Mission Statement 

It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, 

diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of 

present and future generations. 

BLM/ES/PL-07/001+1610

Cover Photos: Top Left – Point Clear Island, Hancock County, Mississippi; Top Right – Hanging Moss at Big 

Rock Island, Mitchell Lake Alabama; Middle Right – Fowl River Tract, Mobile County, Alabama; Bottom Left – 

Fort Morgan Beach Tract, Baldwin County, Alabama; and Bottom Right – Oil rig on Federal lease. 
United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Eastern States

Jackson Field Office 

411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404 

Jackson, Mississippi 39206 

http://www.es.blm.gov/AL MS RMP

In Reply Refer To: 

1610 (020) 

Dear Reader: 

Attached for your review and comment is the Alabama and Mississippi Draft Resource Management Plan 

(RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Eastern States, Jackson Field Office (JFO). The 

BLM published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to prepare this RMP-EIS on July 12, 2002. An 

official scoping period began with this publication and ran through September 2002. Letters were sent to 

Alabama and Mississippi State agencies, county supervisors and commissioners, and the governors of 

both States to inform them of the planning process. The State of Mississippi accepted the invitation to 

become an official cooperating agency. 

The alternative resource management plans described in this document have been designed to resolve 

land management issues that were identified through the planning process and to provide a basis for 

comparison of the impacts associated with each alternative. Analyses of the environmental consequences 

of implementing each of the alternatives are also included in the document. The final decision and 

Proposed RMP may be one of the alternatives in its entirety or a combination of various actions contained 

in more than one of the alternatives described in this Draft RMP-EIS. 

We invite your comments on the content of this document. A 90-day comment period will begin with the 

date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the filing of this Draft RMP-EIS in the 

Federal Register. We are particularly interested in comments that address one or more of the following: 1) 

possible flaws in the analysis; 2) new information that would have a bearing on the analysis; and 3) needs 

for clarification. Please send your written comments to: 

Gary Taylor 

BLM Planning Coordinator 

411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404 

Jackson, Mississippi 39206 

Comments, including the names and street addresses of respondents, will be made available for review by 

the public at the address listed above during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday 

through Friday, except holidays, and will be published as part of the Proposed RMP and Final EIS. 

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 

your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying 

information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 

withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 

able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals representing, or who 

are officials of, organizations or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. 

Comments on the Draft RMP-EIS will be fully considered and evaluated in development of the Proposed 

RMP and Final EIS. Through your participation in this effort, we can move forward together toward a 

common goal of improved public land management in Mississippi and Alabama. 
Please retain this copy of the Draft RMP-EIS for future reference, as the Proposed RMP and Final EIS 

may be published in abbreviated format. A copy of this Draft RMP-EIS has been sent to affected Federal, 

State, and local government agencies and to those persons who indicated they wished to receive a copy. 

The Draft RMP-EIS can be downloaded from the RMP website at http://www.es.blm.gov/AL_MS_RMP. 

Copies of the Draft RMP-EIS are available for public inspection at the following BLM locations: 

Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management 

Eastern States Office Jackson Field Office 

7450 Boston Boulevard 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404 

Springfield, Virginia 22153 Jackson, Mississippi 39206 

Public participation is important for the successful development of these plans. We ask for your 

thoughtful evaluation and comments. 

Sincerely, 

Alan Barron Bail 

Acting State Director 
Alabama and Mississippi 

Draft Resource Management Plan 

and Environmental Impact 

Statement

for 

Public Lands Administered 

by the 

Bureau of Land Management 

Eastern States 

Jackson Field Office 

Prepared by 

United States Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Land Management 

Eastern States 

Jackson Field Office 

In cooperation with 

The State of Mississippi 

August 2007 
This page intentionally left blank.
Draft EIS – August 2007 Abstract 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR 

THE ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Lead Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management 

Type of Action: Administrative 

Jurisdiction: Portions of the States of Mississippi and Alabama 

Abstract: This Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

describes and analyzes a reasonable range of management alternatives for the public lands and resources 

administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the States of Alabama and Mississippi. 

Within the two States combined, BLM administers approximately 333 acres of public land surface and 

mineral estate and 704,850 acres of Federal minerals where the surface estate is in non-Federal 

ownership. BLM also has responsibility for 126,570 acres of mineral estate where the surface is managed 

by other Federal agencies (excluding BLM and U.S. Forest Service [USFS]). For the purposes of this 

document, RMP mineral leasing decisions will apply to “BLM-administered non-USFS Federal mineral 

ownership (FMO),” which refers to BLM-administered Federal minerals where the surface estate is in 

non-Federal ownership and Federal agencies excluding USFS. BLM has responsibility for lease issuance 

and post lease administration of 1,640,621 acres of mineral estate where the surface is managed by USFS. 

