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o n 15~'t '..' CHAPTER 4 Minerals Management The reasonably foreseeable level of fluid miDeral operations per year within the plaDDiDg area would involve 3 to 10 applications for permit to drill (APDs) and 3 to 7 Dotices of iDteDt (NOIs) to coDduct geophysical operations. This level of fluid miDeral activities represents an estimated maximum disturbaDce of about 40 acres per year. More iDformatioD is iDcluded iD the Oil and Gas/Geothermal Tech Report Wilderness study areas (WSAs) would be closed to oil and gas leasing pending a final determinatioD by CoDgress. It is assumed for this planning analysis that all WSA lands except the 3,300 acres adjaceDt to USFS would be returned to multiple use and OpeD to leasing in conformaDce with the resoun:e decisions in this plan. Geophysical exploratioD operations would be subject to relatively the same managemeDt decisions and subsequent effects as ideDtified for Duid mineral leasing and development. Althongh existiDg fluid mineral leases would DOt be modified by the decisions of this plan duriDg the term of each lease, lessees and operators would be encouraged to voluntarily comply with such requiremeDts if aDd wheD operations are coDducted. An area-wide mineral materials Deeds and resource analysis would be completed to establish and centralize commOD use areas and colOlDunity pits. It is assumed that all mineral rights would be retained OD BLM lands ideDtified for disposal. Disposal of BLM lands with low-value minerals could potentially create a split~tate situatioD; Le., surface estate separated from the subsurface miDerals. ExploratioD and development in these areas could cause some additional operatioDal requirements; however, because of the assumed low-mineral values, the effect would be insignificant. Paleontological Resources UDder curreDt circumstaDces, paleoDtological resources would coDtinue to deteriorate throngh Datural forces, damaging public visitatioD, and vandalism if DO corrective Dor preveDtive action is taken. Assuming full completioD of compliance and implemeDtatioD of the laws, regulations, and Bureau policy before beginning any actions resulting from ARMP decisions, there would still be a Det adverse effect to this resource. Riparian Resources Management Riparian resource managemeDt would CODtiDue to improve withiD the plaDDing area. It is assumed that full compliance with and implemeDtatioD of the Dew Bureau guidaDce to maiDtain and/or improve curreDt coDditions iD riparian ZODes would significantly and positively affect this resource. Prior to implemeDtatioD, all actions within riparian ZODes would be assessed for their effects OD the resource aDd would be fully mitigated if Degative effects occur. Livestock Grazing Management It is assumed that curreDt treDds in livestock market coDditions in the planning area would CODtinue for the life of the plan. Livestock values would, therefore, fluctuate the same as at preseDt. AssessmeDts of vegetative-related effects would be based OD expectations of Dormal IO-year-cycle precipitatiOD during the life of the plan. LoDg-term grazing use levels would be based OD the effectiveness of the AMP process, through evaluatioD of monitoriDg informatioD (e.g., Uti1izatiOD studies and actnal use data) aDd modifications of those use levels as the Deed occurs. The grazing EIS decisions as specified in the ROD and as updated iD the raDge program summaries (RPS) would coDtinue to be implemented. ~ ~ Wildlife and Fish Habitat Management It is assumed that any qnality changes of big game and waterfowl habitat could cause an iDcrease or decrease in those wildlife populations. A direct relationship exists betweeD the quality (Le., coDditioD and treDd) of wildlife habitat and the wildlife populations using that habitat (Le., Dumbers of animals and waterfowl). Forest and Woodland Management I II Ii I I I It is assumed that timber stand quality would coDtinue to decline OD old harvest areas, and that pests and disease problems would increase if the infected residnal stands remain. 4-2