DECISION MEMO Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort 2013 Maintenance Projects May 2013

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1 DECISION MEMO Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort 2013 Maintenance Projects May 2013 USDA Forest Service, Mt. Hood National Forest Hood River Ranger District Hood River County, Oregon In January 1997, the Forest Service issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (Master Plan), including Forest Plan Amendment No. 10. The ROD and Master Plan defines the desired future condition for an expanded permit area; provides general direction for future development at Mt. Hood Meadows; and establishes winter sports design capacity and summer use maximum capacities. The approval for future development does not authorize specific facilities or uses, define the exact location of facilities, nor stipulate a timeline for development. Rather, it conceptually approves the number and approximate locations of lifts, additional ski terrain, base area expansions, other winter facilities and uses, access and service roads, and summer uses. Implementation requires additional site-specific environmental analysis pursuant to requirements in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Hood River Ranger District is completing a Decision Memo for the two maintenance projects as required by the Master Plan ROD. These projects are the Shooting Star sign relocation and fiber optic installation. Both projects are located within the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort Permit Area, located at T3S, R9E, Section 4. Purpose and Need for Action The overall purpose of these projects is to complete maintenance projects within Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Permit Area in order to ensure the safe and enjoyable winter recreation experience for employees and visitors. As such there is any underlying need to complete routine maintenance projects and to provide for additional services to visitors and employees. Shooting Star sign replacement is considered a routine maintenance project and the fiber optic installation will improve visitor services. See the attached project map for all 2013 maintenance projects, including those that do not require documentation in a Decision Memo. Proposed Action Shooting Star Sign Relocation: At the top of Shooting Star chairlift, the sign will be removed from its current location and two new signs will be constructed just downhill. The new sign will be built in front of the electrical transformer at the top of Shooting Star Chairlift. The old sign will be disassembled and removed. A mini-excavator will be used to pull dirt back from the high spot where the old sign was located. The new sign will include two 24-inch round

2 Mt. Hood Meadows 2013 Maintenance CE 2 plastic concrete forms that are installed in a four to six foot deep hole with near-vertical sides. The sign will hang on galvanized steel posts. The sign will be placed by an excavator and concrete will be mixed by hand and poured into the concrete form. In addition, the project includes minor grading directly under the old sign location to allow for gravity fed access of skiers into the inner limits ski run. Fiber Optic Installation: Temporary fiber line will be installed at bottom of the Hood River Meadows (HRM) lift. Construction includes digging 24-inch deep trench, installing conduit, and backfilling. Trenching will occur between HRM tower 1 and turnout on service road (length of about 150-feet). A mini-excavator will be used to dig this trench. The top soil will be saved and placed on top after backfilling, and then native seed will be spread on the disturbed area. Project Design Features/Mitigation Measures The National Environmental Policy Act defines mitigation as avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing, eliminating or compensating project impacts presented in the proposed action. These project design features are used to minimize the environmental impacts of the proposed actions. The following are a required component of the proposed action to address resource management concerns and to guide the removal of trees for restoration projects. Any impacted whitebark pine trees should be transplanted to a known area with high survival rate, if feasible. The trees should be recovered with a root ball sufficient to ensure survival. Transplanting should occur in the fall after soil-saturating rain. If it is not feasible to transplant the impacted whitebark pine, a new rust resistant seedling will be planted within the permit area. If equipment is needed from outside the Mt. Hood Meadows permit area Forest Service policy requires the cleaning of all heavy equipment (bulldozers, skidders, graders, backhoes, dump trucks, etc.) prior to entering National Forest System Lands. A forest Service officer (Permit Administrator) will inspect off-road equipment prior to start of work to ensure it is free of all soil, seeds, vegetative matter, and other debris that could hold or contain seeds. This requirement does not apply to service vehicles, water trucks, pickups, cars, and/or similar vehicles (R6/SPS Work). Apply seed from native sedges and forbs collected from plants within the Mt. Hood Meadows Permit area (seed may be collected during August-September and sowed directly on-site); or consult with a Forest Service employee for a supply of local native Forest Service grass seed. Erosion control material must be certified weed-free. Consult with the Forest Service for native seed supply and sources of weed-free mulch. The Mt. Hood Meadows Annual Operating Plan (AOP) requires Mt. Hood Meadows to mitigate and monitor invasive plant species (AOP Vegetation Management Item #23). Mt. Hood Meadows should continue to monitor the presence of knapweed in the flower beds around the Mt. Hood Meadows Day Lodge (with the help of the Forest Service) and should pull or dig plants before they are in full bloom to ensure the species does not spread into disturbed areas within the permit area. 2

