmmercial timber harvesting i. prhibited, past mineral activity has all but died ut, and there are n ther permitted nncnfrming uses (Le., easements r r i ghts-f-way) Ip.rgy Ind "ip.ral R urc. yalu The U.S. Celgical Survey and the U.S. Bureau f Mines, in their Mineral Assessment reprt, have classified the western prtin f the Pryr Muntai n WSA as having high ptential, the eastern prtin as mderate, and the central prtin as lw ptential fr uranium and vanadium. The extreme suthern tip f the WSA haa a mderate ptential fr bentnite. The entire area has a l w ptential fr ther metals (ther than uranium and vanadium), il and gas, and high pur i ty limestne. Iapact. n B urc The fllwing cmparative impact table summarize. the effects n pertinent r urc fr the alternative. cnsidered: de.ignatin and nndesignat in

220 Is'u Impact, n Wild.rn." Values I mpacts n the Watershed Resurc. Impacts n Mi neral Expl rat i n a nd Prduct in Impact. n Wild Hr s. Ppulati ns and Management Table 4 cmparative Surrrnary Of Impact. - Wilderness Alternative (Prp,ed Actin) The high levels f naturalness and utstanding pprtunitie. fr slitude wuld be.tatutrily prtected and pr rved n 16,927 acr.s. These value. wuld be enhanced slightly by the rehabilitatin f tw acre. f mining claim di.turbance, and slitude wuld be slightly enhanced by the eliminatin f claim maintenance and snwmbile UI Ov.r the lng term (100 years), the prj.ct.d imprvement in eclgical range cnditins n 11, 000 acres will be a benefit t wat.r.hed cnditins. Imprvements in watershed cnditins due t Preventin f mineral assessment wrk wuld b. psitive. Althugh explratin wuld be prhibited, t here wuld be n.ff.ct n min.ral pr ductin due t lw ptential fr develpment. Sme range prj.ct. wuld nt be deve l ped, wh i ch wuld benefit wild hr.e management. Impact. wuld be i n.igni f i cant since few pr ject. are prpsed. Pryr Muntain WSA N-Wilderness Alternat i ve Mining clai m maintenanc e, snwmbile use, fence cnstructi n, and archelgi cal site stabilizatin u.ing mtrized equi pment wuld slight.ly degrade naturalness and slitude n apprximately 6,000 acres. Over the lng term ( loa years), the prjected imprvement in eclgica l range cnditins n 11,000 acres will be a benefit t watershed cnditins. N pffect n mineral explratin r develpment n 16,767 acres. N explratin r prductin is anticipated due t, lw develpment ptent ial. Range prject prpsals culd be cnsi dered withut regard fr preservatin f wilderness values. N i mpacts t wild hrse management. I s sues Impacts n The prpsed actin will prtect Mule Deer, and preserve the existing habitat Black Bear, fr mule deer, black. bear, and and Bighrn bighrn sheep. Sheep Habitat and Ppulatins I mpacts n Peregrine Falcn Habitat and Ppulatin I mpacts n Recreatin Use Impacts n Cultural Re surces Table 4 - cntinued Cmparative sunvnary Of Impacts - Pryr Huntain WSA Wi lderness Alternative (Prpsed Act in) The prpsed actin will prtect and preserve peregrine falcn habitat and ppulatins. Fifty snwmbile user days will be frgne and annua", nntftotrized use 3,000 visitrs shuld rise by 2 t 3 percent fr a decade, then return t a l-t-2 percent annual increase. The pprtunity t interpret ne cultural site by Signing will be frgne. Tw significant archelgical sites will be preserved and prtected. N-Wilderness Alternati ve The existing habitat fr mule deer, black bear, and bighrn sheep will be maintained. Peregrine falcn habitat wuld remain substantially unc hanged. Expected effects are essentially the same as under the prpsed actin. Annual recreatinal use f 3, 000 visitr day s will rise by 1 t 2 percent annually, and nsita interpretive signing f ne cu l t u r al site will benefi t user s. Tw significant archelgi c a l sites will be preserved and prtected. One signif- icant site wi ll be i nterpret e d fr public educatin. 382!// EST COpy A"AlLAIILE

