Term Grazing Permits 2704556 and 2704650 Renewals on the Maverick Springs (00621), Horse Haven (00620), and Ruby Valley (00619) Allotments
 
The purpose for the action is to fully process and renew the grazing term permits 2704556 and 2704650 on the Maverick Springs, Horse Haven, and Ruby Valley Allotments. The current term permit for 2704556 is issued for the period 07/27/2009 to 02/28/2019 and is summarized in Table 1.

 

 

The current term permit for 2704650 is issued for the period 11/21/2000 to 02/28/2010 and is summarized in Table 2.

 

 

The issuance of the new term grazing permit could be for a period up to ten years.  An evaluation of the range monitoring data and rangeland health will be conducted for the Maverick Springs, Horse Haven, and Ruby Valley Allotments.  This data will be summarized in a Standards Determination Document that will be provided for public review.

 

The Maverick Spring, Horse Haven, and Ruby Valley Allotments encompass approximately 45,015, 26,151, and 17,441 public lands acres, respectively.  This grazing permit area occurs within White Pine County, Nevada and is adjacent to Elko County, Nevada. The area is situated approximately 60 to 70 miles northwest of Ely, Nevada.  The area is in the Maverick Springs Range and Ruby Valley with a smaller portion stretching into Long Valley. These allotments occur in the Ruby Valley and Long Valley Watersheds.  

 

The Maverick Spring, Horse Haven, and Ruby Valley Allotments occur entirely within the Triple B Wild Horse Herd Management Area.

 

The Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge occurs along the western boundary of the Ruby Valley Allotment. Large portions of these allotments are located within summer, nesting, and winter sage grouse habitat. Pygmy rabbit habitat is also found on the Ruby Valley Allotment and potentially on the Maverick Springs Allotment. Mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep habitat occur within the allotment, including critical summer range for mule deer and unoccupied Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ranges. Migratory birds also use this area.

 

The 2001 Maverick Fire burned with the Maverick Springs Allotment and the 2000 Willow Fire burned within the Horse Haven Allotment.

 

Term permit renewals are issued in accordance with Title 43 CFR 4130.2(a), “Grazing permits or leases shall be issued to qualified applicants to authorize use on the public lands and other lands under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management that are designated as available for livestock grazing through land use plans.”