Woodland Management in the Indian Creek Wildlife Habitat Restoration Initiative Area

Transcription

1 DECISION NOTICE AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Woodland Management in the Indian Creek Wildlife Habitat Restoration Initiative Area USDA Forest Service Region 8 Sumter National Forest Enoree Ranger District Newberry County, South Carolina The Enoree Ranger District, Sumter National Forest has decided to implement wildlife management activities in the Indian Creek Wildlife Habitat Restoration Initiative Area. The purpose of the project is to provide and manage for quail, dove, songbirds and other wildlife and native plant species associated with grassland/meadow, open land, savanna and woodland ecosystems. There is a need to increase early seral stage and woodland habitats due to a decline of this type of habitat throughout the piedmont. The project will also reduce fuel loading in dense pine stands and create conditions where prescribed fire will be used on a more frequent basis. Reducing stocking levels in pine stands will lower the susceptibility to southern pine beetle attack and also promote understory herbaceous development. Decision I have decided to implement Alternative 2. This alternative with design criteria and monitoring best meets the Purpose and Need as stated in the Woodland Management in the Indian Creek Wildlife Habitat Restoration Initiative Area Environmental Assessment (EA). The decision involves creating and maintaining woodland habitat, early successional habitat, savanna habitat, meadow habitat and open land habitat to benefit wildlife and enhance/develop understory native plant communities. Intermediate thinnings will also be done in some overstocked stands to improve tree growth and vigor and to facilitate ongoing prescribed burning activities in the area. Woodland Habitat Establishment and Maintenance (770 acres) Stands to be treated are comprised of mostly mature loblolly pine stands and mixed loblolly pine-hardwood stands. Current stand densities range from square feet of basal area per acre (BA) with little herbaceous understory. Residual basal areas will generally range from 30 to 40 BA for some stands to 50 to 60 BA for others. One stand will be managed to 60 to 70 BA. Management Prescription 8.B.2., Woodland and Grassland/Savanna Habitats Generally speaking, stands in this management prescription will be managed at lower basal areas. Desirable hard mast species (e.g., oaks and hickories) and soft mast species (e.g., black cherry, persimmon, and dogwood) will be retained to maintain this food source for wildlife. 1

2 Management Prescription 10.B., High Quality Forest Products Generally speaking, basal areas will average BA in these areas in order to sustain another harvest in these stands in future years. Compartment 147/stand 10 is the exception and will be thinned to BA to improve stand health. All stands will be maintained as pine woodlands with primarily open native grass and herbaceous understories. Herbicide will be used to control early pioneering species such as, but not limited to, sweetgum and other undesirable woody species. Prescribed burning under an existing decision will be done to eliminate undesirable vegetation and will be used on a 2-3 year cycle (both dormant and growing season burns) to maintain herbaceous and grassy understories of native species throughout the area. Quail patches and native grass strips will be created in both management prescription areas. Existing Woodland Habitat Maintenance (818 acres) Existing woodlands will be maintained with herbicide to control early pioneering vegetation. Prescribed burning will be done on a 2-3 year cycle under an existing prescribed burn decision. Savanna Habitat Establishment and Maintenance (70 acres) Compartment 124/stands 4 and 10 have a current density ranging from BA and will be managed as savanna habitat. Prescribed burning under an existing decision will be used on a 2-3 year cycle to maintain grassy and herbaceous understories of native species throughout the area. Herbicide will also be used to control early pioneering woody species such as, but not limited to, sweetgum. Intermediate Thinning (190 acres) The residual basal area in stands following thinning will range from BA. Dominant and co-dominant pines will be left as well as desirable oaks and hickories. All except one of the units will be periodically prescribed burned. Early Successional Habitat Establishment and Maintenance The establishment and maintenance of early successional habitat is proposed in compartments 125, 126, 146, 147, 148, and 149. Quail Patches/Native Warm Season Grass Strips (25 acres embedded within proposed harvest units) Small (1/2 to 2 acres) herbaceous/grass (e.g., partridge pea, ragweed and native warm season grass strips) openings and linear strips will be established and maintained in various sites within proposed harvest units. These areas will be located on mostly flat (no highly erosive soils), upland (dry) terrain and will be located on existing log decks and skid trails. These areas will be maintained and improved using mechanical methods (e.g., bush hog, disks, chainsaw, mastication, etc.), prescribed burning, herbicide and planting (e.g., seedbed preparation, fertilizing, liming and seeding). Meadow Habitat Establishment and Maintenance (28 acres) A meadow or native grassland will be established and maintained in compartment 146/stand 25. All trees will be cut using conventional timber harvest methods. Slash remaining after timber harvest will be burned or removed and stumps within the meadow/grassland area will be ground up to within ground level in order to prepared seedbed and to allow disking and mowing 2

