Study Area
Cedar Butte Wilderness
The
The Cedar
The
and
WSA
terrain
Where
the
Over
The
WSA
included
100
ElS
filed
action
no
where
in
and
Eastern
October
in
located
Bingham
flat
high
soil
and
The
are
under
1986
desert
flows
been
Section
603
the
alternatives
which
is
railroad
and
allow
more
identified
recent
land
to the northeast
The
Idaho
Falls
WSA
Boundaries are
see Table
and
to state
adjacent
forbs
them
are
seen
near the lavas
were analyzed
Plan
in
recommendation
376
back
dating
Policy
abundant
survive
to
frequently
Land
flows
are
Juniper
Several
mule
Sage
species
deer
and
grouse
of
flow
are
found
mammals
coyotes
live
and
doves are
mourning
edge
and
Management Act
report and
an
all
FLPMA
and
was
Impact Statement
EIS for the Cedar Butte
this
trees
of
The
years
the lava
antelope
Amendment/Environmental
the
10800
Vegetation varies throughout
on the lava plains
extent
the Federal
the
most
grasses
Management Framework
Two
west of Idaho
of state
topography
conditions
limited
of
acres
Pacific
with
sagebrush
larger animals
have
Union
undulating
moisture
to
alternative
the
640
west
lava
with
hunted
Idaho
and
south
42 miles
County
of
consist
Inholdings
overlying
of birds
species
wilderness
east
rodents
studied
the
of
accumulated
interest
was
in
the
as generally
including
particular
on
series
throughout
WSA
rabbits
of
have
soils
scattered
in
contains
characterized
is
is
land
acres
edges of the lava flow near
lands
private
35700
--
ID-33-4
of public
acres
the outside
generally
BLM
WSA
Butte
35700
includes
Area
Study
WSA
wilderness
the
proposed
alternative
Recommendation and
Rationale
recommended
acres
35700
for wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
for other
acres
the
least
avoid
not
to
is
impacts
the
is
Existing
The
area
visits
currently
and
to
Even
though
of the
wilderness
the
low and
because
40
to
it
the
is
be
that
could
The
remaining 35600
little
commodity
motorized
and
in
miles
these
the lava
Cedar
of
is
lacks
Butte
While
the
Desert
map
Proposal
WSA
the
areas inclusion
in
the
that
those
that
estimated
excavation
over
100
attractive
200000
to
wishing
include
to
visit
year
lava
flow
Craters
visitation
landscape
of
of
is
to the information
use
primitive
such
as lava
Moon
the
recommended Hells Half
recreationists
recreation
primitive
the
attract
Other Wilderness
recreationists
attributes
visitors
that
attractions
Cedar
the
would
Butte
choose
As an
low
center
and
only
WSA
others
in
is
the
features
acres
activities
these
possess
to
interest
features
destination
Great Rift Wilderness and
summary
recreation
of
formations
features
has
In
annually
and physical
but without
of
an
and
existing lava building
.5-mile
access
route
stone
will
mining claim
cause
area
would
impacts to naturalness
reclaimed
of
acres
and
contain
attractive
stone
adequately
uses
areas
flat
relatively
or lava
geologic
Moon Monument
area
to merit
cause
practical
the Big
Butte
recommendation
the
in
but lacks topographic
appearance
across
anticipated
area
impossible Building
not
consideration
key
study they were not considered
all
System
other
Wilderness management for an
be
for
and Wilderness Area the proposed
the Craters
example
vicinity
20
within
Monument
WSA
Acre
surface
fissures buttes
Areas
National
natural
land
the
was
necessary
Preservation
The
use
values
values
predominantly
is
caves
Study
wilderness
Wilderness
recreation
tube
the
the wilderness
National
125
of
quality
contained
use
and
policy
35700
all
would
It
would
The Cedar
impacts
release
alternative
BLM
regulations
Management Framework Plan will guide the use of the land to mitigate
shows
the lands recommended nonsuitable
for wilderness
designation
The
and
as wilderness
wilderness
all
term The recommendation
the long
environmental
the area
designate
alternative
preferable
environment over
minimize adverse
or
WSA
Butte
environmentally
from the natural
change
means to
Cedar
for the
The
uses
the
generally
nonmotorized
WSA
are
prevents
recreation
use
not
likely
activities
will
to
change
that
will
remain low and
377
over
the
cause
impacts
long
term
noticeable
to
the
The
surface
area
will
lava
landscape
disturbance
be
insignificant
has
Both
31
____
RECOMMENDED
FOR WILDERNESS
____
RECOMMENDED
FOR
IIIIIIIIII
NONWILDERNESS
LAND OUTSIDE WSA RECOMMENDED
ffllIFIIIIIIIlII
32
SPLIT
ESTATE
STATE
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
