2023-11-06_REVISION - M1979155 (2)

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BACKGROUND. - The need for additional property arises from the recent Grizzly Creek fire and subsequent rock/landslides along Interstate 70 in the Glenwood Canyon. The fires of 2020 exacerbated by the rain in 2021, caused road closures along the interstate during the spring, summer, and fall seasons during which time approximately 4,000 loads of debris were removed from the canyon. Due to the type and condition of material as well as the location in the narrow canyon, locating suitable and adequate locations for storing material was limited. With few alternatives, CDOT maintenance crews hauled the material to a location adjacent to a CDOT owned property, thought to have been leased from the BLM, only later to determine the lease had expired. Due to the conditions still existing in the canyon, it is likely the events of 2021 will continue in the foreseeable future and additional debris will be required to be removed from the area to maintain I-70. The area just to the North of the proposed location was designated as an Extensive Recreation Management Area(ERMA) in the 2015 Colorado River Valley Field Office (CRVFO) Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP). PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION. i ■ BLM is working with CDOT to establish a suitable location to store debris removed from Glenwood Canyon during landslide events that close Interstate 70. The proposed site would provide a nearby location to store material during rapid responses to clear landslide debris and reopen the interstate to traffic as quickly as possible. Reducing the time needed to safely reopen the interstate would reduce impacts to alternate routes that are not designed to handle the volume and size of vehicle traffic that uses the interstate. The Proposed Action would help meet the demand for interstate commerce and reduce the impacts of rerouted interstate traffic to local communities. DECISION TO BE MADE. Based on the analysis contained in this EA, the BLM will decide whether to approve or deny the proposed Material Storage Site and if so, under what terms and conditions. Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the BLM must determine if there are any significant environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Action warranting further analysis in an Environmental Impact Statement(EIS). The Authorized Officer will decide one of the following: • To approve the Material Storage Site with design features as submitted; • To approve the Material Storage Site with design features as proposed and additional mitigation added; • To analyze the effects of the Proposed Action in an EIS; or • To deny the Material Storage Site. SLOPING. DOI-BLM-CO-G020-2021-0014-EA I BLM-Colorado River Valley Field Office