Subject to valid existing rights, restrictions on exploration and development of locatable minerals would result in adverse impacts when areas are withdrawn, segregated, or classified from locatable mineral entry, or with the application of other resource restrictions that limit or prohibit mineral activity. The intensity of impacts varies by alternative and whether there are existing locatable minerals activities in an area proposed for withdrawal or segregation. The more acreage withdrawn, segregated, or classified, the more adverse impacts to exploration and development of locatable mineral resources occur. Withdrawals would result in more impacts where withdrawals apply to locatable mineral areas with known or moderate potential. Discussions of individual alternatives describe adverse impacts to exploration and development of locatable minerals from these actions. See Table 3-40 in Chapter 3, Existing and Proposed Withdrawals, Classifications, and Other Segregations in the Planning Area, for additional information about existing withdrawals and segregations and the associated resources that those actions are intended to protect. Under all alternatives, the BLM anticipates that mining for locatable minerals would likely occur using surface mining methods.
Management actions in the lands and realty program that revoke or require the review of existing withdrawals that segregate areas from locatable mineral entry would result in beneficial impacts to locatable mineral exploration and development by opening new areas to operation under the mining laws. These revocations and reviews include opening restored BOR lands, revoking 3,287 acres of Classification and Multiple Use (C&MU) lands, and reviewing 14,341 acres of power withdrawals/classifications and 14,381 acres of other agencies’ withdrawals. Continuing existing classifications and segregations would withdraw these areas from operation under the mining laws, which would result in adverse impacts.
Pursuing newly proposed BLM protective withdrawals and other agency withdrawal requests on a case-by-case basis would result in adverse impacts to locatable mineral exploration and development if areas are withdrawn from mineral entry.
It is important to note that because of overlapping management restrictions, withdrawals associated with resource and resource uses described in this section are not additive. A list of all withdrawals from locatable mineral entry and associated acreages by alternative are supplied in Table 4-13 in Section 4.6.1 Lands and Realty.
Under Alternative A, the BLM maintains withdrawals for locatable minerals on 174,354 acres, or approximately 4 percent, of the federal mineral estate in the Planning Area.
Under Alternative A, the following locatable minerals and associated acreages (and percent of total occurrence on federal mineral estate in the Planning Area) are known to occur or have a moderate potential for occurrence in areas pursued for withdrawal from operation of the mining laws, as amended:
Bentonite – 25,079 acres (7 percent) of known occurrence
Gypsum – 9,268 acres (13 percent) of known occurrence and 4,209 acres (9 percent) of moderate potential
Uranium – 16,605 acres (90 percent) of known occurrence and 7,389 acres (7 percent) of moderate potential
Thorium – 4,940 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
Titaniferous black sands – 4,940 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
The remainder of the discussion for this alternative identifies the major withdrawals that result from other resources and uses, regardless of known mineral occurrence or mineral potential.
Specific lands and realty actions, establishing some recreation sites, and management of special designations, may result in adverse impacts to exploration for or development of locatable mineral resources. Adverse impacts may result when management actions related to these uses and designations result in either a withdrawal or a segregation of the federal mineral estate from locatable mineral entry, which closes the lands to entry under the mining laws, as amended. Conversely, lifting withdrawals, segregations, or some existing mineral classifications could open the lands to locatable mineral entry.
Under Alternative A, termination of all existing coal and phosphate withdrawals or classifications would open lands previously withdrawn from locatable mineral entry, which would result in beneficial impacts to new locatable mineral activities. Lands and realty actions under Alternative A include approximately 644 acres of land classifications under the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, which have the effect of segregating the classified lands from locatable mineral entry (location of new mining claims) under the mining laws, as amended.
In addition, C&MU classifications (Little Mountain Area) and Desert Land Entries (DLEs) segregate an additional 4,696 acres from locatable mineral entry. Other segregations under Alternative A include public water reserves (2,763 acres) and power-site reservations (3,468 acres). Withdrawals from locatable mineral entry for other federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Park Service, the BOR, and the USFS, total approximately 121,052 acres. See Section 4.6.1 Lands and Realty for more detailed discussion of classifications, segregations, and withdrawals.
Under Alternative A, the Beck Lake Scenic Area (708 acres) and the Castle Gardens Recreation Site (110 acres) are withdrawn from appropriation under the mining laws for the protection of recreation resources in these areas.