221 Lcal SOcial and 8c_ic CDa i deratina There wuld be n s i gnificant lcal, scial, r ecnmi c impacts if the WSA were designated wilderness. Su..ary f "SA-Specific Public C... nta During the inventry phase, twenty-ne publi c cnvnents were received n the Pryr Muntain WSA and carried frward int the study phase. Twenty cmments favred wilderness designati n f the area, while ne cmment was ppsed because f cncern abut pssible cnflicts with wi ld hrae manageme nt. Three wilderness scping meetings were cnducted i n May 1982, befre wildernes8 study wrk in the Billings Resurce Area began. The first meeting was held n May 19, 1982, i n Lvell, Wyming. Of fur peple attending, t hree were ppsed t wilderness designatin in th.a Pryr Muntains because f cncern fr management f the wild hrses. The furth i ndivi dual expressed cncern abut the pssible impact wilderness designatin might have n ffsite bentnite mining activities. A secnd meeti ng was held in Bi lli ngs n May 21, Three i ndividuals attended that meeting and all favred wilderness des i gnatin fr the WSA. The third meeting was held i n Lewistwn, Mntana, n May 26, One individual attende d that meeting, but did nt express any pinins abut pssible wilderness designatin in the Pryr Muntains. Tw frmal public hearings were held in Billings and Lvell during the 90- day cmnent perid n the Dra ft Billi ngs RMP/EIS. Duri ng this time 392 cmments, bth ral and written, were recei ved. Twenty-fur f these cmments were assciated with the WSA. Of that number, 21 percent were in favr f less wilderness than the preferred alternative, 38 percent tk n pr r can Psitin, and 40 percent supprted either the prpsed preferred alternative r mre wilderness than prpsed. The Natinal Park service favred wilderness designatin fr the Pryr Muntain WSA. The U. S. Fish & Wildlife Servi ce, Bureau f Mi nes, Department t the Army, Bureau f Rclamatin, and Envirnmental Pr tectin Agency cnrnented n the Draft EIS, but made n rectrrnendatin cncerning this WSA. Mntana state gvernment did nt frmally cmment n the wilderness prpsals in the Pryr Muntains. Wyming state gvernment said that it supprted 8LM' s preferred altern'ltive, but telt that sufficient flexibi l ity shuld be incrprated in the designatin t allw fr needed range i mprvements and wild hrae management activities. " meeting waa held with the Carbn Cunty Cnvnissin, but its members e xpr" ed n cncerns abut wilderness designatin i n the Pryr Munta i ns. 384 BIO 80M TACit-OM WILDE!!!!!:" 8T\!DY AREA 'tbb STUDy ARIA -- 2,470 acres - Mntana 353 acres - Wyming The Big Hrn Tack-On Wilderness Study Area (MT ) is lcated alng the suthfacing slpes f the East Pryr Muntains within the Pryr Muntain Wild Hrse Range (PMWHR). The study area is apprximately 17 miles nrth f Lvell, Wyming. 353 acres f the study area are lcated in Big Hrn Cunty, Wyming; the remaining 2,470 acres are in Carbn Cunty, Mntana. (See Table 1.) The 353 acre in Wyming will be reprted by the Wyming BLM. The Big Hrn Tack-On WSA is a narrw strip f land averaging 9 miles in length and less than ne-half mile in width. It is lcated between the Sykes Ridge Rad n the west and the Bighrn Canyn Natinal Recreatin Area, administered by the Natinal Park Service, n the east. The WSA cnsists primarily f steep slpes rising up t a narrw ridge. Just belw the ridge crest is the Sykes Ridge Rad, which extends the entire nine-mile length f the WSA and frma the western bundary. The Sykes Ridge Rad is a BLM access rute thrugh the PMWHR. Elevatins range frm abut 8,100 feet in the nrth end f the WSA t 4,040 feet in the suthern tip. The WSA was studi ed under Sectin 202 f the Federal Land Plicy & Management Act (FLPMA) and was included in the Billings Resurce Management Plan Envirnmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) filed in Nvember The Bi llings RMP/EIS addressed fur alternatives: an all-wilderness alternative f 4,550 acres, a partial-wilderness alternative f 2,550 acres, and tw ptins that included the n-wilderness alternative. In the Recrd f Decisi n issued in September 1984, 2, 550 acres f this WSA were brught frward fr further study and the remaining 2,000 acres f the area were drpped frm wilderness rev iew. The Wilderness Final Envirnmental Impact Statement filed i n June 1988 cntains an all-wilderness alternative, which is the recmmendatin f this reprt, and a n-wilderness alternative. Included in this reprt are 138 acres f acquired lands and 700 acres f land previusly segregated frm the WSA by rads. These lands are recnunended fr wilderness designatin. The rads brdering the east aides f these islands f land have recently been clsed t all traffic. (See map). 