Draft Decision Memo Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Truck Shop Extension

Transcription

1 Draft Decision Memo Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Truck Shop Extension USDA Forest Service McKenzie River Ranger District Willamette National Forest Linn County, OR T.13 S., R.7 E., Section 14, Willamette Meridian Proposed Action The McKenzie River Ranger District is proposing to approve the construction of an extension to an existing truck shop at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Compound located at the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 22. The extension would be approximately 21 feet x 15 feet and would be within the disturbance area from the construction of the original truck shop. The only ground disturbance that will occur is the excavation for the foundation that will be at a maximum of two feet deep by approximately 315 square feet. Purpose and Need The purpose of this project is to expand the storage space for tools and equipment used in road maintenance. The proposed project is needed due to limited existing space to adequately store all tools and equipment properly. Scoping and Public Involvement You are invited to provide comments on the proposed action and draft decision. Comments received by February 15, 2015 will be most helpful in considering the final design of this project. Comments may be ed to Starr Sullivan at starrasullivan@fs.fed.us; mailed to Starr Sullivan at McKenzie Hwy, McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413; or delivered in person to the District Office from 8:00 am 4:30 pm. Names and addresses of those who comment will be considered part of the public record on this project and will available for public inspection. This proposed action is listed in the current edition of the Willamette National Forest s Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) and can be accessed on the web at During internal scoping, McKenzie River Ranger District resource specialists raised no issues and found no effects in relation to implementing this proposed action. All supporting documentation is located in the project file available at the McKenzie River Ranger District.

2 Categorical Exclusion Criteria Decisions may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment when they are within one of the categories identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 7 CFR part 1b.3 or one of the categories identified by the Chief of the Forest Service in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) sections or 32.2, and there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative environmental effect. The specific category for this proposed action is found in 36 CFR 220.6(e) (12) and described in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) , Chapter 30, Section 32.2 (3) Approval, modification or continuation of minor special uses of NFS lands that require less than five contiguous acres of land. This category of action(s) is applicable because this area is an already established Oregon Department of Transportation compound that was obtained through a Special Use Permit that will expire in This is proposing an extension to an existing facility. Several resource conditions must be considered when determining whether extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action warrant further analysis and documentation. During development of the proposed action, a team of resource specialists determined whether or not any of the resource conditions are present, and if so, the degree of the potential effects on the listed resource. The mere presence of one of these resource conditions does not preclude use of a categorical exclusion. Based on the information in Table 1, I have determined no extraordinary circumstances exist for this project that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Table 1: Evaluation of Extraordinary Circumstances Related to the Proposed Action Extraordinary Circumstance to be Evaluated Present? (Yes or No) Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas or national recreation areas Inventoried Roadless Areas or potential wilderness areas Research Natural Areas American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas Degree of Potential Effect Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Truck Shop Extension Draft Decision Memo 2

3 Decision and Rationale for Decision Based on my review of the information presented in this document and the supporting documents in the project record, I have decided to implement the proposed action as described above. Through past experience and review of similar projects, I have concluded that this project is not a major Federal action. It will have limited context and intensity (40 CFR ), individually or cumulatively, to the biological, physical, social, or economic components of the human environment. It does not pose a violation of Federal, State, or local law requirements imposed for the protection of the environment. The action that I have selected falls within a category established by the Forest Service that normally does not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment and no extraordinary circumstances exist that would cause the proposed action to have any significant environmental effects. Therefore this action is excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, so neither will be prepared. Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations This decision is consistent with the amended Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. I find that this project complies with all laws, regulations and policies regarding Special Use Administration. Table 2 outlines the major laws, regulations and policies with respect to Special Use Administration and displays how this proposed action complies with those laws. Table 2: Compliance with Other Laws, Regulations, and Policies Year Enacted 1897 Organic Act This Law is the foundation for multiple use and Forest Service management of National Forest System Lands 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) 1976 National Forest Management Act (NFMA) Title Summary How applied in this project Creates the environmental impact statement (EIS) and environmental assessment (EA) as instruments of environmental policy. Requires public participation. Council on Environmental Quality regulations allow federal agencies to exclude certain categories of actions from documentation in EA or EIS. Provides broad protection for species of fish, wildlife and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. or elsewhere. Provisions are made for listing species, as well as for recovery plans and the designation of critical habitat for listed species. The Act outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow when taking actions that may jeopardize listed species, and contains exceptions and exemptions. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to assess forest lands, develop a management program based on multiple-use, sustained-yield Implementation of this project follows direction in this law for the Forest Service to manage National Forest System Lands. Scoping was conducted as required by NEPA. This project follows FSH Chapter 30 requirements for categorically excludable activities. The project is in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Applicable procedures were followed with respect to threatened and/or endangered species. This project was developed in full compliance with NFMA via compliance with the Willamette Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Truck Shop Extension Draft Decision Memo 3

4 Table 2: Compliance with Other Laws, Regulations, and Policies Year Enacted Title Summary How applied in this project principles, and implement a resource management plan for each unit of the National Forest System. It is the primary statute governing the administration of national forests. National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 1990, as amended. The project follows appropriate standards and guidelines and management direction for the Management Allocations in the project area. Administrative Review (Appeal) Opportunities Effective March 5, 2014, the Forest Service will no longer offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities for categorically excluded projects pursuant to 36 CFR Part 215. On February 7, 2014, the President signed into law the Agricultural Act of 2014, Pub. L. No (i.e., Farm Bill). Section 8006(a) of the 2014 Farm Bill repealed the Appeals Reform Act, Pub. L. No , 106 Stat (1992). Section 8006(b) directs that the pre-decisional objection process established in Section 428 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriation Act of2012, Pub. L. No , shall not be applicable to categorically excluded projects or activities. The Forest Service will continue to offer public involvement opportunities for categorically excluded projects as provided for in the agency's NEPA Procedures, see 36 CFR (d) (SOPA) and 36 CFR 220.4(e) and 220.6(c) (scoping). Comments received on the proposed action will be reviewed and considered prior to making a final decision; however, the project is not subject to appeal. Implementation Date Plans are to implement this project summer Contact Information For further information, please contact Starr Sullivan, Civil Engineering Technician, at the McKenzie River Ranger District, McKenzie Hwy. McKenzie Bridge, OR or by phone at Approved by: Draft Decision Memo Terry Baker District Ranger McKenzie River Ranger District Willamette National Forest Date Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Truck Shop Extension Draft Decision Memo 4

5 Attachment A Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Truck Shop Extension Draft Decision Memo 5

6 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C , or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Santiam Junction Maintenance Station Truck Shop Extension Draft Decision Memo 6