3 Mt. Hood Meadows 2013 Maintenance CE 3 Due to the vicinity of the northern spotted owl nest to this project, there is a seasonal restriction from March 1st to July 31st within a disruption distance of 65 yards of the nest patch for chainsaws and heavy machinery. Specifically, Nordic trail stump grinding and downed tree clean up. Beyond that disruption distance, work can occur earlier then July 31st. Brushing will occur after July 31st to allow for the end of nesting season for Neotropical migrants. Within Riparian Reserves, implement erosion control measures aimed at eliminating sediment introduction from ground disturbing activities. Maintain compliance with Mt. Hood National Forest Industrial Fire Precautions Levels. Conduct a complete fire inspection within the first week of operations during the fire precautionary period. Fire extinguishers are to be provided for use with each internal combustion engine and must be serviceable and readily accessible. All extinguishers must be rated at least 5 B, C or larger and have been rated by the Underwriter's Laboratory. In addition to the extinguisher each power driven piece of equipment, except portable fire pumps, shall be equipped with one "D" handled or longer rounded point shovel, size 0 or larger and a double-bit axe or Pulaski, weighing at least 3 ½ pounds. Scoping and Pubic Involvement The Forest Service conducted public scoping and notice & comment periods concurrently to identify any concerns with the proposed activities. The comment period was provided pursuant to the March 6, 2012, judicial ruling in Sequoia ForestKeeper v. Tidwell, order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. The Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort 2013 Maintenance Projects was published on the Mt. Hood National Forest website in January A legal notice was published in The Oregonian (Newspaper of Record) on March 6, A letter was distributed to approximately 70 individuals and organizations, including local, state, tribal and federal governmental agencies; environmental groups; and local non-profits organizations including watershed groups. Through these efforts, one supportive comment was received from Friends of Mt. Hood on these projects. Decision I have decided to implement these projects as proposed. It is my decision to implement the two projects as described above to conduct routine maintenance and improvement visitor services within the permit area. The projects will relocate Shooting Star ski trail signs and install a fiber optic cable. Reasons for Categorical Exclusion I find the proposed action for Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort 2013 Maintenance projects can be categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental 3

4 Mt. Hood Meadows 2013 Maintenance CE 4 Impact State because the action fits into Category [36 CFR 220.6(e)(3)], described in Forest Service Handbook , April 17, This category states: Approval, modification, or continuation of minor special uses of National Forest System lands that require less than five contiguous acres of land. I find the proposed actions can be categorically excluded because there are no extraordinary circumstances identified by the interdisciplinary team of resource specialists that analyzed this proposal. Resource conditions that were considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstance related to the proposed action warrant further analysis and documentation are listed below (A-F). As stated in Section 30.3 of the handbook, the mere presence of one or more of these resource conditions does not preclude use of a categorical exclusion. It is the degree of the potential effect of a proposed action on these resource conditions that determines whether extraordinary circumstances exist (FSH ). A. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. The Endangered Species Act requires that federal activities do not jeopardize the continued existence of any species federally listed or proposed as threatened or endangered, or result in adverse modification to such species designated critical habitat. Biological Evaluations were prepared for sensitive, threatened or endangered wildlife, fish and botanical species. These are available in the project record, located at the Hood River Ranger District in Parkdale, Oregon. Northern spotted owls are the only federally listed and sensitive species wildlife species in or adjacent to the project area. The fiber optic line installation may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect northern spotted owls (Strix occidentials caurina) because work will occur after the critical breeding period, and because fledglings and adults are able to move away from disturbance at that point. The sign relocation project has no effect to northern spotted owls because no critical habitat, suitable or dispersal habitat will be removed, and no noise disturbance will occur from this project. The effects associated with this project are covered under Informal programmatic consultation for activities with the potential to disturb spotted owls (Strix occidentials caurina) within the Willamette Planning Province for FY (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Reference: I-0127). As such, no additional consultation is required as part of this project. Within the permit area, there are no listed fish present. Critical habitat and essential fish habitat is not designated in the action area streams under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Lastly, there are no federally threatened or endangered botanical species in the project area. Consultation is not required for aquatic or botanical species. B. Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. Analysis for the effects of the project on floodplains, wetlands and municipal watersheds is included in the Fisheries Biological Evaluations contained in the project record. The riparian/stream impacts are negligible; instream channel complexity will remain the same, connections to floodplains and wetlands will be unaltered, and water quality (turbidity) would only experience short term increases. As such, the proposed project will not impair floodplain function. There are no municipal 4