However, the RMP will not make decisions on oil and gas leasing of national forest acreage because the 

Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Reform Act of 1987 requires the USFS to conduct a leasing analysis to 

make land use planning decisions on oil and gas leasing. This legal requirement does not apply to other 

Federal surface management agencies. 

Four alternatives are analyzed in detail, including the Preferred Alternative. The management 

prescriptions of the four alternatives would guide management of BLM-administered lands (referred to as 

surface tracts) and non-USFS FMO in Alabama and Mississippi. The management alternatives evaluated 

in this Draft RMP-EIS were developed to meet management goals and objectives and minimize adverse 

impacts to cultural and natural resources while providing for compatible resource use and development 

opportunities consistent with current laws, regulations, and policies. 

Comments on this Draft RMP-EIS will be accepted for 90 days following the date that the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the notice of filing this Draft EIS in the Federal Register. Further 

information regarding this Draft EIS can be obtained from: 

Gary Taylor 

BLM Planning Coordinator 

411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404 

Jackson, Mississippi 39206 

Alabama and Mississippi RMP i 
Abstract Draft EIS – August 2007 

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ii Alabama and Mississippi RMP 
Draft EIS – August 2007 Table of Contents 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................................ES-1

CHAPTER 1 —PURPOSE AND NEED .................................................................................................................. 1-1 

1.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 1-1 

1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PLAN ................................................................................................. 1-1 

1.3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANNING AREA ........................................................................................... 1-1 

1.4 PLANNING ISSUES .................................................................................................................................. 1-6 

1.4.1 Mineral (Oil, Gas, and Coal) Leasing................................................................................................. 1-6 

1.4.2 Land Ownership Adjustments ............................................................................................................ 1-6 

1.5 PLANNING CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................. 1-6 

1.6 OVERVIEW OF THE PLANNING PROCESS ......................................................................................... 1-7 

1.7 READER’S GUIDE TO THIS DOCUMENT ............................................................................................ 1-9 

1.8 TOPICS NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN.......................................1-10 

CHAPTER 2 —ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 

2.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 2-1 

2.1.1 How to Read This Chapter ................................................................................................................. 2-1 

2.2 ALTERNATIVE COMPONENTS ............................................................................................................. 2-1 

2.3 STANDARD MANAGEMENT COMMON TO ALL ALTERNATIVES ................................................ 2-2 

2.3.1 Air Quality.......................................................................................................................................... 2-2 

2.3.2 Soil Resources.................................................................................................................................... 2-3 

2.3.3 Unique and Prime Farmland............................................................................................................... 2-3 

2.3.4 Water Resources................................................................................................................................. 2-3 

2.3.5 Vegetative Communities .................................................................................................................... 2-4 

2.3.6 Fish and Wildlife................................................................................................................................ 2-4 

2.3.7 Special Status Species ........................................................................................................................ 2-4 

2.3.8 Wildland Fire Ecology and Management........................................................................................... 2-4 

2.3.9 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................. 2-5 

2.3.10 Paleontological Resources.................................................................................................................. 2-5 

2.3.11 Visual Resources ................................................................................................................................ 2-5 

2.3.12 Minerals.............................................................................................................................................. 2-5 

2.3.13 Recreation........................................................................................................................................... 2-6 

2.3.14 Lands and Realty................................................................................................................................ 2-6 

2.3.15 Hazardous Materials........................................................................................................................... 2-7 

2.4 ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED IN DETAIL............................................................................................ 2-8 

2.4.1 Management of Non-Forest Service Federal Mineral Ownership...................................................... 2-9 

2.4.2 Management of Surface Tracts..........................................................................................................2-17 

CHAPTER 3 —AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT....................................................................................................... 3-1 

3.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 3-1 

3.1.1 How to Read This Chapter ................................................................................................................. 3-1 

3.2 ALABAMA STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE .............................................................................................. 3-1 

3.2.1 Air Quality.......................................................................................................................................... 3-1 

3.2.2 Soil Resources.................................................................................................................................... 3-3 

3.2.3 Water Resources................................................................................................................................. 3-4 

3.2.4 Vegetative Communities .................................................................................................................... 3-6 

3.2.5 Fish and Wildlife................................................................................................................................ 3-8 

3.2.6 Special Status Species ........................................................................................................................ 3-8 

3.2.7 Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..........................................................................................3-23 

Alabama and Mississippi RMP iii 
Table of Contents Draft EIS – August 2007 

3.2.8 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................3-24 

3.2.9 Visual Resources ...............................................................................................................................3-28 

