Draft EIS Appendix B 

Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment B-1 

APPENDIX B—REQUIRED DESIGN FEATURES 

B.1 INTRODUCTION

The following conservation measures have typically been referred to as best management practices 

(BMPs) or recommended management practices. These conservation measures are treated in the Resource 

Management Plan (RMP) as required design features (RDF) to ensure regulatory certainty and the 

conservation of Greater Sage-Grouse. The source of these conservation measures came from WO IM 

2012-044.

Project proponents are encouraged to include all appropriate conservation measures in their proposals. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) will require 

application of all appropriate conservation measures, warranted by site-specific analysis, in order to 

avoid, minimize, rectify, reduce, or compensate for impacts. Conservation measures not included in 

project proposals and determined appropriate from the site-specific analysis will be required as 

Conditions of Approval (COAs), stipulations, terms and conditions, etcetera. Additional COAs developed 

through consultation with other federal, state, and local regulatory and resource agencies may be applied 

when supported by site-specific analysis. 

Because of site-specific circumstances and regulatory constraints, some conservation measures may not 

apply to all activities (e.g., a resource or conflict is not present on a given site) and/or may require slight 

variations. Proposed variations in conservation measures will be analyzed and may be applied in the site 

specific permitting process. All variations in conservation measures will require appropriate analysis and 

disclosure as part of activity authorization. It is anticipated that variations in the conservation measures 

will be approved in very limited circumstances and only in coordination with the Wyoming Game and 

Fish Department (WGFD) and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Conservation measures 

and other mitigation selected for implementation will be identified in the project’s decision document. 

The proponent must implement all identified measures because they are commitments made as part of the 

BLM and Forest Service decision. Because the decision document creates a clear obligation for the BLM 

and Forest Service to ensure any proposed mitigation adopted in the environmental analysis is performed, 

there is the expectation that applied mitigation will lead to a reduction of environmental impacts in the 

implementation stage and include binding mechanisms for enforcement (CEQ Memorandum for Heads of 

Federal Departments and Agencies 2011). The determination of adequate application of the mitigation 

measures and conservation actions for specific projects will remain with the BLM’s and Forest Service’s

Authorized Officers. 

Through the coal planning process it will be determined if areas are suitable for further coal leasing 

consideration. Sage-grouse will be protected from leasing using the coal screening process (unsuitability 

criteria #15 or multiple use conflict analysis (screen 3). The coal planning process (see 43 CFR 3420.1-4 

and 43 CFR 3461) will identify areas where coal leasing is not suitable or acceptable and those areas will 

be removed from further coal consideration for coal leasing and development (i.e. there will not be leased, 

so no development and no further protection needed). 

Mines (particularly large surface coal mines) do not have the flexibility to move operations, so it is 

assumed that if a lease is ultimately offered, sold and issued, the federal coal lessee can use the entire coal 

lease for mining operations once they receive their federal permit. 
Appendix B Draft EIS 

B-2 Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment 

B.2 REQUIRED DESIGN FEATURES FOR LANDS AND REALTY,

RANGE MANAGEMENT, FLUID MINERALS, SOLID MINERALS-COAL,

WILD HORSE AND BURRO, TRAVEL MANAGEMENT, VEGETATION 

MANAGEMENT, WILDFIRE AND FUELS MANAGEMENT, NOISE, AND 

WEST NILE VIRUS

Priority Habitats—BMPs are continuously improving as new science and technology become available 

and therefore are subject to change. Include from the following BMPs those that are appropriate to 

mitigate effects from the approved action. 

Evaluate and take advantage of opportunities to remove or modify existing power lines within priority 

sage-grouse habitat areas. When possible, require perch deterrents on existing or new overhead facilities. 

Encourage installation of perch deterrents on existing facilities. 

Where existing leases or right-of-ways (ROWs) have had some level of development (road, fence, well, 

etc.) and are no longer in use, reclaim the site by removing these features and restoring the habitat. 

Locate man camps outside priority sage-grouse habitats. 

Work cooperatively with permittees, leases and other landowners to develop grazing management 

strategies that integrate both public and private lands into single management units. 

Coordinate BMPs and vegetative objectives with NRCS for consistent application across jurisdictions 

where the BLM, Forest Service, and NRCS have the greatest opportunities to benefit Greater SageGrouse, particularly as it applies to the NRCS’s National Sage-Grouse Initiative. 

(http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/initiatives/andcid=stelde

vb1027671). 

