Decision Memo Rose Canyon Salvage Project

Transcription

1 Decision Memo Rose Canyon Salvage Project USDA Forest Service Coronado National Forest Pima County, Arizona Background The Rose Canyon Salvage Project is located in the Rose Canyon Campground on the Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest (CNF); Township 12 South, Range 16 East, Sections 10, 15, 16. Winter storms occurring in late January and mid-february left damaged trees that are uprooted, broken off from 3-25 feet above ground, or left leaning to some degree throughout an inventoried area of 120 acres This has resulted in moderate accumulations of downed material spread across a localized area, which poses a high risk for bark beetle colonization and spread, and increased fire hazard. An agency entomologist made a site visit prior to a treatment decision, and made recommendation for removal of any excess material possible in the Rose Canyon Campground. A timber cruise resulted in a volume of 31 ccf, of this volume, 14 ccf is being proposed for removal in this decision. The primary species present is Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) with minor amounts of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii). Rose Canyon Campground is a high-use recreation site located off of Catalina Highway, with a majority of the recreation sites located in flat drainage bottom. Surrounding ridgelines have moderate slopes, with an intermittent stream located at the base. Trees that have been inventoried are scattered throughout the project area, however the focus of this decision is on eight specific Page 1 of 5

2 locations of log decks. Work has been completed in the campground with district personnel to remove downed trees from the road and various campsites. The resulting logs were stacked in multiple decks along the Rose Canyon Campground road system. Additionally, slash material has been piled and scattered throughout the campground. The Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest proposes to allow removal of these logs via a commercial timber contract. The proposal includes opening the bidding of removal of this material for commercial products. This will require a minimum of seven day public notification, at which time the contract will be awarded to a bidder. If no bids are received the contract can be awarded to a private individual. The contractor will have to follow specific guidelines regarding resource protection outlined in the contract. This activity will occur at prepositioned log decks inside Rose Canyon Campground. The activity will occur as soon as possible following the awarding of the contract. Specific time constraints will be put in place to limit disturbance to the public since the location of the activity is inside a highly used campground. Decision I have decided to remove trees damaged and blown down by a storm event in the Rose Canyon Campground. This action will help reduce the amount of material available for certain species of bark beetle which are known to infest and have populations increase in storm-damaged trees (Fettig et al. 2007). The risk of future tree mortality in campgrounds may be higher due to added stress from soil compaction, severed roots from facility construction, as well as competition with other trees in high stand density conditions. Drought, root rot, and dwarf mistletoe infection can contribute stressors which predispose trees to mortality by bark beetle attacks. This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The applicable category of actions is identified in agency procedures as commercial and non-commercial sanitation harvest of trees to control insects or disease not to exceed 250 acres, requiring no more than ½ mile of temporary road construction, including removal of infested/infected trees and adjacent live uninfested/uninfected trees as determined necessary to control the spread of insects or disease. The proposed action may include incidental removal of live or dead trees for landings, skid trails, and road clearings 36 CFR 220.6(e) (14) as described in the FSH Sec This category of action(s) is applicable because the removal of this material will reduce the risk of exposure in the campground to engraver beetles (Ips species), as they are known to colonize damaged and down ponderosa pine, have successful brood production, and threaten neighboring undamaged trees (Gaylord 2017). I find that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS. I took into account resource conditions identified in agency procedures that should be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances might exist: Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species A Biological Assessment (BA) prepared by the District Biologist on June 29, 2017 determined that the proposed project will have no effect on Mexican spotted owl or it s Critical Habitat. The BA also determined that the proposed action will not impact Forest Page 2 of 5