3.2.10 Minerals.............................................................................................................................................3-29 

3.2.11 Recreation and Travel Management..................................................................................................3-35 

3.2.12 Lands and Realty...............................................................................................................................3-36 

3.2.13 Social and Economic .........................................................................................................................3-36 

3.2.14 Hazardous Materials..........................................................................................................................3-40 

3.3 ALABAMA SURFACE TRACT DESCRIPTION....................................................................................3-41 

3.3.1 Coosa River Tracts ............................................................................................................................3-42 

3.3.2 Fort Morgan Beach Tracts.................................................................................................................3-44 

3.3.3 Fort Morgan Highway Tracts ............................................................................................................3-46 

3.3.4 Fowl River Tract ...............................................................................................................................3-48 

3.3.5 Geneva Tract .....................................................................................................................................3-50 

3.3.6 Jordan Lake Tract..............................................................................................................................3-51 

3.4 MISSISSIPPI STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE ...........................................................................................3-53 

3.4.1 Air Quality.........................................................................................................................................3-53 

3.4.2 Soil Resources...................................................................................................................................3-54 

3.4.3 Water Resources................................................................................................................................3-55 

3.4.4 Vegetative Communities ...................................................................................................................3-59 

3.4.5 Fish and Wildlife...............................................................................................................................3-60 

3.4.6 Special Status Species .......................................................................................................................3-61 

3.4.7 Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..........................................................................................3-71 

3.4.8 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................3-72 

3.4.9 Visual Resources ...............................................................................................................................3-74 

3.4.10 Minerals.............................................................................................................................................3-75 

3.4.11 Recreation and Travel Management..................................................................................................3-76 

3.4.12 Lands and Realty...............................................................................................................................3-77 

3.4.13 Social and Economic .........................................................................................................................3-78 

3.4.14 Hazardous Materials..........................................................................................................................3-82 

3.5 MISSISSIPPI SURFACE TRACT DESCRIPTION..................................................................................3-83

3.5.1 Hancock County Tract.......................................................................................................................3-83 

CHAPTER 4 —ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ...................................................................................... 4-1 

4.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 4-1 

4.1.1 How to Read This Chapter ................................................................................................................. 4-1 

4.1.2 Approach to the Analysis ................................................................................................................... 4-2 

Types of Effects............................................................................................................................................................. 4-2 

4.1.3 Availability of Data and Incomplete Information .............................................................................. 4-3 

4.2 DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS FROM BLM MANAGEMENT ACTIONS IN ALABAMA ....... 4-4 

4.2.1 Alternative 1 (No Action)................................................................................................................... 4-4 

Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4-4 

Soil Resources................................................................................................................................................................ 4-6 

Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................................ 4-7 

Vegetative Communities................................................................................................................................................ 4-9 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-10 

Special Status Species.................................................................................................................................................. 4-12 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-15 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-16 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-18 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-19 

Recreation and Travel Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-20 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-21 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................... 4-21 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................... 4-23 

4.2.2 Alternative 2......................................................................................................................................4-24 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-24 

Soil Resources.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-24 

iv Alabama and Mississippi RMP 
Draft EIS – August 2007 Table of Contents 

Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 4-25 

Vegetative Communities.............................................................................................................................................. 4-26 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-27 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-30 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-31 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-33 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-33 

Recreation and Travel Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-34 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-35 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................... 4-35 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................... 4-36 

4.2.3 Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative).................................................................................................4-37 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-37 

Soil Resources.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-37 

Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 4-38 

Vegetative Communities.............................................................................................................................................. 4-39 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-40 

Special Status Species.................................................................................................................................................. 4-40 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-41 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-42 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-43 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-43 

Recreation and Travel Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-44 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-45 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................... 4-45 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................... 4-46 

4.2.4 Alternative 4......................................................................................................................................4-47 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-47 

Soil Resources.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-47 

Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 4-48 

Vegetative Communities.............................................................................................................................................. 4-49 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-50 

Special Status Species.................................................................................................................................................. 4-51 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-52 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-52 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-53 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-54 

Recreation and Travel Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-55 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-55 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................... 4-56 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................... 4-56 

4.3 DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS FROM BLM MANAGEMENT ACTIONS IN MISSISSIPPI ....4-57 

4.3.1 Alternative 1 (No Action)..................................................................................................................4-57 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-57 

Soil Resources.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-58 

Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 4-59 

Vegetative Communities.............................................................................................................................................. 4-61 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-62 

Special Status Species.................................................................................................................................................. 4-64 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-66 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-67 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-69 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-70 

Recreation and Travel Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-71 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-72 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................... 4-72 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................... 4-73 

4.3.2 Alternative 2......................................................................................................................................4-74 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-74 