2. RECOMMENDA'tION AND RATIONALE - 2,470 acres recmmended fr wilderness acres recmmended fr nnwilderness The recmmendati n f r t his WSA is t designate the entire area wilderness, including 353 acres in Wyming. This is cnsidered the envirnmentally preferable alternative as it will result i n the least c hange frm the natural envirnment ver the lng term. This WSA extends alng abut 7 miles f the east side f the Pryr Muntain WSA a nd 9 miles alng the west side f the Big Hrn Canyn WSA administered by the Natinal Park Service. DeB ignatin f t his tack-n wuld eliminate a lng narrw island t public land between thbe tw WSAs f&

222 The WSA is primarily in a natural state with a few dispersed, but fairly well-screened, human intrusins. Theae cnsist f uranium explratin pits (20'x25', 3' deep), a wild hrse trap in the nrthern prtin alng the west bundary rad, and vehicle ways (tw track), ne in the nrth and ne in the suth end f the WSA. Tpgraphic and vegetative features screen these intrusins. This WSA, by itself, des nt cntain the pprtunities fr slitude r uncnfined recreatin that are typical f the adjacent WSAs. While in sme areas vegetatin r brken tpgraphy may prvide limited pprtunities, these d nt exist t any significant extent. If the WSA is incrprated with the wilderness prpsals n either side, hwever, it cmplements all f their utstanding characteristic.. On the ther hand, nndesignatin and subsequent use f ther resurces culd significantly and adversely impact the adjacent WSAs. The WSA des cntain utstanding scenic pprtunities. cnflicts with ther resurce uses are practically nnexistent. The narrw cnfiguratin and steep brken tpgraphy render the WSA unsuitable fr mst uses. Timber harvesting is prhibited thrughut the area and very little timber exists within the WSA. N grazing, ORV use, land-use actins (easements r rights-f-way), r il and gas leasing is permitted. Mineral resurce develpment ptential is lw, and past activity assciated with uranium explratin has died ut. Table 1 Land Status and Acreage Sunvnary f the Study Area 3. CRITERIA CONSIDERED IN DEYZLOPINO TIll! IfILDERNI!lSS RECOMMENDATIONS wild_rne Cbaract.eri.tics A. HaturalDe : The WSA appears t be in a natural state because f the scattered nature f the cnstructed features and the tpgraphic and vegetative screening f the surrunding envirnment. There are sme signs f human presence. The WSA cnta.ins a BLM hrse trap used fr capturing excess wild hrses. It is cnstructed f native materials and is well screened by veget.tin and tpgraphic features. The area cntains several uranium prspect pits and apprximately 1.5 miles f lw quality tw-track vehicle ways. 'There is a radj 0 repeater in Sectin 21 alng the nrth bundary f the WSA. B. slitud.: The WSA is apprximately 9 miles in length and less than a half-mile wide in mst areas. Tward the suthern end it widens t apprximately ne mile. This prtin f the area cnsists f the crest f Sykes Ridge and the west-trending slpes just belw Sykes Ridge. This high limestne ridge rises in elevatin frm apprximately 4,000 feet in the extreme suthern prtin t 8,000 feet in the nrth. The crest f the ridge primarily cmprises steep, rcky utcrpping Frm Sykes Ridge, wilderness users wuld be able t detect traffic n the Bad Pass Highway within the Big Hrn canyn Natinal Recreatin Area. At mst pints, this highway is apprximately ne a.nd ne-half miles t the east. Within Wilderness Study Area BLM (surface and subsurface) Split Estate (BLM surface nly) Inhldings (state, private, ther) Ttal (Mntana) ~ 2, ,470 Within The Recmmended wilderness Bundary BLM (within WSA) 2,470 BLM (utbide WSA) 83B Spli t Etate Inhlding_ ----.J1 Ttal 3,308 Within The Area