Re: Powerline Road Access Project, Pryor Mountains, Beartooth District Custer Gallatin National Forest

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1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Custer Gallatin National Forests Beartooth Ranger District 6811 Highway 212 S. Red Lodge, MT Re: Powerline Road Access Project, Pryor Mountains, Beartooth District Custer Gallatin National Forest File Code: 1950 Date: September 25, 2014 Dear Planning Partner: In 2012, the Beartooth Ranger District, Custer National Forest sought public input and comment on a project to upgrade the Powerline Road so that it may serve as the legal and permanent access road for the Forest Service to manage national forest systems (NFS) lands within the Pryor Mountains. Due to the delay in completing the environmental analysis for this project, the Beartooth Ranger District is providing this additional opportunity for the public to provide comment on the Powerline Road Project prior to a decision. Project Location Powerline Road (Route #2500) is located south of the Crow Indian Reservation in Carbon County, MT (Township 7 South, Range 25 East, Sections 25-26, and Township 7 South, Range 26 East Section 30). It is accessed via the Pryor Mountain, S Pryor Mountain, and Rail Bed Roads, and runs in an east-west direction for about 5.5 miles before turning north for about a mile to the junction with Pryor Mountain Road near Sage Creek Campground (see enclosed map). Pryor Mountain Road, S Pryor Mountain Road and the majority of the Rail Bed Road are currently County Roads. The Forest Service is working with Carbon County to verify that the County has jurisdiction of those portions of the Rail Bed Road crossing private lands. In September 2013, the BLM granted a right-of-way easement to Carbon County for those portions of the Rail Bed Road as it crosses crossing the BLM land. Existing Condition Powerline Road is a 2-track Maintenance Level 2 (ML2) road which generally parallels a high voltage transmission line on BLM and NFS lands. It provides administrative and public access to BLM and NFS lands, as well as the PacifiCorps high voltage overhead (OH) transmission line. The Forest Service acquired a road right-of-way from BLM for those portions of the road crossing BLM lands in September Powerline Road crosses open savanna and dry gullies that convey rain/snow melt. The road is not surfaced, portions of the road exceed 12 percent grade, and may become impassable when wet. America s Working Forest-Caring Every Day in Every Way Printed on Recycled Paper

2 Powerline Road Powerline Road Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action The purpose of the Powerline Road Project is to provide legal and permanent access for the Forest Service to manage NFS lands within the Pryor Mountains. This access road would be improved and maintained over time. Although the Pryor Mountain Road (aka Sage Creek Road) serves as the primary access route into the northern portion of the Pryor Mountains, the existing road across the Crow Reservation is minimally maintained at best and the road is virtually impassable at times. Legal jurisdiction of the road across the reservation is uncertain. Neither Carbon County nor Big Horn County performs road maintenance on this portion of the road. The Forest Service does not have recorded easements across most portions of the road crossing the Crow reservation. Powerline Road currently serves as a secondary access point into the northern portion of the Pryor Mountains, but the primitive nature of the road also limits access. Proposed Action The Forest Service would perform maintenance, reconstruction, and realignment of Powerline Road so that it may serve as the primary access into the northern portion of the Pryor Mountains. Improvements to the road would be completed in phases as funding allows (see Powerline Road Map). Areas identified by the Forest Service as the most problematic for passenger travel would be addressed first. It may take many years for the Forest Service to complete all of the proposed road improvements. Over time, the Powerline Road would be improved and maintained as an Objective Maintenance Level (ML) 3 Road, with a road surface maintained to provide low speed travel by prudent drivers in standard passenger cars. Project activities would include the following: Reconstructing the existing 2-track road to provide a crowned 12 to 14-foot wide singlelane road with ditches or outsloped road template with intervisible turnouts. Realigning segments of the road to improve the horizontal and vertical alignments (see attached map). Realigned segments would address continued access to the Over Head 2

