Ann: BLM Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement, page-7

North and South OSF Alternative

Cumulative impacts would be similar to those described for the Proposed Action except there would be 35 acres less overall cumulative disturbance. Approximately 197 acres of designated critical habitat for Tiehm’s buckwheat would be disturbed, of which 45 acres would be permanent (about five percent of designated critical habitat). The North and South OSF Alternative would implement the Buckwheat Protection Plan: Applicant Proposed Conservation Measures for Tiehm’s Buckwheat and its Critical Habitat (WestLand 2023b) that would reduce cumulative impacts to Tiehm’s buckwheat and its designated critical habitat. This would include pollinator habitat reclamation to promote a diversity of pollinators that are important to Tiehm’s buckwheat which would cumulatively add to pollinator habitat post-reclamation. All designated critical habitat would be fenced, which would reduce other cumulative impacts such as livestock grazing and OHV use. As there would still be a cumulative loss of designated critical habitat that may affect the species, cumulative impacts would be less than the Proposed Action, but still moderate to major, long-term to permanent, and localized.

No Action Alternative

Under the No Action Alternative, previously permitted activities and the other past, present, and RFFAs would continue to occur. The remaining exploration disturbance at Rhyolite Ridge would be reclaimed, and the majority of other present and RFFAs on public land would also have to be reclaimed. Subpopulations of Tiehm’s buckwheat would remain vulnerable to existing threats such as OHV use, invasion of noxious or invasive species, livestock grazing, and herbivory. Any projects that may propose disturbance within Tiehm’s buckwheat designated critical habitat would need to go through the NEPA process. Past, present, and RFFA impacts to Tiehm’s buckwheat would be variable due to the unknown extent of future OHV use, noxious or invasive species establishment, livestock grazing, and herbivory activities; therefore, would range from negligible to major, temporary to permanent, and localized.