Nt Recmmended Fr BLM Split Eetate Inhlding_ Ttal Wilderness ----.J1 (Wym i ng) AcreB 80...Q Q Q Outstanding pprtunities fr slitude in the tack-n itself are limited because f the elevated, pen nature f Sykes Ridge, the nearby lcatin f the bundary rad, and ffsite impacts assciated with the Bad Pass Highway. Small timbered areas in the nrthern prtin f the area prvide sme areas with pprtunitielj fr slitude. c. Pri.itiv. and Uncnfined Recreatin: Tw caves in the WSA prvide spelunking pprtunities. These pprtunities culd nt be cnsidered utstanding, hwever, because f limited access and, in ne situatin, a dangerus pint f entry. Fr experienced climbers, the pssibility f rck climbing exists n sme f the sheer limestne cliff faces and pinnacles. Hiki ng and assciated phtgraphy and sightseeing activities are utstanding. The tpgraphic relief, the unique gelgic frmatins, and the wide expanse f rugged cuntry within view frm the ridge tps present a variety f challenges t ptential users. Hunting culd nt be cnsidered utstanding in relatin t pprtunities in adjacent areas. Big game, primarily mule deer, are mre frequently f und n the Natinal Frest lands t the west. There is sme black bear hunting in the Pryr Muntains, but this t ccurs mat cmmnly n Natinal Frest lands. Sme hunting wuld ccur within the area in assciatin with the mre cncentrated activity n adjacent lands Ff

223 D. Special Feature.: The Bcenic quality f the surrunding area is utstanding. The deeply incised Big Hrn Canyn is clearly visible t the east and nrtheast frm Sykes Ridge. T the suth and suthwest, the hillsides and ateeply incised canyns f the PMWHR are within view. Clrful marine rck frmatina lie expsed within the Big Hrn canyn and the PMWHR. Their hues range frm blues, greene and grays t the reds f the Chugwater frmatin. Cnifers in the higher elevatin Natinal Frest lands t the west and nrthwest create a predminantly deep green cntrast t the mre ar id lwlands f the hrse range. Because the WSA is lcated within the PMWHR, wild hrse viewing pprtunities frm the WSA '" s main ridgeline Are excellent. ArchelgicAl sites have been recrded within the study area. Lithic scatters dminate the site types fund in the unit, but ne visin-quest site has been discvered as well. The small herd f Rcky Muntain bighrn sheep in this area is an imprtant supplemental feature. Diveraity In The Natinal Wilderne Pre.ervatin Sy.te.: A. Expanding the diver.ity f natural.y.te and feature. a. represented by acayate : wilderness designatin f the Big Hrn Tack-On WSA wuld nt add d iversity t the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. This study area is in Ecregi n M 3110/11, Rcky Muntain Frest i?rvince, Duglas Fir Frest (Bailey-Kuchler Ecsystems f the United States,. currently, there are 11 areas in thi s ecregin which are cmpnents f the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System and 23 WSAs being cnsidered fr wilderness designatin. This infrmatin is sufmlarized in Table 2. Tabla 2 Ecsystem Representatin (Jul y 1990) Bailey-Kuchler Classificatin Dmain/Prvince/PNV NWPS Areas areas acres Other BLM Studies areas acres NATIONWIDE A!II!W A95W.. c:j ~ LAND RECOMMENOED FOR WILDERNESS RECOMMENDED FOR NONWILDERNESS OUTSIDE WSA RECOMMENDED FOR WILDERNESS Bighrn Tack-n Prp.a' ~ I NONE A95W SPLIT ESTATE I STATE NONE PRIVATE A94W MT 0I7 207 SEPTEMBER, 1190 Rcky Muntain Frest Prvince/Duglas Fir Frest 14 1,046, , , ,052 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

