Alternative C emphasizes resource uses and reduces constraints on resource uses to protect physical, biological, and heritage and visual resources. Compared to other alternatives, Alternative C conserves the least land area for physical, biological, and heritage resources; designates the fewest ACECs and SRMAs; and is the least restrictive to motorized vehicle use and energy and mineral development.
Under Alternative C, 4,159,703 acres are available and 47,846 acres are withdrawn or would be recommended for withdrawal or extension of an existing withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; existing withdrawals and segregations not carried forward are allowed to expire. In addition, approximately 147,760 acres of federal mineral estate are administratively unavailable to oil and gas leasing in the Planning Area. The remaining federal mineral estate in the Planning Area is open to oil and gas leasing subject to the following constraints: 1,662,439 acres are subject to the standard lease form, 2,175,814 acres are subject to moderate constraints, and 221,536 acres are subject to major constraints. Alternative C delineates Oil and Gas Management Areas around intensively-developed existing fields, and the BLM manages these areas primarily for oil and gas exploration and development, with all other surface uses considered secondary. This alternative makes 3,859,334 acres available for mineral materials disposal, while 348,215 acres are closed to mineral materials disposal.
Land resource management actions under Alternative C identify 117,961 acres in the Planning Area as available for disposal. The BLM manages approximately 1,174,335 acres as ROW avoidance/mitigation areas and 7,762 acres as ROW exclusion areas. Under Alternative C, 1,425,762 acres are open to renewable energy development. Travel management under Alternative C includes fewer travel restrictions than other alternatives. Under Alternative C, the BLM closes 10,636 acres of BLM-administered land to motorized vehicle use, limits 2,144,623 acres to existing roads and trails, limits 951,992 acres to designated roads and trails, and opens 14,873 acres to motorized vehicle use. The BLM closes areas to over-snow vehicle travel on a case-by-case basis.
Areas open to surface-disturbing activity on a case-by-case basis include hunting and fishing access areas, Five Springs Falls Campground, the Cody Archery Range, and R lease areas for the Cody Shooting Complex and Lovell Rod and Gun Club. Alternative C includes the most development of recreation sites, including the addition of interpretive sites, facilities, and additional amenities, and the addition or upgrade of existing recreation sites. Under Alternative C, Rattlesnake Ridge is the only SRMA (7,996 acres) in the Planning Area. ERMAs under Alternative C include Basin Gardens (15,374 acres), Basin Gardens Play Area (4,468 acres), and the Bighorn Basin ERMA (which includes all BLM-administered land not in a separate ERMA or SRMA).
Under Alternative C, the Planning Area is closed to livestock grazing in the same areas as Alternative A. Livestock grazing is not managed specifically to enhance other resource values by restricting livestock grazing. Alternative C allows the use of salt, mineral, or forage supplements to maximize livestock utilization, and the use of produced water on a case-by-case basis.
Alternative C carries forward the existing Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area and Spanish Point Karst ACECs, the Heart Mountain Relocation Center National Historic Landmark, the Nez Perce NHT, and the Red Gulch/Alkali Road National Back Country Byway. The alternative does not retain other ACECs or designated trails and does not propose expansions or additional areas. Under this alternative, the BLM manages none of the 20 WSR eligible waterways as suitable for inclusion in the NWSRS and releases these areas to other uses. Alternative C limits motorized vehicle use to designated roads and trails within the 10 WSAs.
Under Alternative C, the BLM generally manages physical resources similar to Alternative A, but with fewer management requirements and more allowance for the case-by-case application of management actions. Under Alternative C, the BLM seeds areas that do not meet resource objectives using approved nonnative and native species and requires 30 percent desired vegetative cover within three growing seasons. The BLM considers reclamation plans and topsoil salvage and segregation on a case-by-case basis. Under this alternative, the BLM would assess erosion and soil stability during rangeland health evaluations but would not require photo point monitoring of surface disturbance. Alternative C authorizes new activities resulting in the surface discharge of produced water, and allows the beneficial use of produced water in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and at the discretion of the BLM and its stakeholders.