3 within the area. Prescribed fire and herbicide will be used to maintain desired conditions for meadow habitat for the long term. Mechanical brushwork (e.g., bush hogging, mowing, and mastication) will be needed to control mainly woody vegetation that was not controlled by prescribed fire. Field Borders (10 acres around the dovefield) A field border consisting of a low basal area of trees, native warm season grasses forbs, annuals and non-invasive legumes will be established and maintained around the dovefield. Periodic disking and seeding will be needed to maintained desired conditions. Open Land Habitat Establishment and Maintenance Dovefield (40 acres) In compartment 146, the two existing wildlife fields and the surrounding area will be developed and maintained as a dovefield. Establishment of cultivated portions of the dovefield will be accomplished by removing trees and stumps, clearing land and conditioning the soil where topography permits (less than 5% slope). Unmerchantable material and stumps will be chipped/ground-up, piled and/or dispersed around the edge of the unit. The areas will then be disked, seeded and maintained in an open condition. Crop species planted in the dovefield will include but not be limited to browntop millet, winter wheat, corn, sunflower and sorghum. Nonnative invasive species will be treated with herbicide under an existing decision. Maintenance work will consist of disking, seeding, mowing, crop rotation, using herbicides, liming, fertilizing, and prescribed burning (see Table 1 for timing of maintenance activities). Agricultural practices will occur on the contour or planted with no-till seeding. Crop rotation and winter/spring disking (as weather permits) will be used to control emergent grasses. Herbicides will be used as needed to control native and non-native invasive plant species that reduce effectiveness of planting and crop rotations. Prescribed burning will be used to control woody vegetation and parch seeds to reduce sprouting of undesirable plants as well as prepare the field for fall hunting season. Table 1. Dovefield Maintenance Activities Spring Summer Fall May June: liming and fertilizing April June: disking, planting and herbicide July August: mowing, burning and herbicide 3 October November: disking and planting Maintenance activities will include applying glyphosate, a post-emergent herbicide, in combination with disking, mowing, crop rotation and prescribed burning. Glyphosate will be applied at an estimated rate of 1.07 pounds per acre between July and August. Glyphosate will also be sprayed on corn, sunflowers, and winter wheat to defoliate and brown the vegetation to provide weed control. It will be applied using equipment such as a tractor boom low-volume sprayer. Backpack sprayers will be used if smaller areas need to be treated. Additional herbicides will be used to control grasses if disking does not provide adequate control of crab grass and non-native invasive species such as Johnson grass, Bermuda grass and tall fescue. A mixture of imazapyr and water will be used (imazapyr at an estimated rate of 0.31 lbs. per acre) as a mid-summer control of Bermuda grass or non-native invasive plants such as, but not limited to, sickle pod and horse nettle. These species are more difficult to control with