224 B. A ing the pprtupitie. f r.litud. r prt.ittve recreatin wit.hin a day'. driyinq ti.e (five hur.) f.air ppulatin cent.er. : The WS A is within five hurs' driving time f three majr ppulatin centers : Billings and Great Falls, Mntana, and Casper, Wyming. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage f desi gnated and ther BLM study areas within five hurs' driving time f these ppulatin center.s. Table 3 Wilderness Opprtuni ties Fr Residents Of Majr Ppulatin Centers I:!!!~S Areas Ppulatin Centers areas acres Billings, Mntana 12 4,808,142 Great Falls, Mntana 19 8,922,567 Casper, Wyming 18 4,022,461 Other BLM Studies areas acres 54 3,466, ,617, ,658, 295 Limestne is fund thrughut the entire study area and is currently being mined apprximately 14 airline miles t the west near Warren, Hntana. Other depsits f limestne that. culd be used fr cmmercial purpses are cmmn thrughut the Pryr Muntains. There are n knwn depsits f il and gas within r near the study are. N prtin f the WSA is leased fr il and gas. The study area has a lw ptential fr all metals (except uranium and vanadium), il and gas, gethermal surces, and high purity limestne. There ia n ptential fr sand and gravel in the study area. Impact. n Re.urc.s The fllwing cmparative impact table summarizes the effects n pertinent resurces fr the alternatives cnsidered. C. Bal.aciD; the aegraphic distributin f "ild.rn area.: Wilderness designatin f the Big Hrn Tack-On WSA wuld nt cntribute t balancing t he gegraphic distributin f areas within the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. The 920,377-acre Absarka-Beartth Wilderness, administered by the U.S. Frest Service, is apprximately 54 airline miles west f the Big Hrn Tack-On. This wilderness area is quite accessible t residents f Bi llings and smaller crrmunities nearby. Thft higher elevatins in the Pryr Muntains are used extensively by area residente, hwever, and wilderness designatin wuld cmplement this usage. Manag.ability (the area must be capable f being effectively managed t preserv e i ta wilderness character) The WSA is manageable as wilderness nly in cnjunctin with BLM's Pryr Muntain WSA and the Natinal Park Service's Big Hrn canyn study area. Th is l ng, narrw area aplits the tw adjacent study areas, and shares c mmn bundaries fr apprximately 9 miles with thse units. Althugh the Big Hrn Tack-On culd nt be managed by itself, its designatin wuld cntribute significantly t the manageability f the adjacent WSAs as wilderness, and vice versa. There are n prplled activities by any resurce r use t hat wuld affect this WSA.!:nerqy and Min.ra1 Re.urce Valu The U.S. Gelgical Survey and Bureau f Mines assessed the mineral ptential f this WSA in Desi gnati n f this WSA as wilderness wuld c a use ver y little impact n energy and mineral reaurce develpment. Prspecti ve mineral reaurc.a that may ccur i n the study area are uranium/vanadium (mderate ptential), limeatne, and il and gas. The uranium/vanadium mineral izat in ia primarily cnfined t the cntact zne between the Madisn and 1\msden frmatina, matly utside the.tudy unit n nearby Big Pryr Muntain and Burnt Timber Ridge. Alt hugh ver 500 urani um ccurrences are knwn within the Pryr Muntaina, mat cntain nly traces f mineralized material

225 I ssues Impacts n Wilderness Value. Impacts n the Watershed Resurce Impacts n Mineral Explratin and Prductin Impacts n Wild Rrs, ppulat i n and Management Table 4 Cmparative Surrrnary f I mpacts - Impact. n Exiating habitat fr mule Mule Deer, deer, black bear, and Black Bear, bighrn sheep will be prt,cted and preserved. and Bighrn Sheep Habitat and ppulatin Impacts n Peregrine Falcn Habitat and Ppulati n Impact. n Recreatin U.. Impact. n cult ural Re.urce. All Wildernese - Prpsed Acti n All wildernees values n 2, SSO acres wuld be prtected and preserved. Watershed cnditins wuld imprve n 1,600 acres in the lng term (100 years). Thugh explrati n wuld be prhibited, there wuld be n effect n mineral prductin due t lw ptential fr such develpnent. Sme range prjects wu l d nt be develped, but thi s wuld result in minr impacta sinc. very few develpment. are prp.ed. The prpsed actin will prtect and preserve peregrine f a lcn habitat and ppulatin. An increase will ccur in nnmtr ized u f 2 r 3 percent fr a decade. Archelqical aita. will be prtected and praserved. Big Hrn Tack-On WSA N-Wilderness Alternative Naturalness and slitude wuld be slightly degraded n 20 acres by cnstructin f a water catchment and ne half-mile f fence. Watershed cnditi ns wuld imprve n 1,600 acres in the lng term (100 years). These impacts are identical t thse under the Prpsed act