D-33-4
CEDAR
BUTTE
PROPOSAL
OCTOBER
1988
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
CEDAR
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
the
Study Area
WSA
Study Area
and subsurface
BLM
surface
35700
only
640
private
state
Inholdings
BUTTE
Wilderness
Within
Summary of
36340
Total
Within
BLM
within
BLM
outside
WSA
WSA
Split
Estate
within
Split
Estate
outside
Total
BLM
for
Land
the
Recommended
Boundary
WSA
WSA
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
State
outside
land
private
WSA
Within
the Area
Not
Recommended
BLM
for
Wilderness
35700
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
Land
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
Inholdings
state
35700
private
379
Considered
Criteria
Wilderness
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
The
consist
appearance
collection
the
grows
and
activities
vehicle
6100
trails
crested
acre
soil
of
pockets
unnatural
it
natural
predominantly
is
four
scattered
consider
not
of
and
site
in
WSA
Butte
Cedar
totaling
flow
traveled
miles two
some
railroad
line
All
was
seeding
grass species
views
impacts
to
of
acre
agricultural
WSA
the
now
would
visitor
average
of
stone
and
air
nearby rural roads
character
natural
building
from the
the
exotic
on
the natural
80
broadcast
is
traffic
an
the
on
Impacts
imprints
rock dumps
small
The
this
Although
include
human
negligible
seeding
wheatgrass
the
Outside influences
an infrequently
with
four
minor
area
Solitude
WSA
The
flat
offers
values
intrinsic
influences
is
due
to
unique to
the
WSA
limited
are
Primitive
The
to
on
and
area
WSA
that
However
do
Other areas
the
that
contain
Butte
others
features
WSA
in
is
the
WSA
currently
of
WSA
landscape
and
and
include
because
and
The areas open
size
large
that
would
in
activity
of
passing
and
visitors
separate
low use would
expected
human
of
occasional
offers
and
are not
train
the
northeast
due
the
The
offer solitude
the area
to
generally
However
to
any
external
roads
desert
outstanding
and
Hiking
camping
the
lacks
Craters
provide
features
that
of volcanic
fissure
caves
of the
Moon
that
attractive
is
low
those
In
National
summary
wishing
recreational
380
would
to
features
for
challenge
lacking
and
WSA
in
cinder
Monument
primitive
visit
unconfined
those
for
the
attract recreationists
features
recommended Hells Half Acre
visitation
and
risk
buttes vents
and
primitive
are present
opportunities
could
Examples
and
for
opportunities
camping
skiing
physical
significant
anticipated
the area
lack
the
lava tube
to recreationists
is
and
beds and
cross-country
does lack
it
lava
its
Recreation
the
Wilderness
of
screening
traveling adjacent
attributes include
low and
the
than
vehicles
for hiking
these
Rift
attractive
vicinity
flow
recreationists
possess
Great
proposed
the
destinations
attract
Other
snowshoeing
Similarly
offer
nature
lava
in
remoteness
and Unconfined
expansive
recreationist
does not provide
swells
the
infrequent
and
water
pack
to
activities
rugged
recreation
and
depressions
for solitude
opportunity
cover
because
for solitude
opportunities
vegetative
little
numerous
size
large
outstanding
with
landscape
and
the
and spatter
lava flow
winter
to
the
Butte
cones
Wilderness Area
Even though
recreation
Cedar
willing
use
landscape
these
areas
of the
Cedar
would
choose
Special Features
fl
The
back
lava
about
Ecological
has
landscape
10800
scientific
The
years
relationships
are
and
lava
educational
beds
illustrated
are
an
While
these
to the general
public
because of more spectacular
features
example
by the pioneering
communities
would
be
of
It
significance
interest
to
is
one
pahoehoe
plants
volcanic
381
of
the
areas
and
of the
lava
other
educational
to
the east
older
features
lava
flows dating
geologic
importance
exposed
of
characteristics
community
and
west
of
of
they
the
developing
plant
are not of
interest
Cedar
Butte
WSA
National
in the
Diversity
the
Assessing
Butte
vegetation
is
designated
landform
Moon
BLM
WSA
is
Cedar
Represented
located
This
Wilderness
areas
in
could
under
the
is
not
total
lava
represented
study
System
Systems
Intermountain
with
is
Preservation
by Ecosystems
ecosystem
increase
ecosystem
the state
the
in
This
associated
characteristics
study
as
largely absent
Butte
of Natural
Diversity
and Features
The Cedar
Wilderness
with
Sagebrush
well
area
flow
by