Soil Resources.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-74 

Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 4-75 

Vegetative Communities.............................................................................................................................................. 4-76 

Alabama and Mississippi RMP v 
Table of Contents Draft EIS – August 2007 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-77 

Special Status Species.................................................................................................................................................. 4-77 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-79 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-80 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-81 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-82 

Recreation and Travel Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-82 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-83 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................... 4-83 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................... 4-84 

4.3.3 Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative).................................................................................................4-85 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-85 

Soil Resources.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-85 

Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 4-86 

Vegetative Communities.............................................................................................................................................. 4-86 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-87 

Special Status Species.................................................................................................................................................. 4-88 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-89 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-89 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-90 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-90 

Recreation and Travel Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-91 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-92 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................... 4-92 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................... 4-92 

4.3.4 Alternative 4......................................................................................................................................4-93 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-93 

Soil Resources.............................................................................................................................................................. 4-93 

Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 4-94 

Vegetative Communities.............................................................................................................................................. 4-95 

Fish and Wildlife.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-96 

Special Status Species.................................................................................................................................................. 4-96 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management..................................................................................................................... 4-97 

Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 4-98 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-99 

Minerals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4-99 

Recreation and Travel Management .......................................................................................................................... 4-100 

Lands and Realty........................................................................................................................................................ 4-101 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................. 4-101 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................. 4-101 

4.4 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS .....................................................................................................................4-102 

4.4.1 Cumulative Impacts from BLM Management Actions in Alabama................................................4-105 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................. 4-105 

Soil Resources............................................................................................................................................................ 4-106 

Water Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 4-106 

Vegetative Communities............................................................................................................................................ 4-107 

Fish and Wildlife........................................................................................................................................................ 4-107 

Special Status Species................................................................................................................................................ 4-108 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management................................................................................................................... 4-109 

Cultural Resources..................................................................................................................................................... 4-110 

Visual Resources........................................................................................................................................................ 4-111 

Minerals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4-111 

Recreation and Travel Management .......................................................................................................................... 4-111 

Lands and Realty........................................................................................................................................................ 4-112 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................. 4-112 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................. 4-113 

4.4.2 Cumulative Impacts from BLM Management Actions in Mississippi ............................................4-114 

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................. 4-114 

Soil Resources............................................................................................................................................................ 4-114 

Water Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 4-115 

Vegetative Communities............................................................................................................................................ 4-115 

Fish and Wildlife........................................................................................................................................................ 4-116 

vi Alabama and Mississippi RMP 
Draft EIS – August 2007 Table of Contents 

Special Status Species................................................................................................................................................ 4-116 

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management................................................................................................................... 4-118 

Cultural Resources..................................................................................................................................................... 4-119 

Visual Resources........................................................................................................................................................ 4-120 

Minerals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4-120 

Recreation and Travel Management .......................................................................................................................... 4-120 

Lands and Realty........................................................................................................................................................ 4-121 

Social and Economic.................................................................................................................................................. 4-121 

Hazardous Materials .................................................................................................................................................. 4-122 

CHAPTER 5 —CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION ................................................................................. 5-1 

5.1 OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS............................................................................................................... 5-1 

5.2 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION............................................................................................. 5-1

5.2.1 Other Federal Agency Consultation ................................................................................................... 5-1 

5.2.2 State and Local Agency Consultation ................................................................................................ 5-2 

5.2.3 Native American Consultation ........................................................................................................... 5-2 

5.3 PUBLIC SCOPING..................................................................................................................................... 5-3 

5.4 PROJECT WEB SITE................................................................................................................................. 5-3 

5.5 DEVELOPMENT OF PLANNING CRITERIA......................................................................................... 5-4 

5.6 FUTURE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ....................................................................................................... 5-4 

5.7 DISTRIBUTION OF DRAFT RMP-EIS .................................................................................................... 5-4 

5.7.1 Federal Agencies ................................................................................................................................ 5-4 

5.7.2 Alabama State Agencies..................................................................................................................... 5-4 

5.7.3 Mississippi State Agencies................................................................................................................. 5-5 

5.7.4 Local Governments ............................................................................................................................ 5-5 

5.7.5 Native American Tribes ..................................................................................................................... 5-5 

5.7.6 U. S. Senate ........................................................................................................................................ 5-6 

5.7.7 U. S. House of Representatives .......................................................................................................... 5-6 

5.7.8 Organizations/Industry ....................................................................................................................... 5-6 

5.8 LIST OF PREPARERS............................................................................................................................... 5-7 

5.8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5-7 

ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................ACRONYMS-1 

GLOSSARY............................................................................................................................................GLOSSARY-1 

REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................REFERENCES-1 