When conducting a National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) analysis for water developments 

or other rangeland improvements, address the direct and indirect effects to sage-grouse populations and 

habitat. 

Evaluate the role of existing seedings that are currently composed of primarily introduced perennial 

grasses in and adjacent to priority sage-grouse habitats to determine if they should be restored to 

sagebrush or habitat of higher quality for sage-grouse. If these seedings are part of an AMP/Conservation 

Plan, or if they provide value in conserving or enhancing the rest of the priority habitats, then no 

restoration would be necessary. Assess the compatibility of these seedings for sage-grouse habitat or as a 

component of a grazing system during land health assessments (Davies et al. 2011). For example, some 

introduced grass seedings are an integral part of a livestock management plan and reduce grazing pressure 

in important sagebrush habitats, or serve as a strategic fuels management area. 

Where the federal government owns the surface, and the mineral estate is in non-federal ownership, apply 

appropriate BMPs to surface development. 

Require sage-grouse safe fences. 

B.2.1 Roads 

Design roads to an appropriate standard no higher than necessary to accommodate their intended purpose. 
Draft EIS Appendix B 

Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment B-3 

Locate roads to avoid important areas and habitats. 

Coordinate road construction and use among Federal fluid mineral lessees and ROW or special use 

authorization (SUA) holders. 

Construct road crossings of ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams to minimize impacts to the 

riparian habitat, such as by crossing at right angles to ephemeral drainages and stream crossings. 

Establish slow speed limits on BLM and Forest Service system-administered roads or design roads for 

slower vehicle speeds to reduce sage-grouse mortality. 

Establish trip restrictions (Lyon and Anderson 2003) or minimization through use of telemetry and 

remote well control (e.g., Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition). 

Do not issue ROWs or SUAs to counties on energy development roads, unless for a temporary use 

consistent with all other terms and conditions including this document. 

Restrict vehicle traffic to only authorized users on newly constructed routes (using signage, gates, etc.) 

Apply dust abatement on roads, well pads, and other surface disturbances. 

Close and rehabilitate duplicate roads by restoring original landform and establishing desirable. 

B.2.2 Operations 

Site and/or minimize linear ROWs or SUAs to reduce disturbance and fragmentation of sagebrush 

habitats. 

Place new utility developments (power lines, pipelines, etc.) and transportation routes in existing utility or 

transportation corridors. 

Bury power lines to the extent technically feasible. 

Cover all fluid-containing pits and open tanks with netting (maximum 1.5-inch mesh size) regardless of 

size to reduce sage-grouse mortality. 

Equip tanks and other above ground facilities with structures or devices that discourage nesting and 

perching of raptors and corvids. 

Control the spread and effects of invasive non-native plant species (Evangelista et al. 2011), including 

treating weeds prior to surface disturbance and washing vehicles and equipment at designated wash 

stations when constructing in areas with weed infestations. 

Require sage-grouse-safe fences. 

Clean up refuse (Bui et al. 2010). 

Construct sage-grouse-safe fences around sumps. 

Cluster disturbances, operations (hydraulic fracture stimulation, liquids gathering, etc.) and facilities. 
Appendix B Draft EIS 

B-4 Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment 

Use directional and horizontal drilling to the extent feasible as a means to reduce surface disturbance in 

relation to the number of wells. 

Place infrastructure in already disturbed locations where the habitat has not been fully restored. 

Apply a phased development approach with concurrent reclamation. 

Place liquid gathering facilities outside priority areas. To reduce truck traffic and perching and nesting 

sites for ravens and raptors, do not place tanks at well locations within priority habitat areas. 

Pipelines must be under or immediately adjacent to the road (Bui et al. 2010). 

Use remote monitoring techniques for production facilities and develop a plan to reduce the frequency of 

vehicle use (Lyon and Anderson 2003). 

Restrict the construction of tall facilities, distribution powerlines, and fences to the minimum number and 

amount needed. 

Design or site permanent structures to minimize impacts to sage-grouse, with emphasis on locating and 

operating facilities that create movement (e.g., pump jacks) or attract frequent human use and vehicular 

traffic (e.g., fluid storage tanks) in a manner that will minimize disturbance of sage-grouse or interference 

with habitat use. 

Use only closed-loop systems for drilling operations, with no reserve pits. 

Consider using oak (or other material) mats for drilling activities where topography permits to reduce 

vegetation disturbance and for temporary roads between closely spaced wells to reduce soil compaction 

and maintain soil structure to increase likelihood of vegetation reestablishment following drilling. 

