Table of Contents 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1.0 RECORD OF DECISION................................................................................................................1-1 

1.1 DECISION .................................................................................................................................................. 1-1 

1.1.1 Clarifications ...................................................................................................................................... 1-1 

1.1.2 Continuity of Previous Decisions....................................................................................................... 1-3 

1.2 OVERVIEW OF ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED IN THE PROPOSED RMP/FINAL EIS..................... 1-3 

1.2.1 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Analysis ..................................................... 1-3 

1.2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail....................................................................................................... 1-3 

1.2.2.1 Alternative 1, Continuation of Existing Management................................................................. 1-3 

1.2.2.2 Alternative 2................................................................................................................................ 1-4 

1.2.2.3 Alternative 3................................................................................................................................ 1-5 

1.2.2.4 Alternative 4................................................................................................................................ 1-7 

1.2.3 Environmentally Preferable Alternative............................................................................................. 1-8 

1.3 MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS..................................................................................................... 1-8 

1.3.1 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................................... 1-8 

1.3.2 Plan Monitoring.................................................................................................................................. 1-9 

1.4 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, CONSULTATION, AND COORDINATION............................................... 1-9 

1.4.1 Public Involvement............................................................................................................................. 1-9 

1.4.1.1 Scoping Period ............................................................................................................................ 1-9 

1.4.1.2 Public Review of the Draft RMP EIS.........................................................................................1-10 

1.4.1.3 Protest Period for the Proposed RMP/Final EIS ........................................................................1-11
 

1.4.2 Consultation and Coordination..........................................................................................................1-11 

1.4.2.1 Cooperating Agency Status........................................................................................................1-11 

1.4.2.2 Governor’s Consistency Review................................................................................................1-12 

1.4.2.3 Section 7 Consultation ...............................................................................................................1-13 

1.4.2.4 Native American Consultation ...................................................................................................1-13 

1.4.2.5 Coordination With the Environmental Protection Agency.........................................................1-13 

2.0 APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN......................................................................2-1 

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

2.1.1 Purpose and Need for the Plan ........................................................................................................... 2-1 

2.1.2 Planning Area..................................................................................................................................... 2-1 

2.1.3 Planning Issues................................................................................................................................... 2-2 

2.1.3.1 Issues Addressed ......................................................................................................................... 2-2 

2.1.3.2 Planning Criteria/Legislative Constraints.................................................................................... 2-5 

General Planning Criteria ....................................................................................................................... 2-5 

Planning Criteria for Specific Situations ................................................................................................ 2-6 

2.1.3.3 Planning Process Summary......................................................................................................... 2-7 

2.1.3.4 Relationship With Other Plans.................................................................................................... 2-8 

2.1.4 Overall Vision .................................................................................................................................... 2-8 

2.2 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS .................................................................... 2-8 

2.2.1 Management Decisions ...................................................................................................................... 2-9 

2.3 APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN.................................................................................2-10 

2.3.1 Air Quality Management...................................................................................................................2-10 

2.3.2 Cultural Resources Management.......................................................................................................2-11 

2.3.3 Forestry..............................................................................................................................................2-13 

2.3.4 Lands and Realty Management .........................................................................................................2-14 

2.3.5 Livestock Grazing Management........................................................................................................2-17 

2.3.6 Minerals Management.......................................................................................................................2-19 

2.3.7 Paleontology and Natural History .....................................................................................................2-24 

2.3.8 Recreation and Visitor Services Management...................................................................................2-25 

2.3.9 Soils Management .............................................................................................................................2-34 

2.3.10 Transportation, Access, and Travel Management .............................................................................2-35 

2.3.11 Vegetation Management....................................................................................................................2-37 

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2.3.12 Visual Resources Management .........................................................................................................2-40 

2.3.13 Watershed and Water Quality (Surface Water and Groundwater) Management...............................2-41 

2.3.14 Wild Horses Management .................................................................................................................2-43 

2.3.15 Wildland Fire and Fuels Management...............................................................................................2-44 

2.3.16 Wildlife and Fish Habitat Management.............................................................................................2-45 