LIST OF APPENDICES 

Appendix A. Recreation and Public Purposes Act Lands 

Appendix B. Lands of Uncertain Title 

Appendix C. Relevant Statutes, Regulations, Orders, and Guidelines 

Appendix D. Proposed Conservation Measures and Best Management Practices 

Appendix E. Special Status Species in Alabama and Mississippi 

Appendix F. Soils 

Appendix G. Socioeconomic Figures 

Appendix H. Water Resources 

Appendix I. Withdrawn Lands 

Appendix J. Summary of the Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenario 

Alabama and Mississippi RMP vii 
Table of Contents Draft EIS – August 2007 

LIST OF TABLES 

CHAPTER 1 — PURPOSE AND NEED 

Table 1-1. Land and Mineral Ownership and Administrative Jurisdictions within the RMP 

Planning Area in Alabama .................................................................................................................1-2 

Table 1-2. Land and Mineral Ownership and Administrative Jurisdictions within the RMP 

Planning Area in Mississippi .............................................................................................................1-3 

CHAPTER 2 — ALTERNATIVES 

Table 2-1. Oil and Gas Leasing Categories in Alabama by Alternative ..................................................2-10 

Table 2-2. Oil and Gas Leasing Categories in Mississippi by Alternative ..............................................2-11 

Table 2-3. Leasing Stipulations in Alabama by Alternative ....................................................................2-11 

Table 2-4. Leasing Stipulations in Mississippi by Alternative ................................................................2-14 

Table 2-5. Surface Tracts in Alabama and Mississippi............................................................................2-17 

Table 2-6. Alternatives for Coosa River Tracts.......................................................................................2-19 

Table 2-7. Alternatives for Fort Morgan Beach Tracts............................................................................2-24 

Table 2-8. Alternatives for Fort Morgan Highway Tracts.......................................................................2-27 

Table 2-9. Alternatives for Fowl River Tract ..........................................................................................2-30 

Table 2-10. Alternatives for Geneva Tract ..............................................................................................2-33 

Table 2-11. Alternatives for Jordan Lake Tract.......................................................................................2-36 

Table 2-12. Alternatives for Hancock County, Mississippi, Tract ..........................................................2-39 

Table 2-13. Comparison of Impacts For Alabama...................................................................................2-42 

Table 2-14. Comparison of Impacts For Mississippi...............................................................................2-57 

CHAPTER 3 — AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 

Table 3-1. Recent Highest Ambient Air Quality Measurements in Alabama............................................3-2 

Table 3-2. Federally-listed Mussel Species in Alabama..........................................................................3-16 

Table 3-3. Federally-listed Aquatic Snail Species in Alabama................................................................3-19 

Table 3-4. DOI and USDA Fuels Treatment Accomplishments for Alabama.........................................3-24 

Table 3-5. Prehistoric Periods Present in Southeastern United States.....................................................3-24 

Table 3-6. Cultural Sites on BLM Surface and non-USFS FMO Tracts in Alabama..............................3-28 

Table 3-7. BLM-administered Federal Mineral Ownership by Surface Ownership in Alabama ............3-29 

Table 3-8. BLM-administered non-USFS Federal Mineral Ownership by Surface 

Management Agency in Alabama..........................................................................................3-35 

Table 3-9. Soil Classification for the Fort Morgan Beach Tracts............................................................3-44

Table 3-10. Soil Classification for the Fort Morgan Highway Tracts .....................................................3-46 

Table 3-11. Soil Classification for the Fowl River Tract.........................................................................3-48 

Table 3-12. Recent Highest Ambient Air Quality Measurements in Mississippi....................................3-53 

Table 3-13. Federally and State-listed Mussel Species in Mississippi ....................................................3-69 

Table 3-14. DOI and USDA Fuels Treatment Accomplishments for Mississippi...................................3-71 

Table 3-15. Cultural Sites on BLM Surface and Non-USFS FMO Tracts in Mississippi .......................3-73 

Table 3-16. BLM-administered Federal Mineral Ownership by Surface Ownership..............................3-75 

Table 3-17. BLM-administered non-USFS Federal Mineral Ownership by Surface 

Management Agency in Mississippi......................................................................................3-77 

Table 3-18. Employment by Industry, 2000 – 2005 ................................................................................3-78 

Table 3-19. Poorest Counties in Mississippi............................................................................................3-81 

Table 3-20. Mississippi Counties with Black or African American Populations, 2000 ..........................3-82 

Table 3-21. Soil Classification for the Hancock County Tract................................................................3-84 

viii Alabama and Mississippi RMP 
Draft EIS – August 2007 Table of Contents 

CHAPTER 4 — ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 

Table 4-1. Types of Impacts ......................................................................................................................4-2 

