NEPA--Environmental Assessment

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