Under Alternative A, the BLM withdraws several WSR eligible waterway segments and ACECs from locatable mineral entry, including the Big Cedar Ridge, Red Gulch Dinosaur, Sheep Mountain Anticline, Spanish Point Karst, Five Springs Falls, and Upper Owl Creek ACECs. In addition, all designated ACECs (71,297 acres, including the withdrawn ACECs) and all areas closed to motorized vehicle use (59,192 acres) require a plan of operation before mining can begin for all activity exceeding casual use; such a requirement may either restrict or remove limitations on access to these areas for exploration for locatable minerals and may result in adverse impacts in the form of delay for claimants, who would otherwise be able to undertake these activities without prior approval from the BLM. Under all alternatives, the Heart Mountain Relocation Center National Historic Landmark (72 acres) would be withdrawn from appropriation under the mining laws.
Under Alternative A, cave and karst areas are withdrawn from locatable mineral entry to prevent degradation of these resources. The BLM also withdraws certain areas in the Big Cedar Ridge and Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite ACECs (2,062 acres) to protect paleontological resources. The BLM withdraws important cultural sites from appropriation under the mining laws on a case-by-case basis.
Alternative B would pursue withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws for locatable minerals on 325,102 acres, or 8 percent, of the federal mineral estate in the Planning Area. These withdrawals are greater than under any other alternative.
Under Alternative B, the following locatable minerals and associated acreages (and percent of total occurrence on federal mineral estate in the Planning Area) are known to occur or have a moderate potential for occurrence in areas pursued for withdrawal from operation of the mining laws, as amended:
Bentonite – 25,703 acres (7 percent) of known occurrence
Gypsum – 12,650 acres (18 percent) of known occurrence and 7,358 acres (16 percent) of moderate potential
Uranium – 16,605 acres (90 percent) of known occurrence and 11,764 acres (11 percent) of moderate potential
Thorium – 3,702 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
Titaniferous black sands – 3,702 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
The remainder of the discussion for this alternative identifies the major withdrawals that would result from other resources and uses, regardless of known mineral occurrence or mineral potential.
Under Alternative B, all existing coal and phosphate withdrawals and classifications would continue. These withdrawals and classifications would not result in adverse impacts to exploration and development of locatable minerals, because there is generally no known interest in exploration for or development of locatable minerals in the areas where there are coal or phosphate classifications.
Lands and realty management actions under this alternative are expected to result in similar impacts to locatable minerals access as under Alternative A, but to a slightly greater extent. Lands and realty actions under Alternative B include a withdrawal for a 208‐acre industrial park in Cody, Wyoming. Other segregations and withdrawals under Alternative B would result in impacts similar to those actions described for Alternative A, except for a decrease in other federal agency withdrawals. A complete list of the withdrawals, classifications, and other segregations in the Planning Area by alternative is provided in Table 4-13 in Section 4.6.1 Lands and Realty.
Management actions that withdraw recreational areas under Alternative B are expected to result in impacts to locatable minerals access similar to those actions under Alternative A.
Special designations under Alternative B that would result in withdrawal of some lands from locatable mineral entry include all WSR suitable waterway segments and all ACECs except the Little Mountain and Upper Owl Creek/Absaroka Front proposed expansion areas. Compared to other alternatives, this would result in the most withdrawal acreages due to special designations.
In addition, Alternative B includes the largest area of designated ACECs (299,954 acres, including the withdrawn ACECs) and areas closed to motorized vehicle use (136,474 acres). Therefore, this alternative would result in more adverse impacts to claimants from requirements for plans of operation.
Withdrawals from locatable mineral entry for resource protection under Alternative B are anticipated to be similar to Alternative A, except that Alternative B withdraws more area for the protection of paleontological resources in ACECs. Other management actions under Alternative B to protect resources are expected to be similar to those under Alternative A.
Under Alternative C, withdrawals would be pursued on 47,846 acres, or 1 percent, of the federal mineral estate in the Planning Area, a smaller amount than the other alternatives.