5 Mt. Hood Meadows 2013 Maintenance CE 5 watersheds or wetlands in the action area. C. Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. The project is not located in congressionally designated areas. D. Inventoried roadless areas. The project is not located in inventoried roadless areas. E. Research natural areas. The project is not located in research natural areas. F. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites / Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. A complete heritage resource inventory survey was performed for the proposed projects. The heritage resource survey followed protocol established in the 2004 Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement between the Region 6 USDA Forest Service, the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. No heritage resources will be negatively affected by the project. Findings Required by Other Laws National Forest Management Act: The interdisciplinary team reviewed the applicable Standards and Guidelines of this proposal. The analysis demonstrated that this decision is consistent the Mt. Hood Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), as amended, as required by the National Forest Management Act. Management Indicator Species (MIS): The impacts to MIS are included in the fisheries and wildlife biological evaluations available in the project record. The aquatic MIS within the project area is cutthroat trout. Wildlife MIS within the project area include the northern spotted owl, mule deer and elk, and pine marten. I find that the selected alternative is consistent with the Forest Plan standards and guidelines pertaining to MIS, and that based on the limited effects to any MIS, this project does not contribute towards a negative trend in viability on the Forest. Regional Forester s Sensitive Species: I have considered the impacts to sensitive aquatic, wildlife and botanical species as disclosed in the aquatic, wildlife and botanical biological evaluations (available in the project record). All resource areas used the Region 6 Regional Forester s 2011 Sensitive Species list for this analysis. The only botanical sensitive species within the permit area is Calamargrostis breweri. The known sites are outside of areas that might be impacted by proposed project activities. The only aquatic sensitive species present is Scott s Apatanian caddisfly. None of the projects will result in direct effects to this species. There will be some minimal soil disturbance that will be localized and relatively short-term. Lastly, there are no wildlife sensitive species within the action area. As such, the maintenance projects have no effect to sensitive species. Northwest Forest Plan: I have determined that the Proposed Action is consistent with the Standards and Guidelines for the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) Record of Decision (USDA and USDI, 1994), including the subsequent decisions regarding the Aquatic Conservation Strategy and Survey and Manage. 5

6 Mt. Hood Meadows 2013 Maintenance CE 6 Aquatic Conservation Strategy: I find that this project is consistent with the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) objectives. The ACS analysis is contained in the project record. At the site scale, conditions described in the nine ACS objectives will be maintained because the riparian/stream impacts are negligible. The indicators address water quality, habitat access, habitat elements, channel conditions and dynamics, flow/hydrology, and watershed conditions. This project will maintain the nine objectives by restoring floodplain connectivity and function, and the distribution of large woody debris. Survey and Manage: No habitat for aquatic, wildlife or botanical survey and manage species was present, within the project area so surveys were not required. As such, this project is consistent with all survey requirements from the Record of Decision and Standards and Guidelines for Amendments to the Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines (USFS et al. 2001). Clean Water Act and State Water Quality Laws: The aquatics biological evaluation has determined that this project complies with the Clean Water Act and state water quality laws, which will protect beneficial uses. With project design criteria and Best Management Practices, water quality will be maintained through implementation of this Proposed Action. Invasive Plants: By considering the prevention of invasive plant introduction, establishment and spread of invasive plants, the planning process is consistent with the Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Program Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Record of Decision issued in 2005 and the Site-Specific Invasive Plant Treatments for Mt. Hood National Forest and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon, including Forest Plan Amendment #16 Record of Decision issued in A noxious weed risk assessment was prepared for this project. Other Laws or Requirements: Finding associated with the Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and National Historic Preservation Act are discussed under the Reasons for Categorical Exclusion section of this document. The Proposed Action is consistent with all other Federal, State, or local laws or requirements for the protection of the environment and cultural resources. Implementation Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort will be implementing the project in coordination with the Forest Service. This decision is not subject to appeal pursuant to Forest Service regulations 36 CFR (e)(1), because only supportive comments were received during the 30-day comment period, which ran from March 6 through April 8, Implementation may occur immediately after publication of the legal notice in the Newspaper of Record (The Oregonian) pursuant to 36 CFR 215.9(c)(1). Implementation is scheduled to occur in the Summer/Fall

7 Mt. Hood Meadows 2013 Maintenance CE 7 Contact Person Detailed records of this environmental analysis are available for public review at the Hood River Ranger District. For further information about this decision or the Forest Service appeal process, please contact Jennie O Connor Card at the Hood River Ranger Station, 6780 Highway 35, Mt. Hood-Parkdale, Oregon 97041; Phone: ; Fax: ; or jennieoconnorcard@fs.fed.us. Also, you may contact Amber Burleigh at or adburleigh@fs.fed.us. SIGNATURE OF DECIDING OFFICER /s/ Joy Archuleta May 13, 2013 Joy Archuleta Date Acting District Ranger, Hood River Ranger District The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC or call (202) (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 7