represented
is
generally
five
area
designated
ecosystem
this
This
Ecosystem
in
nationwide
represented
that
by one
this
Province/Desert
the
ecosystem
times
with
the
is
add
of
acres
30245
information
and
age
3130-39 where
wilderness
the
Craters
are
If
and
vegetation
There
summarized
system
of
11
the
other
on Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchier
lntermountain
Other
Areas
areas
Classification
acres
BLM
Studies
areas
acres
12
870403
11
646687
Sagebrush
Province
NATIONWIDE
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
Ecosystem
30245
IDAHO
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
Largely
30245
Ecosystem
NEVADA
Desert-Vegetation
Absent
223716
Largely
Ecosystem
382
the
Expanding
Within
The Cedar
number and
Days
WSA
Butte
of
acreage
is
for Solitude
Opportunities
Driving
within
and
areas
from two
drive
five-hour
designated
or Primitive
Time Five Hours
other
BLM
Recreation
of Major Population
major population
study
within
areas
centers
five-hour
Centers
Table
summarizes
drive
the
of the population
centers
Cedar
Butte
for solitude
not
expected
would
and
to
increase
primitive
the
land
recreation
come from
long
available
area
by about
distances
to
Idaho
Boise
one
percent
because
the area
and
However
lacks
Salt
most
physical
Lake
City-Ogden
wilderness
features
that
visitors
would
Utah
residents
WSA
to the
attract
use
Table
Wilderness
of
Major Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Centers
Idaho/Salt
16
Lake
City Utah
and
Other
acres
BLM
areas
Studies
acres
City
Utah
Salt
Residents
Centers
Areas
areas
Lake
for
Opportunities
vicinity
includes
other
4741570
cities
383
of
Provo Orem
141
and Ogden Utah
are
recreation
5374250
the
Balancing
The
Cedar
WSA
WSA
Butte
The
located
is
Idaho
would
Preservation
Wilderness
recommended
System
nearest
to
Adjacent
contribute
No
the
to
area
for designation
to
the
is
the
balancing
wilderness
designated
Craters
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
the
is
been
Moon
the
Great
acre
346800
of
of
within
areas
Wilderness
Wilderness
Rift
the
Idaho
southeastern
in
designated
Craters
acre
43243
proposed
in
National
the
where
south-central
which
has
been
President
by
the
over
the
Congress
geographic distribution
have
areas
Areas
Manageability
The Cedar
There
be
could
well-defined
or
part
Wilderness management
would
not
of the
Acquisition
and
WSA
becomes
BLM
has
could
result
since
ever
less
take
Energy
mile
claim
this
one
in
in
that
WSA
this
from development
one
than
Minerals
Geologic
and
area
and
WSA
WSA
Resource
access
relates
the
of
640 acres would
Idaho
character
of
the
be
the
acre
may be
to
the
wilderness
454
to
would
route
its
margins
stone
trail
remainder
for the
section
flow
mining claim
mined
claim
because of the
character
lava
and
area
impossible
an
for lava building
estimated
would
100
acres
be improved
likely
of the
Development
claim
WSA
eliminate
with
conflicts
possible
Lands
of
Department
is
is
said
providing
an exchange
favors
it
access
if
the
conducted
The
the
with
would
be affected
are
It
abundant
is
in
with
even
impacts would
Mining
not
be
the
potential
visible
from
also possible
that
impacts that
surface
almost
of the
all
no mineral development
GEM
1983
assessment
prepared for the Cedar
from the report
and
information
WSA in 1983
BLM sources on
Butte
from
are
to
have
low potential for
oil
noncompetitive
and
gas
oil
units
making
vents
throughout the area gives further
evidence
of
and
leases
sequence of Snake River Basalt
of low interest for oil and
area
gas
gas
no
masks
oil-
The
and
majority
of
have
activities
the underlying
exploration
the lack of
the
Although
exploration
the
been
sedimentary rock
of
presence
gas-bearing
volcanic
sedimentary
formations
Geothermal
potential
the
probably due
WSA
to
will
Idaho
southeastern
was
report
Conclusions
thick
surrounding
WSA
Values
considered
covered
claims
area
Inc
minerals
as wilderness
manageable
is
the
Mineral
International
salable
The
are
that
then
existing vehicle
for the stone
sources
and
Energy
of
of the
percent
because
place
rock
the area
the
along
boundary
as valid
of
term to preserve
long
wilderness
Geoexplorers
locatable
.5
areas wilderness
concluded
and
concern
classified
is
management
lands
state
the
maintaining
it
over
of
wilderness
affect
of
Access
patented
wilderness
manageability
potential
the claim