Table 4-2. Maximum Potential Oil and Gas Air Emissions for BLM and Non-BLM Activities in 

Alabama ...................................................................................................................................4-5 

Table 4-3. Maximum Potential Coal Mining Air Emissions for BLM and Non-BLM Activities in 

Alabama ...................................................................................................................................4-5 

Table 4-4. Maximum Potential Oil and Gas Air Emissions for BLM and Non-BLM Activities in 

Mississippi .............................................................................................................................4-58 

Table 4-5. Future Anticipated Well Development In Alabama .............................................................4-102 

Table 4-6. Future Anticipated Well Development In Mississippi .........................................................4-103 

Table 4-7. DOI and USDA Fuels Treatment Accomplishments for Alabama.......................................4-103 

Table 4-8. DOI and USDA Fuels Treatment Accomplishments for Mississippi...................................4-104 

Table 4-9. Developed Surface Area of Non-Federal and Federal Land and Water Areas, 

By State and Year ................................................................................................................4-104 

Table 4-10. Comparison of Potential BLM Emissions with Cumulative Emissions for Alabama ........4-105 

Table 4-11. Comparison of Potential BLM Emissions with Cumulative Emissions for Mississippi ....4-114 

CHAPTER 5 — CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION 

Table 5-1. BLM Preparers .........................................................................................................................5-7 

Table 5-2. Booz Allen Hamilton Preparers................................................................................................5-8 

LIST OF FIGURES 

CHAPTER 1 — PURPOSE AND NEED 

Figure 1-1. RMP-EIS Process....................................................................................................................1-8 

LIST OF MAPS 

Map 1-1. Federal Lands and Mineral Ownership in Alabama...................................................................1-4 

Map 1-2. Federal Lands and Mineral Ownership in Mississippi...............................................................1-5 

Map 2-1a. Coosa River Tracts .................................................................................................................2-21 

Map 2-1b. Coosa River Tracts.................................................................................................................2-22 

Map 2-1c. Coosa River Tracts .................................................................................................................2-23 

Map 2-2. Fort Morgan Beach Tracts........................................................................................................2-26 

Map 2-3. Fort Morgan Highway Tracts...................................................................................................2-29 

Map 2-4. Fowl River Tract ......................................................................................................................2-32 

Map 2-5. Geneva Tract ............................................................................................................................2-35 

Map 2-6. Jordan Lake Tract.....................................................................................................................2-38 

Map 2-7. Hancock County, Mississippi Tract .........................................................................................2-41 

Map 3-1. Major Drainage Basins of Alabama ...........................................................................................3-5 

Map 3-2. Oil and Gas Production ............................................................................................................3-31 

Map 3-3. Federal Coal Ownership within Coal Development Potential Areas.......................................3-34 

Map 3-4. Major Drainage Basins of Mississippi .....................................................................................3-56 

Map 3-5. Primary Groundwater Recharge Zones in Mississippi.............................................................3-58

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x Alabama and Mississippi RMP 
Draft EIS – August 2007 Executive Summary 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

INTRODUCTION 

This Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describes and 

analyzes a reasonable range of management alternatives for the public lands and resources administered 

by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the States of Alabama and Mississippi. Within the two 

States combined, BLM administers approximately 333 acres of public land surface and mineral estate and 

704,850 acres of Federal minerals where the surface estate is in non-Federal ownership. BLM also has 

responsibility for 126,570 acres of mineral estate where the surface is managed by other Federal agencies 

(excluding BLM and U.S. Forest Service [USFS]). On these lands, oil and gas leasing of Federal minerals 

is subject to management as directed by the surface managing agency, and the decisions of this RMP will 

pertain only to BLM’s role in administering the minerals. BLM has the responsibility for lease issuance 

and post lease administration of 1,640,621 acres of mineral estate where the surface is managed by USFS. 

However, the RMP will not make decisions on oil and gas leasing of national forest acreage because the 

Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Reform Act of 1987 requires the USFS to conduct a leasing analysis to 

make land use planning decisions on oil and gas leasing. This legal requirement does not apply to other 

Federal surface management agencies. For the purposes of this document, RMP decisions will apply to 

“BLM-administered non-USFS Federal mineral ownership (FMO),” which refers to BLM-administered 

Federal minerals where the surface estate is in non-Federal ownership and Federal agencies excluding 

USFS. 

