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This data set was created to depict “biologically significant units” (BSU) from the BLM Greater Sage-Grouse Land Use Planning Strategy – Utah Sub-Region. This data was developed to reflect the areas to which certain management actions would apply based on language in the final agency decision to amend 14 BLM land use plans throughout the State of Utah. This planning process was initiated through issuance of a Notice of Intent published on December 6, 2011. This dataset is associated with the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Great Basin Region, released to the public via a Notice of Availability on September 24, 2015. The purpose of the planning process is to address protection of greater sage-grouse, in partial response to a March 2010 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that found the greater sage-grouse was eligible for listing under the authorities of the Endangered Species Act. The planning process resulted in preparation of a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and final environmental impact statement (FEIS) in close coordination with cooperating agencies for the planning effort. The planning effort addressed the adequacy of regulatory mechanisms found in the land use plans, as well as addressing the myriad threats to grouse and their habitat that were identified by the FWS. Biologically significant units are defined as an area within greater sage-grouse habitat that contains the relevant habitats that GRSG use. In Utah, BSUs are synonymous with PHMA within a geographic area identified as the population area. BSU is used as a common point of reference for coordinating across state lines on regional conservation monitoring and management. A BSU or subset is used only in calculating the human disturbance threshold and the adaptive management habitat trigger.This dataset was used in the preparation of the Greater Sage-grouse (GRSG) 2019 ARMPA planning maps and acreages initiated by Secretarial Order (SO) 3353 of June 7, 2017 and the Notice of Intent (NOI) of October 11, 2017. |