If
be managed
could
and
terrain
one
is
stone
WSA
Butte
inaccessible
in
the
show
the
fact
WSA
that
that
is
also considered
typical
heat
low
gradients
water moves
quickly
earths heat
384
Geothermal
data
were very low
through
the
The
from holes
low heat
subsurface
drilled
gradients
removing
the
Lava
WSA
building
claimant
stone
The
is
the
Twenty-five
variety
and
could
apply
deposits
found
known
only
unpatented
acres
therefore
for patent
on
three
of
the
subject
on up
of
locatable
the
to
six
or
have
claims
mining
claim
acres
mineral
contain
under
within
the
that
454
on
filed
group
location
to
100
salable
been
stone
the
that
mining
WSA
occurs
in
acres
is
laws
in
Cedar
the
the
WSA
considered
The
for the locatable
for
an
mining
building
claims
Resources
on
following
considered
Six
stone
uncommon
Impacts
stone
building
Butte
comparative impact table
including
designation
summarizes
or nondesignation
the
of
effects
the entire
385
on
pertinent
area
as
resources
wilderness
for
all
the alternatives
Table
Comparative
Summary
WSA
ENVIRONMENTAL
Impacts
on
ISSUES
Wilderness
Values
PROPOSED ACTION NO
WILDERNESS
ALTERNATIVE
Naturalness
and
special
100
acres
be
seen
of
the
term
mine
would
impact
.5-mile
the
area
after
the
have
have
only
been
area
could
be
an
short-
supply
views
of
35600
ac
is
to 100
hicle
stone
visitor
and
would be
Four
claims
miles
of
lava
involving
up
ve
of peripheral
rehabilitate
days
of
pioneer
preserved
on
degraded
mining
would
trails
features
special
formations
and
acres
acres
ing 50
and
values
communities
ing plant
on
ALTERNATIVE
pahoehoe
pristine
building
would
mining
stone
term
thin
radius
terrain
because
the
long
would
lava
would
This
3-5 years
cease
sale
Wilderness
to
up
activities
about
because
because
would
removal
on
lost
stone
building
only
Over
be
ALL WILDERNESS
recreation
primitive
would
stone
most views
material
Mineral
lava
from
depleted
Energy and
of
impact
tivity
rock
solitude
features
of the
screen
to
Impacts by Alternative
CEDAR BUTTE
ID-33-4
Views
Impacts
the
of
eliminat
by
motorized
recreation
use
the
insignificant
layer of surface
removed
No Impact
to
Subject
acres
Development
be
of
valid
oil
withdrawn
Withdrawal
cause
tion
ing
386
of low
would
stone
and
existing
rights
gas
leases
the
from
leasing
and
will
not
impact
potential
require
claims
on
17026
WSA
exploration
Wilderness
validity
exam
would
location
be
designa
on
build
Local
No
and
Social
social
significant
Economic
would
effects
Consideration
occur
Summary of WSA-Speciflc
BLMs
was
an
wilderness
the study
phase
received
various
and
period
the
during
alternatives
for the ultimate
Wilderness was not an issue
were
received
during
were
deferred
for
Sixty of
because
The
left
the
of the
other
open
features
during
received
Butte
unknown
during
WSA
status
of
for
and
changes
wilderness
Cedar
government
Environmental
recreation
in
values
Butte
should
agencies
Protection
the
the
deserve
and
and
solicited
have
to
was not
EIS
significant
Comments
issues
study
and
Few comments
comments
of
subject
in
90-day
value
wilderness
wilderness
supported or opposed
involvement
formulation
Wilderness
Draft
involvement
public
public
alternative
used to develop
found
lands
MFP
either
EIS
Draft
comment
and
because industry
recommendation
same
the
that
Some
wilderness
WSA
they
for the
None
area
no
387
for
public
One
area
had
not yet
hearings
chance
that
since
the
WSA
wilderness
to explore
to
emphasized
supporters
specifically
to
objected
commenter wanted
the
felt
the
at
the
one
see
the
was
the
WSA
lava
WSAs
similar to
flow
special
Hells
recommendation
The Idaho
had
had
Wilderness
for designation
the
or
period
because
needs
scientific
commented on
stated
those
were
two supported wilderness
minerals
and
efforts
and
participation
BLM
study
All but
as reasons
Agency
of
and
public
Eastern Idaho
the
on
Big Desert
inventory
extensive
recommendations
scoping
management
the original
consideration
Cedar
EIS
designation
on issue identification
mailings
hearings
and
supported the no wilderness
Half Acre
Two
in
the wilderness
comments
the
mentioned
formal
period
with
wilderness
meetings
two
inventory
wilderness
Comments
Public
making
in
of
result
were conducted
study
through scoping
comment
public
and
inventory
important consideration
as
Department
objection
to
the
of
Draft
Fish
EIS
and
Game
proposal
and
the
U.S