3 Service sensitive species nor will it result in a trend toward federal listing for any of the species considered. The BA also determined that the proposal will not affect Management Indicator Species nor birds covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds No activity related to this proposal will occur in floodplains, wetlands, or in municipal watershed; therefore this decision will not affect the aforementioned locations. Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas The project is located 0.15 mile to the northeast of Pusch Ridge Wilderness. Activity related to this proposal will not occur in a wilderness, wilderness study area, or national recreation area. Inventoried Roadless Areas or potential Wilderness Areas The project is located 0.15 mile to the northeast of an inventoried roadless area. No activity related to this proposal will occur in an inventoried roadless area; therefore this decision will not affect the aforementioned location. Research Natural Areas The project is located over five miles to the east of the Santa Catalina Research Natural Area, and two and half miles to the south of the Butterfly Peak Research Natural Area. No activity related to this proposal will occur in a research natural area; therefore this decision will not affect Research Natural Areas. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites The district Archeologist has reviewed this proposal and determined that loading logs (from an existing log deck) onto a log truck lacks the potential to affect historic properties and that there are no extraordinary circumstances that may result in adverse effects on American Indian religious and cultural sites. Appendix A, Section II, of the Forest Service, Region 3 Programmatic Agreement (PA) with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, lists activities that the FS and SHPO agree have predictable effects and a very low likelihood of affecting historic properties. This list includes Exemption Q: Activities not involving ground or surface disturbance (e.g., timber stand improvement and precommercial thinning by hand). For these reasons, no further National Historic Preservation Act review and consultation is required. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas The district Archeologist reviewed this proposal and determined that loading logs (from an existing log deck) onto a log truck lacks the potential to affect historic properties and that there are no extraordinary circumstances that may result in adverse effects on American Indian religious and cultural sites. Appendix A, Section II, of the Forest Service, Region 3 Programmatic Agreement (PA) with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, lists activities that the FS and SHPO agree have predictable effects and a very low likelihood of affecting historic properties. This list includes Exemption Q: Activities not involving ground or surface disturbance (e.g., timber stand improvement and precommercial thinning by hand). For these reasons, no further National Historic Preservation Act review and consultation is required. Page 3 of 5

4 Public Involvement The project was listed on the Coronado National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions for 30 days from April 6 th 2017 through May 8 th 2017, during which time we were contacted by two individuals seeking more information about the project. Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations This decision is consistent with the 1986 Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The project was designed in conformance with the goals and management direction identified for management areas 3A and 3B, lands that are suitable and capable of supporting recreational developments. Consistent with the Forest Plan, wood gathering in recreation sites will be limited to dead and down or standing trees that are a safety hazard and only for use in the area. The proposed action follows the forest plan regarding wood gathering in recreation site, as all material is currently dead and down and will be eliminating safety hazards of stacked log decks in Rose Canyon Campground.. Clean Water Act The action will comply with this act. Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended This action will comply with the ESA. American Antiquities Act of 1906 and Natural Historic Preservation Act of 1966 The action will comply with these acts. Executive Order of May 1977 (Floodplains) The action will comply with EO Executive Order of May 1977 (Wetlands) The action will comply with EO Executive Order of January 2001 (Migratory Bird Treaty Act) The action will comply with EO o Migratory Birds The project is not expected to affect populations of migratory birds nor reduce their available habitat on Forest Service System Lands. Administrative Review (Appeal) Opportunities On January 17, 2014, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (Pub. L. No ). Section 431 of that Act directs that the 1992 and 2012 legislation establishing the 36 CFR 215 (post-decisional appeals) and 36 CFR 218 (pre-decisional objections) processes shall not apply to any project or activity implementing a land and resource management plan that is categorically excluded.under the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]. On February 7, 2014, the President signed into law the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) (Pub. L. No ). Section 8006 of the 2014 Farm Bill repealed the Appeals Reform Act (ARA) (Pub. L. No ). The ARA s implementing regulation was 36 CFR 215. The 2014 Farm Bill also directs that the predecisional objection process established in the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2012 shall not be applicable to categorically-excluded projects or activities. As a result of these two statutes, the Forest Service will no longer offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities pursuant to 36 CFR 215 for categorically-excluded projects. However, these legislative changes and new direction do not limit the public s ability to comment on Forest Service projects and activities. The Forest Service will continue to offer public involvement opportunities for categorically-excluded projects as provided for in its NEPA procedures found in Page 4 of 5

5 36 CFR 220. The Forest Service will also continue to provide notice, comment and predecisional objections as provided for in 36 CFR 218 for proposed projects and activities that are documented with an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Implementation Date Expected date of implementation is as soon as possible. The sooner this material is removed, the less likely it is to be infected with invasive species. Contact For additional information concerning this decision, contact: Chris Griggs, Forester Santa Catalina Ranger District 5700 North Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson AZ KENNETH BORN District Ranger 08/15/2017 Date 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. Page 5 of 5