2.5. Alternatives Summary

This section summarizes the four alternatives (A through D) considered in detail in this RMP and EIS. Due to the breadth of management prescriptions in the alternatives, this section describes only the key elements of alternatives (those with the greatest potential to affect resources). The summary descriptions provide a general overview of each alternative, the management emphasis associated with each alternative, and key management actions for each alternative. Table 2-5 later in this chapter provides detailed descriptions of the alternatives. The maps in Volume 3 further illustrate differences in acreage allocations and management prescriptions by alternative.

Table 2–2 lists acreage allocations for resources and resource uses by alternative. Table 2–3 lists acreage allocations and the emphasis for management in existing and proposed ACECs. These tables provide a comparative summary of acreage allocations under the four alternatives.

Table 2.2. Comparative Summary of Proposed Land Use Decisions in the Bighorn Basin Planning Area

Topic	Acreage Type	Alternative A	Alternative B	Alternative C	Alternative D
Physical, Mineral, Biological, and Heritage and Visual Resources
Acres Available for Locatable Mineral Entry	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	4,033,195	3,882,447	4,159,703	4,135,518
Acres Maintained/Pursued for Withdrawal Under the Mining Laws	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	174,354	325,102	47,846	72,031
Acres Open to Geothermal Leasing	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	4,052,688	1,713,919	4,059,789	3,882,812
Acres Administratively Unavailable for Geothermal Leasing	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	154,861	2,493,630	147,760	324,737
Acres of Oil and Gas Management Areas where some discretionary seasonal restrictions would be relaxed.	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	0	0	568,164 (for big game and sage-grouse)	134,214 (for big game)
Acres Administratively Unavailable for Oil and Gas Leasing	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	154,861	2,296,279	147,760	291,294
Acres Open to Oil and Gas Leasing with Major Constraints	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	1,399,490	1,320,277	221,536	117,968
Acres Open to Oil and Gas Leasing with Moderate Constraints	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	1,789,634	451,948	2,175,814	3,540,775
Acres Open to Oil and Gas Leasing Subject to the Standard Lease Form	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	863,564	139,045	1,662,439	257,512
Acres Open to Disposal of Mineral Materials	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	3,975,695	1,608,467	3,859,334	4,023,356
Acres Closed to Disposal of Mineral Materials	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	231,854	2,599,082	348,215	184,193
Greater Sage-grouse Key Habitat Areas	Planning Area	1,857,485	1,857,485	1,857,485	1,857,485
	BLM-Administered Surface	1,231,383	1,231,383	1,231,383	1,231,383
	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	1,519,859	1,519,859	1,519,859	1,519,859
Greater Sage-grouse Winter Concentration Areas	Planning Area	210,229	210,229	210,229	210,229
	BLM-Administered Surface	172,779	172,779	172,779	172,779
	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	196,255	196,255	196,255	196,255
Greater Sage-grouse Occupied Lek Protective Buffer (Surface-disturbing Activities Prohibited)	Planning Area	44,433 (CSU)	228,095 (CSU)	N/A^[a]	172,174 (CSU: Inside Key Areas) 10,426 (CSU: Outside Key Areas)
	BLM-Administered Surface	30,886 (CSU)	157,008 (CSU)	N/A^[a]	125,843 (CSU: Inside Key Habitat Areas) 5,801 (CSU: Outside Key Habitat Areas)
	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	37,742 (CSU)	192,222 (CSU)	N/A^[a]	148,161 (CSU: Inside Key Habitat Areas) 8,142 (CSU: Outside Key Habitat Areas)
Greater Sage-grouse Occupied Lek Protective Buffer (Surface-disturbing Activities Mitigated)	Planning Area	1,565,300 (TLS)	2,488,559 (TLS)	1,565,300 (TLS)	N/A^[a]
	BLM-Administered Surface	1,009,963 (TLS)	1,571,115 (TLS)	1,009,963 (TLS)	N/A^[a]
	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	1,295,256 (TLS)	2,024,287 (TLS)	1,295,256 (TLS)	N/A^[a]
Raptor Active Nest Protective Buffer (Surface-disturbing Activities Prohibited)	Planning Area	592,529 (TLS)	1,002,657 (TLS) 82,294 (CSU)	82,294 (TLS)^[b]	145,308 (TLS) 82,294 (CSU)
	BLM-Administered Surface	338,731 (TLS)	570,506 (TLS) 53,336 (CSU)	53,336 (TLS)^[b]	110,367 (TLS) 53,336 (CSU)
	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	429,224 (TLS)	731,888 (TLS) 58,777 (CSU)	58,777 (TLS)^[b]	86,550 (TLS) 58,777 (CSU)
