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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 <br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment <br /> PAGE 3-131 <br />Plan for Eastern Washington and the San Juan Planning Areas; this RMP was intended to replace the <br />existing Spokane RMP and expand the Planning Area to include the San Juan Islands (see April 30, 2010, <br />Federal Register notice). On March 25, 2013, the President issued Presidential Proclamation 8947 and <br />established the San Juan Islands National Monument. The new National Monument encompasses the <br />BLM-administered lands in the San Juan Islands that were part of the expanded Planning Area described <br />in the April 30, 2010 Notice of Intent to prepare an RMP. Subsequently, BLM determined that it would <br />prepare an RMP specific to the San Juan Islands National Monument. On March 2, 2015, BLM <br />announced its intention to prepare an RMP for the San Juan Islands National Monument and initiated the <br />public scoping process for that effort. The Eastern Washington RMP planning effort does not include <br />BLM-administered public lands in the San Juan Islands archipelago.” Additionally, the BLM published <br />the document Analysis of the Management Situation for the Eastern Washington and San Juan Resource <br />Management Plan in March 2011 that summarizes existing conditions, trends and management guidance <br />for the planning area. This report states that for utility corridors, additional ROWs will be considered on a <br />case-by-case basis. Applicants would be encouraged to locate new facilities within existing corridors or <br />group compatible facilities to the extent possible (BLM 2011). <br />Yakima Training Center <br />As defined in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Fort Lewis Army Growth and Force <br />Structure Realignment (July 2010), to aid in resource management, JBLM YTC is divided into five land <br />use zones. The zone designations identify allowable military training activities and acceptable levels of <br />impact to the resources to maximize military training opportunities, while simultaneously safeguarding <br />resources (Army 2010). <br />Most forms of training are prohibited in Zone 1 (Land Bank), which is managed for significant and <br />sensitive natural and/or cultural resources. Zone 2 (Conservation) is managed as a Sage -Grouse Protection <br />Area; however, most forms for training are allowed with the exceptions of digging and bivouacking <br />activities. Zone 3 (General use) comprises 75 percent of JBLM YTC and includes the cantonment area <br />and the primary training ranges. Zone 4 (High Use) accommodates heavy use and high-impact activities <br />such as Brigade Support Areas. Zone 5 (Impact Areas) includes impact and dud areas and the Selah <br />Airstrip (Army 2010). <br />Land use zones 2, 3 and 4 would be crossed by Project Action Alternatives. Zone 3 has no specific <br />protection and management measures other than as described above. Zone 2 is managed in accordance <br />with the Sage Grouse Management Plan contained within the Yakima Training Center Cultural and <br />Natural Resource Management Plan (JBLM YTC 2002) that identifies protection and management <br />measures. As detailed in the plan, excavations in Sage-Grouse Protection Areas are not permitted (see <br />Section 4.2 of the plan: Protection of Sage Grouse Habitat). Zone 4 accommodates heavy use and high <br />impact activities (Army 2010). Refer to Appendix A - Land Use Map for the location of land use zones <br />areas. <br />Training facilities at JBLM YTC support gunnery and maneuver training, including maneuver corridors, <br />impact areas, ranges, drop zones, and bivouac areas. Training exercises at JBLM YTC include foot, <br />motorized, mechanized, and armory infantry maneuvers at the platoon level (20+ troops) to brigade level <br />(up to 5,000 troops). Live-fire gunnery training is also conducted that includes large caliber tank, Bradley <br />fighting vehicle, and anti-tank missile firing, indirect mortar, and howitzer gunnery. JBLM YTC is also <br />used for air assault, air drop, and special operations gunnery and maneuver. <br />Training Areas (TAs) on the JBLM YTC are delineated into maneuver, impact, range, and special use <br />areas. TAs are established to facilitate range management and are numbered TA-1 through TA-16 <br />according to their geographic location. The proposed Project route segments could potentially cross TA-1, <br />TA-3, TA-8, TA-10, TA-11, TA-13, and TA-16. Training activities are coordinated to preclude damage to