B.2.3 West Nile Virus 

Restrict impoundment construction to reduce or eliminate threats from West Nile Virus. 

Artificial water impoundments will be managed for the prevention and/or spread of West Nile virus 

(WNv) where the virus poses a threat to sage-grouse. This may include but is not limited to: (a) the use of 

larvicides and adulticides to treat waterbodies; (b) overbuilding ponds to create non-vegetated, muddy 

shorelines; (c) building steep shorelines to reduce shallow water and emergent aquatic vegetation; (d) 

maintaining the water level below rooted vegetation; (e) avoiding flooding terrestrial vegetation in flat 

terrain or low lying areas; (f) constructing dams or impoundments that restrict seepage or overflow; (g) 

lining the channel where discharge water flows into the pond with crushed rock, or use a horizontal pipe 

to discharge inflow directly into existing open water; (h) lining the overflow spillway with crushed rock 

and construct the spillway with steep sides to preclude the accumulation of shallow water and vegetation; 

and (i) restricting access of ponds to livestock and wildlife (Doherty 2007). This does not apply to 

naturally occurring waters. 

Field Offices should consider alternate means to manage produced waters that could present additional 

vectors for WNv. Such remedies may include re-injection under an approved Underground Injection 

Control (UIC) permit, transfer to single/centralized facility, etc. 

Water impoundments will be managed to prevent the spread of West Nile virus where analysis shows the 

virus poses a threat to sage-grouse and in consideration of potential negative impact to other species of 

concern. 
Draft EIS Appendix B 

Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment B-5 

Restrict pit and impoundment construction to reduce or eliminate threats from West Nile virus (Doherty 

2007). 

B.2.4 Noise 

Limit noise to less than ten decibels above ambient measures (20-24 dBA) at sunrise at the perimeter of a 

lek during active lek season (Patricelli et al. 2010, Blickley et al. 2012).

Require noise shields when drilling during the lek, nesting, brood-rearing, or wintering season. 

Locate new compressor stations outside priority habitats and design them to reduce noise that may be 

directed towards priority habitat. 

B.2.5 Reclamation 

Include objectives for ensuring habitat restoration to meet sage-grouse habitat needs in reclamation 

practices/sites (Pyke 2011). Address post reclamation management in reclamation plan such that goals 

and objectives are to protect and improve sage-grouse habitat needs.

Maximize the area of interim reclamation on long-term access roads and well pads, including reshaping, 

topsoiling, and revegetating cut-and-fill slopes. 

Restore disturbed areas at final reclamation to the pre-disturbance landforms and desired plant 

community. 

Implement irrigation during interim or final reclamation for sites where establishment of seedlings has 

been shown or is expected to be difficult due to dry conditions. 

Use mulching, soil amendments, and/or erosion blankets to expedite reclamation and to protect soils. 

Identify and work with partners to increase native seed availability and work with plant material centers 

to develop new plant materials, especially the forbs needed to restore sage-grouse habitat. 

Consider potential changes in climate (Miller at al. 2011) when proposing seedings using native plants. 

Consider seed collections from the warmer component within a species’ current range for selection of 

native seed (Kramer and Havens 2009). 

Use Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD) or other protocols (e.g., TEUI or LSI) to identify the understory 

species and sagebrush subspecies needed to restore desirable habitat conditions. 

B.2.6 Vegetation Treatments/Fire and Fuels Management 

During vegetation management project design, consider the utility of using livestock to strategically 

reduce fine fuels (Diamond et al. 2009), and implement grazing management that will accomplish this 

objective (Davies et al. 2011, Launchbaugh et al. 2007). Consult with ecologists to minimize impacts to 

native perennial grasses. 

Provide to personnel planning vegetation treatments information on sage-grouse biology, habitat 

requirements, and identification of areas utilized locally. 

Use vegetation treatment prescriptions that minimize undesirable effects on vegetation or soils (e.g., 

minimize mortality of desirable plant species and reduce risk of hydrophobicity). 
Appendix B Draft EIS 

B-6 Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment 

Ensure proposed sagebrush treatments are planned with interdisciplinary input from the BLM/Forest 

Service and /or state wildlife agency biologist and that treatment acreage is conservative in the context of 

surrounding sage-grouse seasonal habitats and landscape. 

Ensure that treatments are configured in a manner (e.g., strips) that promotes use by sage-grouse (See 

Connelly et al. 2000). 

