NEPA--Environmental Assessment

Alternative
Permittee Instructions* 2 3
Annual Operating Instructions (AOIs) will be provided concerning proper management practices, so that
this information can be passed on to non-English speaking/reading herders (if applicable). Permittees
will be responsible for ensuring that their herders understand and comply with FS/BLM requirements.
(1.42)
The earliest turn on date and latest removal date will be based on allotment conditions relative to wet
soils or snow, range readiness, vegetative phenology, and on minimizing conflicts with other uses.
These annual dates will be communicated through the AOIs. Even when these conditions are met, the
dates of livestock grazing will not exceed June 30 – Sept 20. (1.43)
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Alternative
Monitoring* 2 3
Permittees are responsible for monitoring the following: livestock numbers; pasture entry and exit dates;
allotment entry and exit dates; and maintenance activities for assigned improvements. This information
will be furnished to the agency office within 30 days of livestock removal. This information will be verified
by periodic agency inspections. (1.44)
Permittees will keep a weekly log of specific locations where they encounter certain species of wildlife
and will turn it in to the Agency Officer upon request or at the end of the grazing season. The species to
be reported will include special status species such as bighorn, lynx, wolverine, etc. (1.45)
Agency personnel will conduct annual permit administration consisting of monitoring such compliance
with AOIs, general livestock locations and use levels, plant phenology of important forage species,
noxious weed mapping, soil conditions, riparian conditions and water quality, and impacts from other
uses. (1.46)
Any monitoring outcome, when part of the five-year interval monitoring, that does not meet Desired
Condition will require the application of adaptive management strategies to livestock grazing practices to
recover and maintain desired conditions, when livestock are a contributing factor to the condition. (1.47)
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Alternative
Heritage Resources 2 3
All persons associated with operations under this authorization must be informed that any objects or
sites of cultural, paleontological, or scientific value such as historic or prehistoric resources, graves or
grave markers, human remains, ruins, cabins, mining relics, rock art, fossils, or artifacts shall not be
damaged, destroyed, removed, moved, or disturbed. If in connection with operations under this
authorization, any of the above resources are damaged, the proponent shall immediately suspend all
operations that might further damage such materials and notify the Columbine Public Lands authorized
officer. (1.48)
Areas of intensive activity such as salt licks, bedding areas, and herder camps will not be located within
100 feet of the boundaries of previously identified significant cultural resources. Range managers will
work with archaeologists to select locations that avoid known significant cultural resources and are likely
to avoid unidentified sites in areas that lack cultural resource surveys. (1.49)
*
Note: See “Project Design Criteria to minimize contact between Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and domestic sheep”, below for
further instructions.
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