4 glyphosate alone and may require periodic use of this herbicide. Selected areas or the entire field may be burned 30 days after vegetation has been treated with herbicide. Woodlands, Savannas, Quail Patches and Meadow Herbicide Applications Herbicide will be used in conjunction with prescribed burning to control encroachment of unwanted woody vegetation in proposed treatments listed in Table 2, except for the intermediate thinnings. Herbicide will be selectively applied at label rates to control sprouting of hardwood species, such as sweetgum and maple, and pine seedlings in areas where treatments remove a substantial portion of the overstory. Areas where native plants exist or are developing will not be treated if they meet desired conditions. All treated areas will be monitored to determine the need for further herbicide treatments. Treated areas will be prescribed burned no sooner than 30 days following herbicide treatments. Low-volume backpack sprayers and tractor mounted booms will be used to apply herbicide to target vegetation. The hack-and-squirt method will be used in conjunction with foliar treatments to control larger vegetation (hardwoods and unmerchantable loblolly pine) remaining after harvest. Foliar Spray - Herbicides will be applied using a backpack sprayer to spray the foliage of targeted plants. A mixture containing 0.5 ounce of imazapyr (Arsenal AC or equivalent), 1 ounce of a water-soluble dye spray pattern indicator, and 0.5 ounce of limonene adjuvant per gallon of water will be used. The anticipated application rate will be ten gallons of mix, 5 ounces of imazapyr per acre. Herbicides will be applied to targeted vegetation by speckling the leaf surface during the period of June through early October of the second or third growing season. All treated areas will be monitored for further follow-up treatments after the initial treatment. All downed vegetation will be left on-site to decompose. Hack-n-Squirt - Targeted vegetation (greater than six feet tall) will be treated with imazapyr (Arsenal AC or equivalent) and triclopyr (Garlon 3A or equivalent) herbicide that is sprayed/injected into cuts made into the cambium layer with a manual cutting tool (such as an axe or sandvik). The herbicide mixture used will be 50 percent triclopyr, 50 percent water, plus 6 ounces of Arsenal AC per gallon of water. All treated areas will be monitored for further follow-up treatments after the initial treatment. All treated vegetation will be left on-site to decompose. *NOTE: Commercial herbicides/adjuvant/dyes (Garlon 3A, Arsenal AC, Cidekick, and Bullseye) represent those formulations that are commonly used for the proposed forestry treatments. However, other equivalent formulations may be used for implementation of the proposed treatments. Equivalent formulations will include any other brand name herbicides that have an equivalent proportion of the specified active and inert ingredients. 4

5 Table 2. Proposed Action Treatment Table Compt. Stand Acres Prescription Activities (periodic or one time) Savanna habitat establishment and maintenance Savanna habitat establishment and maintenance maintenance - Thin to BA/Acre Woodland habitat maintenance Woodland habitat maintenance maintenance - Thin to BA/Acre Woodland habitat maintenance Woodland habitat establishment - Thin to BA/Acre Mechanical mid-story removal using mastication Woodland habitat maintenance maintenance - Thin dense pine clumps to 50-60BA/Acre maintenance - Thin to BA/Acre maintenance/mixed pine/hardwood habitat - Thin to 50 BA/Acre Woodland habitat maintenance maintenance maintenance - Thin to BA/Acre 5 Mechanical mid-story removal using mastication. Mechanical mid-story removal using mastication. Select to remove pines and undesirable hardwoods during thin. Herbicide release to control early pioneering vegetation. Prescribed burn on 2-3 year cycle. Thin to BA/acre, remove undesirable hardwoods. Herbicide to control early pioneering vegetation. Prescribed burn on 2-3 year cycle Woodland habitat maintenance Woodland habitat maintenance

6 maintenance - Thin to BA/Acre Intermediate Thinning - Thin to BA/Acre maintenance - Thin to 50 BA/Acre maintenance Meadow establishment and maintenance Permanent dovefield establishment with field borders and maintenance maintenance - Thin to 50 BA/Acre maintenance - Thin to BA/Acre maintenance - Thin to BA/Acre Woodland habitat maintenance Woodland habitat maintenance Woodland habitat maintenance Woodland habitat maintenance maintenance - Thin heavier portions of stand to BA/Acre for a total of BA/Acre for entire stand maintenance - Thin heavier portions Area west of the creek will not be treated. Thin to BA/acre, remove undesirable hardwoods. Herbicide to control early pioneering vegetation. Prescribed burn on 2-3 year cycle. Remove all slash and grind stumps to ground level for seedbed preparation. Herbicide to control early pioneering vegetation. Prescribed burn on 2-3 year cycle. In addition, use manual/mechanical methods (mastication) to control undesirable tree species. Remove all slash and stumps within dovefield area for seedbed preparation. Herbicide to control native and non-native invasive plant species. Maintain in open condition by disking and seeding. Prescribe burn as part of dovefield maintenance and preparation. Mechanical mid-story removal using mastication. 6