Acreage of Aspen Restored	BLM-Administered Surface	25-200 per year until 2,000-4,000 are restored	1,000 per year	N/A^[a]	CBC
Riparian/Wetland Areas Managed	BLM-Administered Surface	24,036 Towards PFC	24,036^[c] Towards DPC	24,036 Towards PFC	24,036^[c] Towards DFC
Fisheries Habitat Restored or Improved	BLM-Administered Surface	CBC	10 lotic^[d] miles; 80 lentic^[e] acres	CBC	on a priority basis
Restrictions on Surface Development on or near Important Cultural Sites	BLM-Administered Surface	CBC	NSO within 3 miles and CSU in view within 5 miles	NSO within ¼ mile and CSU in view within 1 mile	CSU up to 3 miles where setting is an important aspect of the integrity for the site
Visual Resource Management – Class I	BLM-Administered Surface	141,110	154,343	140,958	140,954
Visual Resource Management – Class I	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	139,149	152,229	138,998	138,994
Visual Resource Management – Class II	BLM-Administered Surface	339,205	1,782,843	330,020	638,929
Visual Resource Management – Class II	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	549,062	2,499,522	505,790	1,075,062
Visual Resource Management – Class III	BLM-Administered Surface	890,353	393,887	511,801	836,361
Visual Resource Management – Class III	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	1,173,265	469,461	792,104	1,085,968
Visual Resource Management – Class IV	BLM-Administered Surface	1,814,373	858,162	2,202,239	1,573,357
Visual Resource Management – Class IV	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	2,321,639	1,066,715	2,746,288	1,888,341
Visual Resource Management – Unclassified	BLM-Administered Surface	4,361	4,362	4,362	4,373
Visual Resource Management – Unclassified	BLM-Administered Mineral Estate	23,720	23,720	23,720	23,647
Resource Uses and Support
Acres Open to Renewable Energy Development	BLM-Administered Surface	CBC	246,448	1,425,762	393,593
Renewable Energy Avoidance/Mitigation Areas	BLM-Administered Surface	CBC	1,691,497	1,612,547	2,501,876
Renewable Energy Exclusion Areas	BLM-Administered Surface	CBC	1,251,869	151,506	294,345
Acres Closed to Livestock Grazing	BLM-Administered Surface	5,171	1,988,927	5,171	5,171
Number of Special Recreation Management Areas	BLM-Administered Surface	7	12	1	12
Number of Extensive Recreation Management Areas	BLM-Administered Surface	2	2	3	6
Acres Closed to Motorized Vehicle Use	BLM-Administered Surface	59,192	136,474	10,636	60,681
Acres Open to Motorized Cross-country Travel	BLM-Administered Surface	1,320	3,169	14,873	5,941
Acres Limited to Existing Roads and Trails for Motorized Vehicle Use	BLM-Administered Surface	2,332,355	931,803	2,144,623	2,028,620
Acres Limited to Designated Roads and Trails for Motorized Vehicle Use	BLM-Administered Surface	787,626	2,054,228	951,992	1,055,257
Acres Closed to Over-snow Vehicle Use	BLM-Administered Surface	N/A^[a]	1,862,337	CBC	CBC
Land Available for Standard Disposal	BLM-Administered Surface	116,800	24,267^[f]	117,961^[f]	66,022^[f]
Surface Ownership Retained	BLM-Administered Surface	3,073,014	3,166,981	3,071,850	3,123,878
Open for Entry Under the Desert Land Act	BLM-Administered Surface	1,409	0	1,409	1,409
Rights-of-Way Avoidance/Mitigation Areas	BLM-Administered Surface	941,778	2,717,617	1,174,335	2,512,202
Rights-of-Way Exclusion Areas	BLM-Administered Surface	61,416	225,750	7,762	39,003
Lands with Wilderness Characteristics Designated as Wild Lands	BLM-Administered Surface	0	571,288	0	52,485
Special Designations
Nez Perce National Historic Trail Protective Buffer	BLM-Administered Surface	1,638^[c]	24,443 (NSO) 38,319^[c] (CSU)	1,638^[c] (NSO) 7,712 (CSU)	up to 24,443^[c]
Wild and Scenic Rivers (acreage managed to preserve eligibility for inclusion in the NWSRS )	BLM-Administered Surface	22,315	22,315	0	0
Wilderness Study Areas	BLM-Administered Surface	143,974^[g]	145,264^[h]	143,974	143,974^[h]
Note: The Planning Area is the area of analysis for this document; it encompasses the area addressed in the previous Resource Management Plans (RMPs), regardless of ownership. However, decisions in this RMP apply only to BLM-administered surface lands and mineral estate.
^[a]No similar action. ^[b]Surface-disturbing activities are avoided. ^[c]Management toward DFC and DPC is assumed to exceed the requirements of managing toward PFC. ^[d]Running water riparian/wetland areas such as rivers, streams, and springs. ^[e]Standing water riparian/wetland areas such as lakes, ponds, seeps, bogs, and meadows. ^[f]Includes Zones 2, 2A, 2B, and W. Does not include zones available for Special Disposals, as disposals in these areas would only occur in special situations. ^[g]Includes 1,290 acres of acquired state land in Bobcat Draw. ^[h]In-holdings acquired with willing landowners on a case-by-case basis.

