Methods and assumptions used in this impact analysis include the following:
Where resources overlap, management actions associated with protecting wildlife habitats and cultural resources directly benefit BLM special status plant species.
Unless specifically designed to enhance BLM special status plant species habitat, surface‐disturbing activities in BLM special status plant habitat would adversely affect BLM special status plant species.
As more monitoring and survey data become available, it is possible that additional populations of existing BLM special status plants and unique plant communities might be found.
The total amount of new surface disturbance allowed by an alternative is an index of potential impacts to BLM special status plants. Success of reclamation measures prescribed as a condition of development is unknown, and could either overestimate or underestimate the potential impact of surface disturbance on BLM special status plant populations.
The existing provisions in place (e.g., presence/absence surveys performed before proposed actions) to protect BLM special status plant species populations are carried out and conditional monitoring is performed (e.g., grazing and surface disturbance reclamation) to ensure BLM special status plant species populations are not jeopardized.
Management actions that preclude or restrict development, including those not specifically aimed at conserving BLM special status plant species, are assumed to benefit BLM special status plant species where populations overlap with management action boundaries.
Because the densities and locations of BLM special status plant species in the Planning Area are not entirely known and because the locations of potential actions under the different alternatives also are not known, impact analyses are based on the amount of vegetation and soil disturbed, the threats identified for BLM special status plant species in Chapter 3, and the level of restrictions placed on BLM actions that could adversely impact BLM special status plant species.
Consultation with the USFWS and following conservation measures identified in the BA for all listed and sensitive species for the BLM Final Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic EIS (BLM 2007a) are anticipated to mitigate most impacts to BLM special status plant species.