7 of stand to BA/Acre for a total of BA/Acre for entire stand Woodland habitat maintenance Woodland habitat maintenance Intermediate Thinning - Thin to BA/Acre Intermediate Thinning - Thin to BA/Acre Intermediate Thinning - Thin to BA/Acre Total 1,916 Thin to BA/acre. Prescribed burn on 3-5 year cycle. Thin to BA/acre. Prescribed burn on 3-5 year cycle. Thin to BA/acre. Prescribed burn on 3-5 year cycle. 7

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10 Connected Actions Skid Trails, Landings and Roads Connected actions associated with this project include construction of skid trails, landings and temporary roads/access ramps (estimated at 1.1 mile) for the commercial removal and loading or chipping of trees on site. Logs will be skidded with heavy equipment to landings where they will be decked for removal by logging trucks. Existing and new skid trails will be used during skidding operations. The Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, Sumter National Forest (Forest Plan) standards including South Carolina s Best Management Practices for Forestry (BMPs) and site-specific design criteria will be used to limit exposure of bare soil and protect streams from sedimentation. Typically, skid trails and landings are water-barred and re-vegetated to reduce soil erosion. A mixture of annuals and native warm season grasses will be used for revegetation of these areas to reduce erosion. System road reconstruction and maintenance (estimated at 10.8 miles) will be needed. Reconstruction work will consist of, but not be limited to, gravelling road surfaces, replacing culverts, ditch cleaning, removing brush and trees along road rights-of-way, installing or replacing gates and correcting road safety hazards. Maintenance will consist of spot gravel, road grading, cleaning culverts, light brushing and mowing. Design Criteria Design Criteria are incorporated from the following documents: The Forest Plan provides specific standards and guidelines to ensure proper layout of units and during project implementation. South Carolina s Best Management Practices for Forestry (South Carolina Forestry Commission 1994). Soil and Water Conservation Practices Guide, Southern Region, (U.S. Department of Agriculture 2002). 1. Identified heritage sites will be avoided during site disturbing activities associated with logging and follow-up treatments. 2. Identified PETS species location will be avoided during site disturbing activities associated with logging and follow-up cultural treatments. 3. Temporary roads and skid trails will be located in such a manner to roll with the terrain to reduce water concentrations. Drainage dips and lead-outs will be incorporated in construction of temporary roads. Gully crossings will be avoided and water from roads will not be directed into gullies. 10

11 4. Skid trails and log decks will be seeded, fertilized and mulched at the time each harvest area is closed. Seed mixtures will include native grasses and legumes or other desired non-native species beneficial to wildlife and native ecosystems and include local ecotypes and species native to Newberry County. Savannas and woodlands will be supplemented as needed to ensure diversity and abundance of native herbaceous understory is increased. The forest botanist will be consulted on selection of appropriate species. 5. Trees will not be harvested within gullies or on steep slopes adjacent to gullies unless needed to promote stabilization or recovery efforts. 6. Streams will be identified on sale area maps and protective measures will be specified in the timber sale contract. 7. Desirable oaks and hickories will be retained within treatment stands. 8. Hardwood inclusions, to be protected within and adjacent to harvest units, will be identified on-the-ground and on the sale area map of the timber sale contract. 9. Check dams will be installed in ephemeral stream channels adjacent to harvest units to arrest any impacts from harvest units. Check dams will not be used in intermittent or perennial streams. 10. Water-bars on skid trails that cross ephemeral streams will be constructed and maintained to avoid discharging water directly into stream channels. Water-bars will be reconstructed and skid roads revegetated at the time each harvest area is closed. Skid roads will be blocked to limit motorized vehicle use. 11. Erosion control devices such as diversions and temporary rock sediment dams will be installed prior to road reconstruction and maintenance activities where needed to deter soil runoff into streams. Erosion control devices will be maintained in working order throughout project activities including linear wildlife strips and until plant growth is established and stable enough to control runoff and erosion. Road ditch lines will not be routed toward stream crossings, but instead into vegetative buffers. 12. The spread of nonnative invasive plant species will be minimized by ensuring equipment cleaning provisions are met, that no non-native invasive species are planted and that invasive plant species are treated that have the potential to impact resource management objectives in the project area. 13. Flowering and other visually attractive trees and understory shrubs will be favored when leaving vegetation in Compt 126, Stand 15, Compt. 147, Stand 10 and Compt. 146, Stand 7. 11