Under Alternative C, the following locatable minerals and associated acreages (and percent of total occurrence on federal mineral estate in the Planning Area) are known to occur or have a moderate potential for occurrence in areas pursued for withdrawal from operation of the mining laws, as amended:
Bentonite – 19,423 acres (6 percent) of known occurrence
Gypsum – 4,777 acres (7 percent) of known occurrence and 3,537 acres (8 percent) of moderate potential
Uranium – 5,622 acres (31 percent) of known occurrence and 2,199 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
Thorium – 3,614 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
Titaniferous black sands – 3,614 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
The remainder of the discussion for this alternative identifies the major withdrawals that would result from other resources and uses, regardless of known mineral occurrence or mineral potential.
Under Alternative C, the BLM would terminate all coal and phosphate withdrawals and classifications, resulting in the same impacts to locatable mineral entry as under Alternative A. Other segregations and withdrawals under Alternative D would results in impacts similar to those actions under Alternative A, except there would be less area withdrawn for other agencies and public water reserves, which would benefit locatable mineral development. A complete list of the withdrawals, classifications, and other segregations in the Planning Area by alternative is provided in Table 4-13 in Section 4.6.1 Lands and Realty.
Under Alternative C, the Castle Gardens Recreation Site (110 acres) is withdrawn for protection of recreational use, but in contrast to the other alternatives, does not withdraw the Beck Lake Scenic Area from locatable mineral entry.
Under Alternative C, federal mineral estate under the Spanish Point Karst ACEC is the only special designation with withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, resulting in the smallest adverse impact to locatable mineral entry.
Alternative C includes the smallest area designated as ACECs (12,144 acres) and closed to motorized vehicle use (10,636 acres), and would therefore result in the fewest adverse impacts to claimants from requirements for plans of operation.
The BLM expects withdrawals from locatable mineral entry for resource protection under Alternative C to be similar to Alternative A, except that the BLM would not withdraw any areas for the protection of paleontological resources.
Under Alternative D, withdrawals would be pursued on 72,031 acres, or 2 percent, of the federal mineral estate in the Planning Area, a larger area than under Alternative C, but smaller than under alternatives A and B.
Under Alternative D, the following locatable minerals and associated acreages (and percent of total occurrence on federal mineral estate in the Planning Area) are known to occur or have a moderate potential for occurrence in areas pursued for withdrawal from operation of the mining laws, as amended:
Bentonite – 21,628 acres (6 percent) of known occurrence
Gypsum – 9,088 acres (13 percent) of known occurrence and 3,603 acres (8 percent) of moderate potential
Uranium – 6,007 acres (33 percent) of known occurrence and 2,658 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
Thorium – 3,655 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
Titaniferous black sands – 3,655 acres (2 percent) of moderate potential
The remainder of the discussion under this alternative identifies the major withdrawals that result from other resources and uses, regardless of known mineral occurrence or mineral potential.
Under Alternative D, all existing coal and phosphate withdrawals and classifications would continue unless they are no longer needed. Similar to Alternative B, this would not result in adverse impacts to exploration and development of locatable minerals, because there is generally no known interest in exploration for or development of locatable minerals in the areas where coal or phosphate classifications exist.
Similar to Alternative B, lands and realty actions under Alternative D do not open a 209‐acre industrial park in Cody, Wyoming, to locatable mineral entry. Other segregations and withdrawals under Alternative D would result in impacts similar to those actions under Alternative A, except for a small decrease in land withdrawn for power-site reservations and a larger decrease in other federal agency withdrawals. A complete list of the withdrawals, classifications, and other segregations in the Planning Area by alternative is provided in Table 4-13 in Section 4.6.1 Lands and Realty.
Management actions that withdraw certain areas for the protection of recreational resources under Alternative D are expected to result in impacts to locatable minerals access similar to those actions under Alternative A.
Under Alternative D, withdrawals are pursued on the second-fewest acres of ACECs, after Alternative C, but the alternative includes the most acreage that can be withdrawn in ACECs on a case-by-case basis for resource protection. In contrast to alternatives A and B, Alternative D does not include special management that would withdraw WSR eligible waterway segments. However, Alternative D would withdraw a portion of the Chapman Bench Management Area (3,425 acres) for resource protection. Alternative D includes the second-most acreage designated as ACECs (103,128 acres, including the withdrawn ACECs) and the third-largest area closed to motorized vehicle use (60,681 acres), which would result in adverse impacts to claimants from requirements for plans of operation.
Under Alternative D, withdrawals from locatable mineral entry for resource protection of cave and karst and paleontological resources would be similar to those under Alternative B, except that the BLM would withdraw less area for the protection of paleontological resources.