in. There wuld be n effect n mineral explratin r prductin. Nne is anticipated due t l w develpment ptential. Range prject prpsals culd be cnsidered witnut regard fr preservatin f wilderness values. N i mpacts t wild hrse management. The existing habitat fr mule deer, black bear, and b ighrn sheep will be maintained. Peregri ne falcn habitat wuld remain substantially u nchanged. Expected impacts under this alternative wuld be essentially the same as under the prpsed act in. An increase will ccur i n nnmtrized use f 850 visitr days r 1 t 2 percent annually. Archelgical sites will be prtected. Lcal Sci.l and IcDaic Cneideratip. There wuld be n significant lcal scial r ecnmic impacts if the WSA were designated wildernesa. 9uaaary f "9ft-Specific Public e.. en\e During the inventry phase, six crrrnents were received specifically n the Big Hrn Tack-On WSA and carried frward int the study phase. Five cmments favred wilderne.s designatin because f cncern abut pssible cnflicts with wild hrse management. Three wilderness scping meetings were cnducted in May 1982, befre wilderneas study wrk in the Billings Resurce Area began. The first meeting was held n May 19, 1982, in Lvell, Wyming. Of fur peple attending this meeting, three were ppsed t wilderness designatin in the Pryr Muntains because f cncern fr management f the wild hrses. The furth individual expres8ed cncern abut the pssible impact wilderness designatin might have n ffsite bentnite mining activities t the suth f the study area. A secnd meeting was held in Billings n May 21, 19B2. Three i ndividuals attended that meeting, all favred wi lderness designatin fr the Big Hrn Tack On WSA. The third meeting was held in Lewistwn, Mntana, n May 26, 19B2. One individual attended that meeting but d i d nt express any pinins abut pssible wilderness designatin in the pryr Muntains. Frmal public hearings were held in Billings and Lvell duri ng the 90-day cmment peri d n the Draft Billi ngs Resurce Area RMP/EIS. During this time 392 ral and written cmments were received. Of these, twenty-three cmments were assciated with the Bi g Hrn Tack-On WSA: 3S percent favred mre wilderness than the prpsal, 17 percent favred les s wilderness, and 48 Percent expres.ed n psitin. The Natinal Park Servi ce recrrrnended that wilderness designatin be Bught fr the Big Hrn Tack-On WSA, particularly the suthern segment. The U. S. Fish & Wildlife service, Bureau f Mines, Department f the Army, Bureau f Reclamatin, and Envirnmental Prtectin Agency cmmented n the Draft RMP, but made n recmmendatins cncerning the Big Hrn Tack-On WS A. Mntana state gvernment did nt frma.:y cmment n the wilderness prpsals i n the Pryr Muntains. Wyming state gvernment said that it supprted BLM ' 9 preferred alternative but felt that sufficient flexibility shuld be incrprated i n the designatin t a llw fr needed range imprvements and wild hrae management activitie. ~ meeting was held with the Carbn Cu nty Cmmissin but its members expressed n cncerns abut wilderness designatin in the r ryr Muntains

226 SCAB CREEK ISA REPORT SUMMARY Draft () Final (X) Envirnmental Impact Statement, Department f the interir, Bureau f land Management, Rck Springs District, wyming Type f Actin: Adminiatrative ( ) Legislative (X) APPENDIX 1 SCAB CREEK ISA REPORT 2. Bri.f De.criptiD f ActiDI The prpsed actin is t recmmend designatin f the present Scab Creek Primitive Area (designated n June 17, 1975) and 956 cntiguus are.s fr inclusin in the Natinal Wilderness Preservatin System. The ttal acreage prpsed fr wilderness designatln ie 7,636. The general lcatin f the prpsed Scab Creek Wilderne Area is adjacent t the Bridger Natinal Frest abut 20 miles sutheast f Pi nedale, Wyming, and 90 mi les nrth f Rck Springs, Wyming Management f the Scab Creek area as wi lderness under the Wilderness Act f 1964, wuld result in allwing nly th actins t ccur wh i ch wuld detract frm the area' s wi lderness character. 