Within the two States, there are also 8,077 acres of lands with uncertain title. These are public domain 

lands according to General Land Office records, but may have private claims of ownership. The RMP will 

not make management decisions on these lands per se; however, these lands, which are listed in Appendix 

B, will be available for disposal to qualified applicants under the Color-of-Title Act. The above categories 

of BLM-administered land ownership that will be covered by this RMP are listed and described in Table 

1-1 for Alabama and Table 1-2 for Mississippi. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAFT RMP-EIS ALTERNATIVES 

Four alternatives are analyzed in detail, including the Preferred Alternative. The management 

prescriptions of the four alternatives described in Chapter 2 would guide management of BLMadministered lands (referred to as surface tracts) and non-U.S. Forest Service Federal mineral ownership 

(non-USFS FMO) in Alabama and Mississippi. An interdisciplinary team developed the alternatives to 

present a reasonable range of management options for guiding resource management and activities. The 

management alternatives evaluated in this Draft RMP-EIS were developed to meet management goals and 

objectives and minimize adverse impacts to cultural and natural resources while providing for compatible 

resource use and development opportunities consistent with current laws, regulations, and policies. 

Each alternative represents a direction to guide future management of BLM-administered public lands 

and resources. Alternative 3 was selected as the Preferred Alternative because it protects sensitive 

resources, while allowing mineral development and providing management efficiency through disposal of 

most of the scattered surface tracts. 

Alabama and Mississippi RMP ES-1 
Executive Summary Draft EIS – August 2007 

Management themes represented in each alternative include the following: 

• Alternative 1 (No Action)—represents the No Action Alternative (i.e., continuation of current 

management). BLM would continue the current management approach by retaining all BLMadministered surface tracts and employing custodial management. BLM management actions 

would occur in response to an application for use presented by another entity or compliance 

actions required by regulation and policy (as described in Section 2.3, Standard Management 

Common to All Alternatives). Potential impacts and mitigation would be identified and assessed 

when application is made for activity on a specific piece of BLM-administered land. 

There would be 760,570 acres of BLM-administered non-USFS FMO that would be open to oil 

and gas leasing. Management of oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development would be 

subject to the standard lease terms and conditions that are included on the lease form. 

• Alternative 2—proposes that BLM would retain specific BLM-administered surface tracts. BLM 

would investigate opportunities to manage the tracts in partnership with other agencies or 

organizations. Use of the tracts would be consistent with management objectives and other land 

use decisions. Tract-specific constraints for resource uses, such as ROW access, would be based 

on the presence of sensitive resources (e.g., special status species and important cultural 

resources). In addition to the management for fish and wildlife habitat, special status species, and 

cultural resources outlined in Alternative 1, more proactive management would occur on specific 

tracts to protect important natural and cultural resources. Management actions for specific tracts, 

as needed, could include installing walk-overs and sand fencing on actively used tracts to protect 

special status species habitat, vegetation treatments to enhance or improve native landscapes on 

actively used tracts, and habitat management to achieve objectives in established fish and wildlife 

conservation strategies. 

There would be 760,452 acres of BLM-administered non-USFS FMO that would be open to oil 

and gas leasing; since an additional 365 acres would be closed to protect habitat of the Federallylisted Alabama beach mouse. In addition to standard terms and conditions, conservation measures 

would be applied as stipulations to oil and gas leases and BMPs would be used to reduce adverse 

effects caused surface-disturbing or disruptive activities associated with oil and gas operations on 

BLM-administered non-USFS FMO. Conservation measures, including no surface occupancy 

(NSO), controlled surface use (CSU), and seasonal stipulations, and BMPs are presented in 

Appendix D. Under this alternative, lease stipulations would include a 1,000-feet NSO buffer 

from aquatic habitats and Alabama beach mouse habitat would not be available for lease. The 

stipulations in Appendix D would be applied in addition to the standard lease terms and 

conditions on the lease form. For each stipulation there are provisions for waiver, modification, 

and exception provided in Appendix D, which could be applied as appropriate. The BMPs would 

be considered mandatory to reduce adverse impacts to specific resources and would be applied to 

oil and gas operations on new and existing leases. There would be some flexibility in 

implementation of each BMP, depending on site-specific conditions. Where there is potential to 

affect Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species or designated critical habitat, application of 

BMPs and/or waiver, modification and exception to stipulations would normally require 

coordination and possible formal consultation with USFWS. 

• Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative)—All of the BLM-administered surface tracts would be 

available for disposal except the Hancock County tract in Mississippi. For some of the surface 

tracts, there would be conditions placed on the disposal that development and use of the tract 

would be consistent with the resource management objectives and allowable uses established for 

the tract. Restrictions on use after disposal would be provided in the patent transferring 

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Draft EIS – August 2007 Executive Summary 

ownership. Valid existing rights and other valid authorizations would be protected if disposal 

occurred. 