Table 2.3. Comparative Summary of Proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and other Management Areas by Alternative

Name	Value(s) of Concern	Acreage Type	Alternative A		Alternative B		Alternative C		Alternative D
Name	Value(s) of Concern	Acreage Type	Existing Designation	Acreage	Proposed Designation	Acreage	Proposed Designation	Acreage	Proposed Designation	Acreage
Big Cedar Ridge	Paleontological	Total Surface	ACEC	264	ACEC	264	None	0	ACEC	264
		BLM-Administered Surface		264		264		0		264
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		264		264		0		264
Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite	Paleontological	Total Surface	ACEC	1,798	ACEC	1,798	None	0	ACEC	1,798
		BLM-Administered Surface		1,798		1,798		0		1,798
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		1,798		1,798		0		1,798
Sheep Mountain Anticline	Geologic; Caves; Cultural; Scenic	Total Surface	ACEC	13,261	ACEC	13,261	None	0	ACEC	13,261
		BLM-Administered Surface		11,528		11,528		0		11,528
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		11,779		11,779		0		11,779
Spanish Point Karst	Caves; Recreational; Sinking Stream Segments; Water Quality	Total Surface	ACEC	8,578	ACEC	8,578	ACEC	8,578	ACEC	8,578
		BLM-Administered Surface		6,627		6,627		6,627		6,627
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		8,560		8,560		8,560		8,560
Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area	Paleontological	Total Surface	ACEC	5,521	ACEC	20,778	ACEC	5,521	ACEC	5,521
		BLM-Administered Surface		5,516		20,763		5,516		5,517
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		5,360		20,606		5,360		5,360
Carter Mountain	Vegetation; Wildlife Expansion: Cultural; Recreational; Special Status Species; Vegetation; Watershed Vegetation; Wildlife	Total Surface	ACEC	10,947	ACEC	22,203	None	0	ACEC	10,947
		BLM-Administered Surface		10,867		16,573		0		10,867
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		10,224		17,154		0		10,224
Five Springs Falls	Recreational; Scenic; Special Status Species Expansion: Geologic; Scenic; Public Safety	Total Surface	ACEC	163	ACEC	1,811	None	0	ACEC	163
		BLM-Administered Surface		163		1,809		0		163
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		163		1,809		0		163
Little Mountain	Caves; Cultural; Paleontological; Scenic	Total Surface	ACEC	21,477	ACEC	89,146	None	0	ACEC	21,477
		BLM-Administered Surface		21,475		69,044		0		21,475
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		21,477		79,496		0		21,477
Upper Owl Creek Area	Cultural; Fish; Recreational; Scenic; Soils; Special Status Species; Vegetation; Wildlife	Total Surface	ACEC	13,566	ACEC	33,286	None	0	ACEC	13,566
		BLM-Administered Surface		13,057		32,777		0		13,057
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		13,238		32,958		0		13,238
Chapman Bench	Special Status Species; Vegetation; Wildlife	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	23,333	None	0	MA	3,425
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		23,326		0		3,425
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		23,324		0		3,425
Clarks Fork Basin/Polecat Bench West Paleontological Area	Paleontological; Scenic	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	25,212	None	0	None^[a]	0
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		23,895		0		0
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		23,384		0		0
Clarks Fork Canyon	Geologic; Open Space; Recreational; Special Status Species; Wildlife	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	14,058	None	0	ACEC	2,880
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		12,259		0		2,724
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		12,728		0		2,726
Foster Gulch Paleontological Area	Paleontological; Scenic	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	28,585	None	0	None^[a]	0
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		27,302		0		0
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		27,302		0		0
McCullough Peaks South Paleontological Area	Paleontological; Scenic	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	6,994	None	0	None^[a]	0
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		6,994		0		0
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		6,994		0		0
Rainbow Canyon	Paleontological; Geologic; Scenic	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	1,433	None	0	None	0
