6.5.1.2 Other Activities and Trends

9Table 6.5-10 has been updated to list the number of recreational visits for the BLM and

10NPS in the six-state study area to data for FY 2000 and FY 2010; the BLM and NPS data for

11FY 2000 and FY 2005 were presented in the Draft Solar PEIS. The data for USFS visits in

12FY 2000 and FY 2005 have not been updated, since comparable statistics were not readily

13available. Between FY 2000 and FY 2010, visits to BLM lands in the study area increased by

144.9 million (about 15%), with the greatest increases occurring in Colorado and California. Visits

15to NPS sites decreased by 1.9 million (about 3%) between FY 2000 and FY 2010. The greatest

16declines occurred in Nevada and Arizona.

17

18

19 Minerals Production

20

21Table 6.5-11 has been updated to show the number of leases and associated acres for

22sodium, potassium, phosphate, and gilsonite on BLM-administered land in FY 2002 and

23FY 2010 from FY 2002 and FY 2009. In FY 2010 in the six-state study area, about

248.4 million yd3 (6.4 million m3) of mineral materials was disposed of through exclusive and

25nonexclusive sales and free use permits, representing a decrease of about 3 million yd3

26(2.3 million m3) (27%) from FY 2002 (BLM 2003, 2011b).

27

28

29 Military Operations

30

31Table 6.5-12 has been updated from 2008 data to show that, as of 2011, the DoD owns

32and manages 231 installations occupying about 18 million acres (73,000 km2) in the six-state

33study area, with the greatest acreages in New Mexico, California, and Nevada (DoD 2011).

34Table 6.5-12 shows a breakdown in the number and acreages of installations by military service.

39Table 6.5-13 has been updated from data in FY 2002 to show that in FY 2007, grazing

40land accounted for about 65% of the land area in the six-state study area. Grazing takes place on

41lands the Economic Research Service (ERS) categorizes as cropland pasture, grassland pasture

42and range, and forest land grazed. Cropland pasture is the smallest, but generally the most

43productive component of grazing acreage, accounting for only about 1% of the land area in the

44study area. Grassland pasture and range occupies the majority (78%) of the land area. Grazing is

45also high on forest land in the study area, accounting for about 21% of land area. New Mexico,

46Nevada, and Arizona have the greatest percentage of grazing land.

a To convert acres to km2, multiply by 0.004047.

Sources: BLM (2003, 2011b).

3

4

5Table 6.5-14 has been updated from FY 2009 data to show that at the beginning of

6FY 2010, there were 7,215 permits and leases for livestock grazing, with a total of about

7 6.8 million active animal unit months (AUMs on BLM-administered land in the six-state study 8 area. Of those, about 4.4 million AUMs (65%) were authorized and in use (BLM 2011b). About

980% of the authorizations were for the grazing of cattle, 10% for sheep and goats, and 10% for

10horses and burros. Table 6.5-14 shows the number of grazing permits and leases and AUMs by

11state for BLM-administered rangeland in FY 2002 and FY 2010. The number of permits and

12leases in FY 2010 was down about 3.7% compared to FY 2002; authorized AUMs were also

13down relative to FY 2002, by about 4.6%.

14

15

16 Fire Management

17

18In FY 2010, fires on or threatening BLM-administered land in the six-state study area

19totaled 78,541 acres (318 km2) (BLM 2011b).

20

1TABLE 6.5-13 Grazing Land in the Six-State Study Area in 2007a

aIncludes both federal and nonfederal land.

b To convert acres to km2, multiply by 0.004047.

Source: ERS (2012).

2

3

4TABLE 6.5-14 Grazing Permits and Leases and AUMs on BLM Public Lands in

5FY 2002 and FY 2010

aAn AUM (animal unit month) is the amount of forage needed by an “animal unit” (i.e., a mature 1,000-lb cow and her calf) for 1 month. The active AUMs reported are the total number that could be authorized on BLM public lands.

bFor FY 2002, the authorized AUM count is for the period March 2001 through February 2002; for FY 2009, it is for March 2008 through February 2009.

Sources: BLM (2003, 2011b).

6

7

8

3This section and Table 6.5-15 of the Draft Solar PEIS remain unchanged and are not

4repeated here.

14As of the end of FY 2010, the BLM reported a total of 3,231 sites on its public lands in

15the six-state study area that have had releases of hazardous substances and other pollutants, with

16the greatest number (1,261 sites, or 39%) in California. Two other states had release sites

17numbering more than 15% of the total: Arizona (673) and Nevada (623). Of the total sites,

182,491 (77%) have been closed and administratively archived with no further action planned.

19During FY 2010, 537 removal actions and 20 remedial actions were conducted on BLM lands in

20the study area (BLM 2011b).

28Table 6.5-16 has been updated to show population in each of the six states for 2011

29instead of 2009 and to show the increase for each state between 2000 and 2011. Table 6.5-17

30of the Draft Solar PEIS remains unchanged and is not repeated here.

31

32

33 Energy Demand

34

35Tables 6.5-18 and 6.5-19 of the Draft Solar PEIS remain unchanged and are not repeated

36here.

37

38

39 Water Availability

40

41Tables 6.5-20 and 6.5-21 of the Draft Solar PEIS remain unchanged and are not repeated

42here.

43

44