3 (OH) transmission line and range improvements along the corridor. A minimum of 25- foot clearance from edge of road to OH transmission poles is required. A 50- foot plus clearance is desired. Furnishing and installing culverts in drainages and for ditch relief. Furnishing, hauling, and placing aggregate surfacing. Clearing of roadside vegetation along the roadway. Slash disposal may include piling and burning slash, burying stumps, and decking logs for firewood Replace existing barbed wire gates with cattle guards. Reseeding disturbed areas with a native seed mix after the project is completed Decommissioning any of the road segments that have been realigned (access to existing stock tanks and OH powerline would be maintained). Analysis Issues Based on public scoping in 2012 and survey work and analysis that have already been completed, the following issues are being considered in the environmental analysis: Recreation: There is a concern that improving access to the northern portion of the Pryor Mountains will increase recreational use of the area, and that increased use could affect a variety of resources, and create a need for more law enforcement. Cultural Resources: The Pryor Mountains are rich is cultural history and highly valued by the Crow Tribe. There is a concern that known and unknown sites within the Pryor Mountains could be affected by road reconstruction and realignment. Additional concerns were evaluated, and the Forest Service determined that implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and design/mitigation criterion would be effective at minimizing impacts and/or protecting resources, including but not limited to: Incorporate and implement BMPs in the road design and during construction to minimize erosion and sedimentation Adhere to Forest Service standard practices to minimize the spread of noxious weeds Implement applicable mitigation measures to reduce impacts to wildlife, as recommended by the wildlife biologist. Design the road to maintain access to and protect range resources such as pipelines, fences, and stock tanks. Issues outside Scope of Analysis The following issues were raised in scoping in 2012, and are outside the scope of analysis: Changes to Beartooth Travel Decision regarding dispersed camping Maintenance and Reconstruction of Pryor Mountain Road (#2308) 3

4 Alternatives Considered but Dismissed from Detailed Analysis Alignment H - The Forest Service considered an alternate alignment of the Powerline Road designated as H on the enclosed map to reduce grade, and avoid crossing a draw. This alignment will not be considered in detail as it would create a parallel route and reduce options for phasing construction. Custer National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan The Powerline Road crosses NFS lands designated as Management Area (MA) B. The goal of MA B is to provide for the continuation of livestock grazing, implementation of intensive range management systems, and the facilitation of minerals and energy development with consideration of other resource needs (Forest Plan, p.45). A management area standard requires that semi-primitive motorized, and roaded natural recreation opportunities will be provided. Public Involvement Opportunity The Forest Service is interested in issues or concerns you may have with Powerline Road Project. In accordance with NEPA, potential environmental impacts will be considered, analyzed, and disclosed before a decision is made regarding project implementation. This request for comment and input is an attempt to collaboratively involve the public and other agencies in identifying concerns and issues associated with proposed activities. Comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, specific to the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action and include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Issues identified from public comment may be used to modify or add project design features and mitigations. Issues and concerns will also be utilized to determine the appropriate level of environmental analysis and documentation required by NEPA. Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral, and electronic comments will be accepted through October 27, Your name will be removed from the mailing list for this project if you do not provide comment or specifically request to remain on the list. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic comments: must be submitted in one of the following formats: an message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), or Word (.doc /.docx) to: comments-northerncuster-beartooth@fs.fed.us. Use the name of the project as the subject line of your (Powerline Road). Mail: Amy Waring, ID Team Leader; Custer-Gallatin National Forest, 1310 Main Street, Billings, MT Hand delivery/oral comments: Beartooth Ranger District (6811 Hwy 212 South, Red Lodge, MT 59068; (406) ). Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Fax: ; Attention Amy Waring 4

5 Please include your name, postal address, and telephone number in your comments. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record and will be available for public inspection. Information on the Powerline Road Project is also available for viewing and downloading on the Custer NF website at: For further information about the Powerline Road Project, please contact Amy Waring at Sincerely, TRAUTE PARRIE District Ranger Enclosures Vicinity Map Powerline Road Map 5