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Date: August 15, 2011 Dear Interested Party: The United States Department of Interior—Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Salt Lake Field Office and the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service (Forest Service), Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Ogden Ranger District, have received a proposal from the Rich County Commission and 29 permittees requesting a comprehensive change in livestock management on Federally owned lands managed by the BLM and Forest Service in Rich and Cache counties, Utah. The contiguous block of land consists of five BLM allotments and five Forest Service allotments. The 10 allotments would be consolidated into one management unit with 20 pastures on BLM land and eight pastures on National Forest System (NFS) lands. The economy and flexibility of large-scale management would facilitate a fundamental, science-based, change in grazing management focusing on duration, season, frequency, and intensity of livestock grazing. The changes would be designed to improve water quality, wildlife habitat, plant density and diversity, recreational opportunity, and livestock management in a large-scale example of multiple-use. The BLM and Forest Service, as joint lead agencies, have determined that an environmental analysis is required to evaluate the potential impacts this change in management could have on the human environment within the boundaries of the tract and the adjacent areas. This analysis will be documented in an Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and applicable Federal regulations. We invite your comments regarding any environmental issues or concerns you have concerning the proposal. This notice initiates the scoping process and solicits input identifying issues and information that could be considered in the environmental analysis. The analysis will lead to a decision on whether and under what conditions to allow allotment consolidation and associated improvements. SUBMITTING COMMENTS The scoping period for the Three Creeks Allotment Consolidation proposal begins with this scoping notice. Scoping comments on this proposal will be most useful if received by September 19, 2011. To be most helpful, your comments should be as specific as possible. Scoping comments provide us a record of your concerns and will be used to identify significant issues and potentially to develop alternatives to be addressed in the environmental analysis. If you have specific issues or other information that the BLM and Forest Service should consider during the NEPA process, please identify them in writing. Written comments are being accepted by Environmental Specialist, Cindy Ledbetter, on behalf of the Responsible Officials, Jill Silvey (BLM) and Robbin Redman (Forest Service). You may send comments by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail. Comments may also be hand-delivered to the Salt Lake Field Office. In order to remain on this mailing list for this proposal, please respond to this notice in writing. Your scoping comments may also be sent electronically to ut_slfo_comments@blm.gov (please use rich text format [rtf] or Word [.doc]) or submit written comments to: Bureau of Land Management Attn: Cindy Ledbetter Salt Lake Field Office 2370 South 2300 West Salt Lake City, Utah 84119 Fax: 801-977-4397

U.S. Dept. of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Salt Lake Field Office

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Salt Lake Field Office Forest Service 2370 South 2300 West Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Salt Lake City, UT 84119

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There will be an information workshop/open house from 5:00 to 7:00pm on August 31, 2011 at the Rich County Courthouse (20 South Main, Randolph, Utah). Representatives of the BLM and Forest Service will be present to answer questions regarding the proposal and the NEPA process. At this point, on the basis of internal and interdisciplinary review, it is anticipated that implementation of this proposal is not likely to result in significant environmental impacts, indicating that an EA is the appropriate level of analysis. If through scoping or our subsequent analysis it is determined that significant impacts could occur an Environmental Impact Statement may be prepared. Written comments in response to this notice, including the names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the BLM Salt Lake Field Office during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays) after the scoping period closes and may be published as part of the environmental review process. Comments will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations and businesses, or from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety. PROPOSED PROJECT INFORMATION The proposed project area consists of approximately 143,000 acres. Ownership is divided between the BLM (65,000 acres), Forest Service (35,000 acres), State Institutional Trust Land (SITLA) (12,400 acres), and private land (29,100 acres). Existing man-made infrastructure and improvements across the allotments consist of roads, fences, corrals, ponds, reservoirs, spring boxes, pipelines, water tanks, water troughs, water pumps, etc., which assist in the management of livestock and wildlife (see attached figure). Modifications of the existing and future infrastructure proposed within the consolidation area are designed to facilitate time-controlled grazing management. As part of the proposal, the grazing system would change to a large-scale, rest-rotation system. Proposed improvements include fencing, water pipelines, water troughs, and water tanks necessary to implement better management (see attached figure). Specifically, all improvements would be designed to support time-controlled grazing across the project area. Fences would be constructed and water systems developed to facilitate pasture rotation. PRELIMINARY ISSUES Preliminary issues to be evaluated in the analysis for the Three Creeks Allotment Consolidation will be determined through public scoping and internal, interdisciplinary review. The major issues are expected to include effects on watershed resources, wildlife and wildlife habitat, vegetation, and cultural resources. NEPA PROCESS Following the analysis of comments received during this scoping period, an EA will be prepared and is expected to be released to the public for review and comment in spring/summer of 2012. Comments received during the comment period will be reviewed by the agencies prior to the decisions by the Responsible Officials. For purposes of the Appeals Reform Act (relevant only to Forest Service decisions) persons commenting during the formal comment period will have “standing” and an opportunity to appeal the Forest Service decision. A Decision Record (for the BLM) and a Decision Notice (for the Forest Service) and Finding of No Significant Impact will then be released by each agency. The environmental analysis and appropriate documentation is anticipated to be completed by fall of 2012. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For more information please contact Cindy Ledbetter, Environmental Specialist at the Salt Lake Field Office, 801-977-4300. Thank you for you interest in the management of BLM and NFS lands.

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