Umatilla National Forest, Walla Walla Ranger District, OR; North End Sheep Allotment EIS

Résumé

The Forest Service proposes to continue to permit livestock (sheep) grazing on approximately 98,000 acres within the North End Allotment. This action will comply with the Rescission Act of 1995 requiring NEPA analysis for all grazing allotments. The North End Allotment is approximately 132,000 acres in size and is located in Umatilla, Wallowa, and Union Counties, Oregon. The large size makes for a diverse allotment of mountain uplands and plateaus dissected by large canyons. Approximately 75% of the allotment is forested vegetation with the remaining lands consisting of grasslands. Most of the allotment has been grazed by domestic sheep since the late 1800's and records show that the Forest Service has issued permits since the 1920's for the allotment. Since the current AMP was approved in 1986, it does not incorporate the changes that have occurred since the signing of the Forest Plan (1990), as amended. Also, the Rescission Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-19, Section 504) requires the Forest Service to identify all allotments requiring NEPA analysis, and to prepare and adhere to a schedule for conducting such analysis. However, the Annual Operating Instructions (AOI) \1\ for the allotme