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		1,433		0		0
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		1,433		0		0
Rattlesnake Mountain	Special Status Species; Vegetation; Wildlife	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	21,472	None	0	None	0
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		19,119		0		0
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		18,625		0		0
Sheep Mountain	Vegetation; Wildlife	Total Surface	None	0	ACEC	73,320	None	0	ACEC	25,962
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		25,153		0		14,201
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		55,295		0		22,563
PETM^[b]	Paleontological; Scenic	Total Surface	None	0	None	0	None	0	ACEC	14,912
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		0		0		14,906
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		0		0		14,908
Absaroka Front	N/A	Total Surface	None	0	MA	355,863	None	0	MA	402,685
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		106,354		0		130,895
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		217,123		0		253,159
Craig Thomas Little Mountain	N/A	Total Surface	SMA^[c]	89,308	SMA^[c]	89,308	SMA^[c]	89,308	SMA	89,308
		BLM-Administered Surface		69,274		69,274		69,274		69,274
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		79,440		79,440		79,440		79,440
Oil and Gas	N/A	Total Surface	None	0	None	0	MA	568,165	MA	180,894
		BLM-Administered Surface		0		0		431,532		111,531
		BLM-Administered Mineral Estate		0		0		568,164		134,214
^[a]Though not proposed under Alternative D, a portion of this area does fall within the proposed PETM ACEC. ^[b]Portions of ACEC proposed under Alternative D are managed as the Clarks Fork Basin/Polecat Bench, McCullough Peaks South Paleontological Area, and Foster Gulch ACECs under Alternative B. ^[c]The Craig Thomas Little Mountain Special Management Area would continue under all alternatives, but only Alternative D contains specific management for this area in this document. Note: “Total Surface” refers to all area encompassed by the Planning Area addressed in previous Resource Management Plans (RMPs), regardless of current ownership. BLM-administered surface and BLM-administered mineral estate are federal lands administered by the BLM. This RMP describes and analyzes alternatives for the future management of public lands and resources administered by the BLM.

Goals and objectives (desired outcomes) is a category of land use planning decisions; however, this section does not describe goals and objectives because they do not differ among alternatives. Instead, the section entitled Detailed Description of Alternatives by Resource (Table 2-5) describes the goals and objectives for each of the eight resource topics.

Restrictions on resource uses (e.g., administratively unavailable to mineral leasing) would apply throughout the life of this RMP, unless restrictions change through an RMP amendment. Changes in resource-use restrictions and a resulting RMP amendment can result due to public demand, statewide or national policy and guidance, or other factors. The timing and degree of implementation of management prescriptions in this RMP depend on available budget, staffing, and agency priorities. Actions the BLM takes or authorizes during RMP implementation would comply with standard practices, BMPs, guidelines for surface-disturbing activities, and other BLM guidelines and policy. Therefore, the BLM considers these practices and guidelines part of each alternative. Implementation of new BLM policy and guidance during the life of this RMP will be incorporated into the land use planning process and implementation-level decisions.

The lack of detailed, implementation-level decisions in the land use planning process prohibits the development of specific, detailed mitigation measures. As appropriate, the BLM will perform additional environmental analyses during the implementation stage for site-specific actions, and will determine on a case-by-case basis what, if any, mitigation is required. For management actions where adverse impacts to other resources would occur, "on a case-by-case basis" means an action would only be allowed when impacts can be adequately mitigated consistent with other resource goals and objectives.