The BLM would not manage to maintain contiguous blocks of native plant communities or minimize fragmentation. Under this alternative, the BLM allows surface-disturbing activities in flood plains or riparian/wetland areas on a case-by-case basis and prohibits the aerial application of pesticides within 100 feet of riparian/wetland areas and aquatic habitats.
Under Alternative C, the BLM applies similar restrictions to protect fisheries as Alternative A, including applying an NSO restriction and managing surface-disturbing activities using standard restrictions within 500 feet of surface water and riparian areas. This alternative does not restrict livestock grazing in elk parturition habitat. Alternative C requires identification and management of migration and travel corridors for big game species and migratory birds, but does not specify protective measures. This alternative exempts Oil and Gas Management Areas and ROW corridors from discretionary wildlife seasonal stipulations and allows the BLM to manage motorized vehicle use in big game crucial winter range and elk parturition habitat consistent with other resource objectives. Under this alternative, the Absaroka Front Management Area (106,354 acres) is open to mineral entry and ROW authorizations, with some seasonal restrictions.
Special status species generally receive similar protection under Alternative C as under Alternative A. Under Alternative C, the BLM applies the same prohibitions (outside of Oil and Gas Management Areas and ROW corridors) on surface-disturbing and disruptive activities for occupied greater sage-grouse leks and the same timing restrictions for greater sage-grouse winter concentration areas as under Alternative A. The BLM manages motorized vehicle use in greater sage-grouse Key Habitat Areas consistent with other resource objectives, and applies timing limitations (TLS) to avoid surface-disturbing activities within ¼ mile of active raptor nests (during nesting and fledging periods). The BLM only implements protective measures for white- and black-tailed prairie dog colonies in the Sage Creek Town area. For special status plant species, the BLM prohibits range improvement projects and other surface-disturbing activities within 300 feet and prohibits aerial application of pesticides within ½ mile (vehicle and hand application is allowed on a case-by-case basis) of known populations of special status plant species.
Wild horse management under Alternative C places a greater emphasis on public viewing and other resource uses than under other alternatives. Under this alternative, the BLM actively promotes opportunities for public viewing within the McCullough Peaks HMA and allows SRP activities in both HMAs. As required by national policy, the BLM does not allow wild horse gathers between April 15 and July 15.
Alternative C establishes set buffers around cultural sites, but, similar to Alternative A, requires the BLM to balance the protection of cultural and paleontological resources with resource development. Around important cultural sites, the BLM applies an NSO restriction within ¼ mile and a CSU stipulation within 1 mile for leasable minerals. Similarly, Alternative C prohibits mineral materials disposals within ¼ mile or in view within 1 mile of important cultural sites. Alternative C manages areas within 5 miles of trails and sites eligible for listing on the NRHP and TCPs as avoidance/mitigation areas for renewable energy development (specifically wind turbines), unless structures are screened from the site by intervening topography. Under Alternative C, the BLM attaches Standard Paleontological Resources Protection Stipulations to authorizations for surface-disturbing activities in PFYC 4 or 5 areas. This alternative also requires an on-the-ground survey before approval of surface-disturbing activities or land-disposal actions, and monitoring of surface-disturbing activities for PFYC 5 formations. Similar to Alternative A, the BLM prohibits surface-disturbing activities within 50 feet of the outer edge of a paleontological locality and prohibits the resumption of activity within 50 feet of a paleontological discovery until the authorized officer issues written authorization.
Under Alternative C, the BLM manages the least amount of acreage as VRM Class I and II. The class allocations for BLM-administered surface lands include 140,958 acres of VRM Class I, 330,020 acres of VRM Class II, 511,801 acres of VRM Class III, and 2,202,239 acres of VRM Class IV. Under Alternative C, 4,362 acres are unclassified (i.e., water or under other federal agency jurisdiction). Alternative C focuses on resource development and enhanced opportunity for responsible use of public land resources and designates no LWCs as Wild Lands.