NEPA--Environmental Assessment
NEPA--Environmental Assessment
NEPA--Environmental Assessment
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Compliance with Administrative Framework __________<br />
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan<br />
Livestock grazing has been determined by the San Juan National Forest Amended Land and<br />
Resource Management Plan (1992), hereafter referred to as the Forest Plan, as an appropriate use of<br />
the Forest and falls under the multiple-use mandate of the Forest Service (P.L. 86-517, 1960). Forest<br />
Plan-level analysis for grazing has determined that approximately 40,400 acres (28%) of the total<br />
FS acres within the project area are generally suitable for grazing (Figure 1-2). This determination is<br />
based on factors including ownership, topography, slope, vegetation type, and distance to water. This<br />
is a rough estimation of the amount of land that is suitable for grazing, and may be further refined at<br />
the project level.<br />
Forest Plans establish programmatic direction for the management of National Forest System lands.<br />
The current Forest Plan management alternatives and their environmental consequences were<br />
analyzed in an environmental impact statement (EIS). The selection of an alternative and the<br />
rationale for the decision are documented in the Record of Decision.<br />
Specifically, a Forest Plan does the following:<br />
• Establishes Forest-wide goals, objectives, and management direction;<br />
• Establishes management areas and associated direction;<br />
• Identifies lands generally suitable for a variety of uses;<br />
• Recommends areas suitable for wilderness and other special designations and provides nonwilderness<br />
allocations;<br />
• Establishes monitoring and evaluation requirements.<br />
The direction for rangeland management includes goals, objectives, standards, guidelines, and the<br />
identification of lands generally suitable for livestock grazing. The following critical forest-wide<br />
General Direction statements relate to range management and livestock grazing (pp. III- 30-34, 46,<br />
47, 72):<br />
• Provide forage to sustain local dependent livestock industry as well as wildlife populations<br />
agreed to in Statewide Comprehensive Wildlife Management Plans for the National Forest<br />
System lands.<br />
• Manage livestock and wild herbivores forage use by implementing allowable use guides,<br />
which are specified by type of livestock grazing system.<br />
• Achieve or maintain satisfactory range conditions on all rangelands.<br />
• Treat noxious weeds.<br />
• Manage riparian areas to reach the latest seral stage possible within the stated objectives.<br />
• Improve or maintain water quality to meet State water quality standards.<br />
• Maintain soil productivity, minimize man-caused erosion, and maintain the integrity of the<br />
associated ecosystem.<br />
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