"The Wells Resource Area (WRA) is located in the northeast corner of Nevada and encompasses approximately the east half of Elko County. A review of the elk habitat management in the WRA determined that elk numbers and habitat use areas were expanding from those identified in the Wells Resource Management Plan (RMP) Record of Decision (ROD) signed July 16, 1985.

This Proposed RMP will direct resource management activities including leasing minerals such as oil and gas; construction of electrical transmission lines, pipelines, and roads; grazing management; recreation and outfitting; preserving and restoring wildlife habitat; selling or exchanging lands for the benefit of local communities; military use of the planning area; and conducting other activities that require land use planning decisions.

The purpose of the RMP [Resource Management Plan] is to guide management of the pubic lands and resources in the GRA [Grand Resource Area]. Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop, maintain, and revise land use plans for management of the public lands and their resources, with public involvement ... A second need for the preparation of this plan is to meet the requirements for a site-specific grazing EIS [Environmental Impact Statement] ordered by the United States District Court, District of Columbia, in 'Natural Resources Defense Council Inc. vs. Morton', 388 F. Supp. 829 (1974). The GRA grazing EIS was incorporated into the RMP/EIS; livestock management was identified as a required issue for impact analysis.