Until the surface tracts are disposed, management would apply tract-specific constraints for 

resource uses, such as ROW access, based on the presence of sensitive resources (e.g., special 

status species and important cultural resources). In addition to the management for fish and 

wildlife habitat, special status species, and cultural resources outlined in Alternative 1, more 

proactive management would occur on specific tracts to protect important natural and cultural 

resources. Management actions for specific tracts, as needed, could include vegetation treatments 

to enhance or improve native landscapes on actively used tracts and habitat management to 

achieve objectives in established fish and wildlife conservation strategies. 

There would be 760,570 acres of BLM-administered non-USFS FMO that would be open to oil 

and gas leasing. Similar to Alternative 2, Alternative 3 uses conservation measures that would be 

applied as lease stipulations and BMPs to reduce adverse effects caused by surface-disturbing or 

disruptive activities associated with oil and gas operations on BLM-administered non-USFS 

FMO. The stipulations in Alternative 3 are different from Alternative 2 in two ways. First, 

Alabama beach mouse habitat would be available for lease, but subject to a NSO stipulation. 

Second, the buffer from aquatic habitats would be reduced to 250-feet. 

• Alternative 4—Alternative 4 proposes that all BLM-administered surface tracts would be made 

available for disposal from Federal ownership with no specific condition on use after disposal. 

Valid existing rights and other valid authorizations would be protected in the event of disposal. 

Under this alternative, management of BLM-administered non-USFS FMO would be the same as 

Alternative 3. 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 

The environmental consequences that could result from the management prescriptions of the four 

alternatives are described in Chapter 4 and are summarized and compared in Table 2-13, Comparison of 

Impacts for Alabama and Table 2-14, Comparison of Impacts for Mississippi. These potential 

consequences are discussed for each resource program, providing an analysis of environmental effects 

resulting from management of all resources and resource uses. This includes an analysis of cumulative 

effects, which are defined as the impacts that result from the incremental impact of an action when added 

to other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable future actions. 

CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION 

Consultation, coordination and public involvement were undertaken by BLM throughout the process of 

developing this Draft RMP-EIS. Consultation, coordination, and public involvement in preparing this 

Draft RMP-EIS have been accomplished through public and informal meetings, individual contacts, 

bulletins, news releases, and Federal Register notices. 

BLM consulted and coordinated with federal and state agencies and Native American tribes in developing 

this Draft RMP-EIS. Specifically, BLM has coordinated with the USFWS to obtain a species list and 

develop best management practices and oil and gas leasing stipulations for the alternatives. BLM 

coordinated on the state level by contacting Alabama and Mississippi State agencies, county supervisors 

and commissioners, and the governors of both States to inform them of the RMP planning process. In 

addition, BLM contacted appropriate Native American tribes, inviting them to participate in the Alabama 

Alabama and Mississippi RMP ES-3 
Executive Summary Draft EIS – August 2007 

and Mississippi RMP-EIS development process, and offered to meet with tribal leaders or representatives 

in person to discuss issues, concerns, and questions they might have. 

Public Involvement 

Public participation in the RMP-EIS process includes a variety of efforts to identify and address public 

concerns and needs. The public involvement process assists the agencies in broadening the information 

base for decision-making, informing the public about the RMP-EIS and the potential impacts associated 

with various management decisions, and ensuring that public needs and viewpoints are understood by the 

agency. 

A public workshop (with an emphasis on BLM tracts in Baldwin County, Alabama) was held in Gulf 

Shores, Alabama, on September 2, 2004, to solicit additional comments for developing alternatives. The 

workshop was conducted in an open house format, with resource stations and BLM staff available for 

individual discussions. Eight participants attended the workshop, including representatives from the 

Alabama State Lands Division. Information meetings with Baldwin County also took place during this 

period. Although BLM provided a deadline of November 30, 2004 to receive information and input via 

mail, e-mail, or the project Web site, none was submitted; however, BLM accepted input from the public 

and interested agencies throughout the planning process. Comment letters that were submitted after the 

November deadline dealt primarily with the Baldwin County land tracts and how they should be managed 

by BLM. All comments were collected, analyzed, and included in the project administrative record. 

Cooperating Agencies 

The primary role of cooperating agencies (also referred to as cooperators) is to provide special expertise 

and/or assistance to the lead agency throughout the RMP-EIS process. Cooperator roles include 

participation in the scoping process, provision of information and assistance to the lead agency, review of 

draft information, and provision of overall advice during the planning process. 

Letters were sent to the States of Alabama and Mississippi requesting their involvement in the planning 

process as cooperating agencies. The State of Mississippi accepted the invitation to become an official 

cooperating agency. 

ES-4 Alabama and Mississippi RMP