3. Suaaary f Bn..,irnaental I.pactal A. Sil ersin frm ff-rad vehicle (ORV) trails wuld be reduced frm 14 tns per year t 1 tn per year. B. Sedimentatin frm ORV trails wuld be reduced frm apprximately 10 tns per year t 0.7 tn per year. C. Visual values, wildlife habitat, and cultural resurces prtected wuld i ncrease frm 6,680 a cres t 7,636 a cres. O. The entire 7, 636 acrea wuld be clsed t ORV use. E. There wuld be a segregatin f 40 acres frm mi neral lcat in that had nt previusly been segregated. This wuld virtually eliminate any pssibility f prspecting r develpment f lcatable minerals that may be present within this tract. F. Water quality wuld imprve, a nd all streams in the area culd be des i gnated Class I by t he State f Wyming. G. The Scab Creek areas in cnjunctin with the Bridger Wilderness wuld prvide the unique pprtunity t study an additinal lite zne i.n the cntinuum f ecbystems trm 7,400 t 12,500 teet. Appendix 1-1

227 WILDERNESS STUDY RECOMMENDATION 4. Alt.ernat.iv Cn.id.re4~ The tw alternatives c nsidered in this EIS a r e n-actin alternative and alternative whereby nly the presently designated Scab Creek Primitive Area wuld be recmmended fr designatin a8 wilderness. The n-actin alternative is a recisi n f the primitive area designatin n the existing Scab Creek Primitive Area. Thrugh the land use planning prcess, the existing Scab Creek. Primitive Ar ea and the 956 cntiguus acres culd be allcated t ne r mre f ill variet.y f resurce management ptins allwed under the Pederal Land Plicy and Management Act (FLPMA). The Scab Creek. supplement t the Pinedale Management Framewrk Plan (MFP) recmmends designatin f the areas a s an OUtstanding Natural Area. Shuld Cngress deterruine the area is nt. suitable fr wilder ness designatin, further cnsideratin thrugh the planning system wuld be given t the MFP recamendatin f designatin as an OUtstanding Natural Area. The secnd alternative is t recrrrnend the existing 6,680 acre Scab Creek primitive Area fr wilderness designatin. This wuld result in similar, related resurce management actins as the prpsed actin, but cnfined t the present primitive area. The 956 cntiguus acres culd be allcate d t ne r mre f a variety f resurce management ptins allwed under FLPMA. The Scab Creek. MFP Supplement recnwnends the designatin f these 956 cntiguus acres as a special management area (prbably an ACEC). The management bjective fr this acreage is, as defined in the MFP supplement, t maintain a resurce cnservatin mde. Management under this designatin wuld be in accrdance with management guideline. being develped by BLM. 5. Cu.ltu.:ral R urce Cl ranc.: The cultural resurce wrk in cmpliance with Sectin 108 f the Nati nal Histric Preaervatin Act has been cmpleted. Refer t Appendi x 8 f t he Draft EIS. 6. Oat. Draft. Stat nt Mad. Availabl. t. EPA and t th. Public : December Tne 8ureeu 01 lind Mlnlgement (8lM) recmmendl t the Secnalary 01 Ihe Inlerlr thlt Cngre.. lnc:rprlte the Scab Or"" Primitive Anal and.. I cr.. 01 cntiguul publle linda havlne wlklemeea chanacttrtltla Int the Nltlnll Wlkler".. PnaMrYltln System. The tlal acnaage ptpaed lr wlldar".. II apprximately 7 1_ Th.,ee m.. tl thecrlterlalsectln 2(c) f the Wlkler"... Act f U1l4. and multlple-u.. nalurce Inllysll revelltd n Ilgnllleant r_rile cnnlctl r.. ultlng Irm I wllderne.. deslgnetln. An envirnmental Implct statament (EIS) 6n wllderne.. Ititul lr Scab Creek I nl'yzed Ihr.. I II.rnltlv.. : t. Wilderness deslgnltin 01 the 6,680 Icr. primitive Irea Ind 956 Icrea 01 adjacent lind. 2. N ectln. 3. Wilderness dealgnltln 01 nly the eatlbllahed ee ecna prlmilive Irel. The EIS II Incrprated by nal.renee Int thla dcument. N Ilgnlllcant adverse Impactl lr Iny Illernative wer. identilled. It II therefre cncluded thlt the benellelallmpact 01 permanently pr... rvlne the wlldernell chlracter.. tlea lthe Irel thrugh wlldern... detlgnetln wuld OUtweigh the minimal Idve,.. Impecll. 8lM h.. identilled Alternative N. 1.. the prpatd actin Incl the beat chice lr mlnegement 01 the 1lne11 within the Scab Creek lree. 3/ 1/ V O. te Apprved: ~/11 Ol'e Apprved: -=:-- ~ Directr 01" Apprved: -::- Secret.ry De.. Appendix 1-2 Append Lx 1-3