2.3.17 Special Designations and Management Areas...................................................................................2-54 

2.3.18 Offsite Mitigation..............................................................................................................................2-59 

2.4 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.....................................................................................................................2-61 

2.4.1 Public Involvement............................................................................................................................2-61 

2.4.2 Operation and Maintenance Actions .................................................................................................2-61 

2.4.3 Requirements for Further Environmental Analysis...........................................................................2-61 

2.5 MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN AND ACTIVITY PLAN WORKING GROUPS ..............2-62 

2.5.1 Monitoring and Evaluation Plan........................................................................................................2-62 

2.5.2 Activity Plan Working Groups..........................................................................................................2-62 

2.6 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................2-64 

2.6.1 Tables ................................................................................................................................................2-64 

2.6.2 Maps..................................................................................................................................................2-70 

2.6.3 Appendices........................................................................................................................................2-71 

LIST OF MAPS 

Map 1-1 Pinedale Planning Area 

Map 1-2 Surface Ownership 

Map 1-3 Mineral Ownership and Federal Leases 

Map 2-4 Oil and Gas Leasing Categories 

Map 2-5 Wild Horse Herd Areas 

Map 2-9 Oil and Gas Management Areas 

Map 2-29 Wild and Scenic Rivers 

Map 2-30 Visual Resource Management Classes 

Map 2-31 Land Tenure Adjustments 

Map 2-32 Rights-of-Way 

Map 2-33 Special Designations and Management Areas 

Map 2-33a Scab Creek Special Recreation Management Area 

Map 2-33b Green and New Fork Rivers Special Recreation Management Area 

Map 2-33c Boulder Lake Special Recreation Management Area 

Map 2-33d CCC Ponds Special Recreation Management Area 

Map 2-33e Rock Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern 

Map 2-33f Beaver Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern 

Map 2-33g Trapper’s Point Area of Critical Environmental Concern 

Map 2-33h New Fork Potholes Area of Critical Environmental Concern 

Map 2-33i Miller Mountain Management Area 

Map 2-33j Ross Butte Management Area 

Map 2-33k Wind River Front Management Area 

Map 2-33l Lake Mountain Wilderness Study Area 

Map 2-33m Scab Creek Wilderness Study Area 

Map 2-34 Land Withdrawals 

Map 2-35 OHV Designations 

Map 2-36 Greater Sage-Grouse Nesting and Brood Rearing Habitats 

Map 3-1 Historic Interpretive Sites and Historic Trails 

Map 3-6 Developed Recreation Resources 

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Map 3-10 Transportation Routes, Communication Sites, and Corridors 

Map 3-14 100-year Floodplain 

Map 3-20 Big Game Crucial Winter Range 

Map A17-1 OHV Priority Areas 

Map A17-2 Transportation Routes 

LIST OF APPENDICES 

Appendix 1 Cultural Resources Management 

Appendix 3 Mitigation Guidelines and Operating Standards Applied to Surface Disturbing and 

Disruptive Activities 

Appendix 5 Fluid Mineral Best Management Practices 

Appendix 6 Characteristics of Old-Growth Forests—BLM Pinedale Field Office 

Appendix 7 Lease Stipulations and Standard Lease Terms (BLM Form 3100-11) 

Appendix 8 Exception and Waiver Criteria 

Appendix 9 Special Status Species 

Appendix 11 Monitoring and Evaluation 

Appendix 12 Seasonal Wildlife Stipulations for All Surface Disturbing Activities 

Appendix 13 Land Tenure Adjustment Criteria 

Appendix 14 Lands Suitable for Consideration for Disposal, Exchange, and Acquisition 

Appendix 16 Natural Resource Recreation Settings 

Appendix 17 Off-Highway Vehicle Travel Management Planning Schedule 

Appendix 18 Threatened, Endangered, and BLM Sensitive Species with the Potential to Occur in the 

Pinedale Planning area 

Appendix 28 Biological Opinion for the Pinedale Resource Management Plan 

Record of Decision and Approved Pinedale Resource Management Plan iii