Power-wash all vehicles and equipment involved in vegetation treatment activities prior to entering the 

area to minimize the introduction of undesirable and/or invasive plant species. 

Design vegetation treatments in areas of high fire frequency which facilitate firefighter safety, reduce the 

potential acres burned and the fire risk to sage-grouse habitat. Additionally, develop maps for sage-grouse 

habitat which spatially display existing fuels treatments that can be used to assist suppression activities. 

Restore prior perennial grass/shrub plant communities infested with non-native invasive species to a 

species composition characterized by perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs as outlined in Ecological Site 

Descriptions. 

Emphasize the use of native plant species, recognizing that non-native species may be necessary 

depending on the availability of native seed and prevailing site conditions. 

Reduce the risk of vehicle or human-caused wildfires and the spread of invasive species into sage-grouse 

habitats. This could be minimized by planting perennial vegetation (e.g., green-strips) paralleling road 

ROWs. (This RDF could be applied to BLM and Forest Service linear ROW authorizations.) 

Strategically place and maintain pre-treated strips/areas (e.g., mowing, herbicide application and strictly 

managed grazed strips) to aid in controlling wildfire, should wildfire occur near key habitats or important 

restoration areas (such as where investments in restoration have already been made). 

As appropriate, utilize existing fuel breaks, such as roads or discrete changes in fuel type, as control lines 

to minimize fire spread. 

Design vegetation treatments in sage-grouse habitats to strategically reduce wildfire threats in the greatest 

area. This may involve spatially arranging new vegetation treatments with past treatments, vegetation 

with fire-resistant serial stages, natural barriers and roads, in order to constrain fire spread and growth. 

This may require vegetation treatments to be implemented in a more linear versus block design 

(Launchbaugh et al. 2007). 

Design post ES&R and BAER management to ensure long term persistence of seeded or pre-burn native 

plants. This may require temporary or long-term changes in livestock grazing, wild horse and burro, and 

travel management, etc., to achieve and maintain the desired condition of ES&R and BAER projects to 

benefit sage-grouse (Eiswerth and Shonkwiler 2006). Include sage-grouse habitat parameters as defined 

by Connelly et al. (2000), Hagen et al. (2007) or if available, State Sage-grouse Conservation plans and 

appropriate local information in habitat restoration objectives. Maintain these objectives, within priority 

sage-grouse habitat areas, a high restoration priority. 

Make reestablishment of sagebrush and desirable understory plant cover (relative to ecological site 

potential) a high priority for restoration efforts. Write specific vegetation objectives to reestablish 

sagebrush cover and desirable understory cover. 
Draft EIS Appendix B 

Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment B-7 

Where applicable, design fuels treatment objective to protect existing sagebrush ecosystems, modify fire 

behavior, restore native plants, and create landscape patters which most benefit sage-grouse habitat. 

Provide training to fuels treatment personnel on sage-grouse biology, habitat requirements, and 

identification of areas utilized locally. 

Use burning prescriptions which minimize undesirable effects on vegetation or soils (e.g., minimize 

mortality of desirable perennial plant species and reduce risk of annual grass invasion). 

Ensure proposed sagebrush treatments are planned with full interdisciplinary input pursuant to NEPA and 

coordination with state fish and wildlife agencies, and that treatment acreage is conservative in the 

context of surrounding sage-grouse seasonal habitats and landscape. 

Where appropriate, ensure that treatments are configured in a manner that promotes use by sage-grouse. 

Power-wash all vehicles and equipment involved in fuels management activities, prior to entering the 

area, to minimize the introduction of undesirable and/or invasive plant species. 

Give priority for implementing specific sage-grouse habitat restoration projects in annual grasslands, first 

to sites which are adjacent to or surrounded by priority/core habitat, or that reestablish continuity between 

priority habitats. Annual grasslands are a second priority for restoration when the sites are not adjacent to 

priority/core habitat, but within two miles of priority/core habitat. The third priority for annual grassland 

habitat restoration projects are sites beyond two miles of priority/core habitat. The intent is to focus 

restoration outward from existing, intact habitat. 

As funding and logistics permit, restore annual grasslands to a species composition characterized by 

perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs or one of those referenced in land use planning documentation. 

Emphasize the use of native plant species, recognizing that non-native species may be necessary 

depending on the availability of native seed and prevailing site conditions. 

Remove standing and encroaching trees within at least 110 yards of occupied sage-grouse leks and other 

habitats (e.g., nesting, wintering, and brood rearing) to reduce the availability of perch sites for avian 

predators, as resources permit. 

Design fuel treatments that would increase fire suppression efficiencies to protect wildland areas from 

wildfire originating on private lands, infrastructure corridors, and recreational areas. Where applicable, 

incorporate roads and natural fuel breaks into fuel break design. 

Develop state-specific sage-grouse reference information and resource materials containing maps, a list of 

resource advisors, contact information, local guidance, and other relevant information to agency 

administrators and fire suppression resources. 

During periods of multiple fires, ensure line officers are involved in setting priorities. 

Provide localized maps to dispatch offices and extended attack incident commanders for use in 

prioritizing wildfire suppression resources and designing suppression tactics. 

Assign a resource advisor with sage-grouse expertise or who has access to sage-grouse expertise to all 

extended attack fires in or near sage-grouse habitat. Prior to the fire season, provide training to sage-
Appendix B Draft EIS 

B-8 Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment 

grouse resource advisors on wildfire suppression organization, objectives, tactics, and procedures to 

develop a cadre of qualified individuals. Involve state wildlife agency expertise in fire operations through:

• instructing resource advisors during preseason trainings; 

• qualification as resource advisors; 

• coordination with resource advisors during fire incidents; and 

• contributing to incident planning with information such as habitat features or other key data 

useful in fire decision-making. 

On critical fire weather days, pre-position additional fire suppression resources to optimize a quick and 

efficient response in sage-grouse habitat areas. 

Locate wildfire suppression facilities (i.e., base camps, spike camps, drop points, staging areas and helibases) in areas where physical disturbance to sage-grouse habitat can be minimized. These include 

disturbed areas, grasslands, near roads/trails or other areas where there is existing disturbance or minimal 

sagebrush cover. 

Minimize unnecessary cross-country vehicle travel during fire operations in sage-grouse habitat. 

Minimize burnout operations in key sage-grouse habitat areas by constructing a direct fire line, whenever 

safe and practical to do so. 

Utilize retardant, mechanized equipment, and other available resources to minimize burned acreage 

during initial attack. 

As safety allows, conduct mop-up where the black adjoins unburned islands, dog legs, or other habitat 

features to minimize sagebrush loss. 

Adequately document the fire operation activities in sage-grouse habitat for potential follow-up 

coordination activities. 

Compile the District/Forest level information into state-wide sage-grouse tool boxes. Tool boxes will 

contain maps, listing of resource advisors, contact information, local guidance, and other relevant 

information for each District/Forest, which will be aggregated into a state-wide document. 

General Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat 

Best Management Practices 

Make applicable BMPs mandatory as Conditions of Approval within general sage-grouse habitat. BMPs 

are continuously improving as new science and technology become available and therefore are subject to 

change. At a minimum include the following BMPs: 

Roads 

• Design roads to an appropriate standard, no higher than necessary, to accommodate their intended 

purpose. 

• Do not issue ROWs to counties on energy development roads, unless for a temporary use 

consistent with all other terms and conditions included in this document. 

• Establish speed limits to reduce vehicle/wildlife collisions or design roads to be driven at slower 

speeds. 
Draft EIS Appendix B 

Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment B-9 

• Coordinate road construction and use among ROW holders. 

• Construct road crossing at right angles to ephemeral drainages and stream crossings. 

• Use dust abatement practices on roads and pads. 

• Close and reclaim duplicate roads by restoring original landform and establishing desired 

vegetation. 

Operations 

• Cluster disturbances, operations (fracture stimulation, liquids gathering, etc.) and facilities. 

• Use directional and horizontal drilling to reduce surface disturbance. 

• Clean up refuse (Bui et al. 2010). 

• Restrict the construction of tall facilities and fences to the minimum number and amount needed. 

• Cover (e.g., fine mesh netting or use other effective techniques) all drilling and production pits 

and tanks regardless of size to reduce sage-grouse mortality. 

• Equip tanks and other above ground facilities with structures or devices that discourage nesting of 

raptors and corvids. 

• Use remote monitoring techniques for production facilities and develop a plan to reduce the 

frequency of vehicle use. 

• Control the spread and effects from non-native plant species. (e.g., by washing vehicles and 

equipment). 

• Restrict pit and impoundment construction to reduce or eliminate augmenting threats from West 

Nile virus (Dougherty 2007). 

Reclamation 

• Include restoration objectives to meet sage-grouse habitat needs in reclamation practices/sites 

(Pyke 2011). Address post reclamation management in reclamation plan such that goals and 

objectives are to enhance or restore sage-grouse habitat. 

B.2.7 Regional Mitigation Strategy 

Mitigation strategies, which take into account the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimize, restore, offset), 

are an important tool for ensuring the BLM/Forest Service meet their Greater Sage-Grouse resource 

objectives while continuing to honor our multiple-use mission. The BLM and Forest Service priority is to 

mitigate impacts to an acceptable level onsite, to the extent practical, through avoidance (not taking a 

certain action or parts of an action), minimization (limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its 

implementation), rectification (repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment), or 

reduction of impacts over time (preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action).

While mitigating impacts for proposed projects to an acceptable level onsite is typically analyzed and 

determined through site-specific, implementation-level NEPA documents and their commensurate 

decision documents, the analysis and mitigation for project level activities will be tiered to the analysis 

and mitigation proposed throughout each of the action alternatives in this Amendment.
Appendix B Draft EIS 

B-10 Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment 

For those impacts that cannot be sufficiently avoided or minimized onsite, the BLM/Forest Service must 

ensure implementation of effective measures to offset (or compensate for) such impacts and to maintain 

or improve the viability of sage-grouse habitat and populations over time, as described in the Service’s 

Conservation Objectives Team Report. Regional mitigation may be a necessary component for many 

large renewable and nonrenewable energy development projects as well as many smaller projects with 

cumulative effects on the Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat.

Any regional mitigation strategy for BLM managed lands will comply with BLM’s Regional Mitigation 

Manual Section (MS) 1794, which provides policies, procedures, and instructions for:

1. Adopting a regional approach to planning and implementing mitigation, including pre-identifying 

potential mitigation sites, projects, and measures; and 

2. Identifying the type of mitigation that is needed to compensate for impacts to resources or values 

caused by a land use authorization. 

It is important to note that any mitigation strategy must include the cooperation and coordination of 

appropriate and pertinent federal, state and local land and resource management agencies across the 

landscape. The final strategy adopted and implemented within a landscape will be dependent on the 

unique resources and values of the regional landscape and the mitigation strategies and resources 

contributed by the regional partners. It is important to acknowledge that the State government working 

with the BLM/Forest Service as a Cooperating Agency on this land use plan amendment may have 

already completed, or is currently working on, statewide mitigation strategies. The BLM/Forest Service 

will continue to work with and support those State government efforts. 

The BLM will establish a Mitigation Implementation Team for each of the six WAFWA Management 

Zones in the West, following the completion of each of the 15 sub-regional EISs that are associated with 

the National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. The planning area presented in this sub-regional EIS 

lies within the _______________ WAFWA Management Zones. The teams are responsible for 

developing a Mitigation Strategy consistent with BLM MS 1794, as appropriate. The teams will 

coordinate recommended mitigation strategies between RMP planning areas, WAFWA Management 

Zones, and local and state jurisdictions for mitigation consistency, where appropriate. 

These implementation teams will be responsible for implementing BLM MS 1794 and making 

recommendations regarding the following items related to compensatory mitigation: 

1. A structure for determining appropriate mitigation, including impact (debit) and benefit (credit) 

calculation methods, mitigation ratios, mitigation “currency” (i.e., numbers of birds, acres, etc.), 

location, and performance standards options by considering local and regional mitigation options, 

2. How to resolve mitigation oriented discrepancies that arise within the WAFWA Management Zone 

or between Zones, 

3. The application and the holding and disposition of any mitigation funds, 

4. The most appropriate mitigation for impacts from a given land use authorization and type of 

seasonal habitat impacted, 

5. Prioritization of potential mitigation sites, projects and measures, as guided by conservation 

strategies (e.g., PACs, priority habitat areas), and 

6. Reviewing mitigation monitoring reports and analyzing and reporting on project effectiveness, 

corrective measures / adaptive management (where required), and cumulative effects of mitigation 

actions at the PAC and the WAFWA zone. 
Draft EIS Appendix B 

Wyoming Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendment B-11

These WAFWA Management Zone Implementation Teams will function as inter-disciplinary teams 

(IDTs) composed of BLM, Forest Service, USFWS and state fish and game agencies. The Mitigation 

Implementation Team will make recommendations to the BLM Authorized Officer. If the 

recommendations are rejected for any reason, the Mitigation Implementation Team will re-convene to 

develop additional recommendations.