12 14. Slash is treated to within an average of 4 feet of the ground when visible within about 50 feet of major roads in compartment 126, stand 15; compartment 147, stand 10 and compartment 146, Stand Leave tree or unit marking is applied so as to not be visible within 100 feet along SC Hwy 121/176 (compartment 126, stand 15; compartment 147, stand 10 and compartment 146, Stand 7). 16. When possible, log landings, roads and bladed skid trails will be located out of view to minimize bare mineral soil being seen from SC Highway 121 and Woodland/openings will be shaped and oriented to land contours and existing vegetation patterns to blend with existing landscape characteristics where visible from SC Highway 121 and 176, (compartment 126, stand 15; compartment 147, stand 10 and compartment 146, Stand 7). 18. Dovefield disking, liming and fertilizing will not be implemented when rain events are expected. Exposed soils will be monitored and erosion control measures implemented if off-site movement of soil occurs with this annual activity. 19. Water used for mixing herbicides and for cleaning equipment will come from a public water supply and be transported to the site in separate labeled containers. 20. Trucks containing herbicide or tank mixed herbicide will not be allowed to park within 200 feet of streams or other bodies of water. 21. Weather conditions will be monitored and herbicide applications scheduled so that drift is minimized or eliminated. In addition, herbicides will not be applied previous to or during periods of rain. Monitoring Activities and effects will be monitored to ensure compliance with the Forest Plan. Monitoring activities will ensure that the herbicide work complies with federal regulations during transportation, mixing and application. Monitoring is done through project plan reviews and periodic on-site evaluations. Follow-up evaluations will determine the effectiveness of the proposed treatments. Timber harvest activities will be supervised by a Forest Service timber sale administrator. Soil samples will be periodically analyzed to determine the proper amount of both lime and fertilizers needed to obtain the desired condition. Understory vegetation will be monitored on a periodic basis to ensure that the abundance and diversity of native herbaceous understory species is increased and improved. The project area will also be monitored for the introduction and spread of non-native invasive plant species. 12

13 Reasons for the Decision I considered the environmental effects of the alternatives in making my decision. The reasons for selecting Alternative 2 were: My decision will provide for the establishment of a variety of habitat conditions that will benefit quail, doves, songbirds and other wildlife associated with grassland/meadow, open land, savanna and woodland ecosystems. My decision will also create an open canopy structure that will benefit native perennial herbaceous species, native forbs and legumes historically found in the piedmont. My decision will reduce dense stocking in pine stands and foster development of understory grasses and forbs and allow prescribed burning to be more effective in reducing fuel loadings and maintain this type of habitat for the long term. My decision will improve tree growth in thinned stands. My decision will augment previous decisions in the Indian Creek Wildlife Habitat Restoration Initiative Area that has restored woodlands on both public and private lands. My decision will improve hunting opportunities in the area. In making this decision, I also considered the Forest Plan and associated Environmental Impact Statement and the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) regulations. Other documents that I considered in making my decision were the Biological Evaluation and comments received during scoping and the 30-day notice and comment periods (contained in the project file). Alternatives Considered Two other alternatives were considered in detail in the Environmental Assessment. Alternative 1 Only projects covered under previous environmental decisions will have been implemented along with ongoing recreational activities and road maintenance. I did not select this alternative because it did not meet the purpose and need. Undesirable woody vegetation such as sweet gum and maple would have continued to dominate the understory vegetation. Habitat diversity would be less under this alternative than under alternative 2. Alternative 3 I did not select this alternative because the use of herbicide is needed to ensure the establishment of the preferred tree species and to increase habitat diversity. Herbicide use would more effectively establish and maintain the desired vegetation composition of grasses and forbs. This 13

14 alternative would take longer to implement and be more expensive and less effective than alternative 2. An alternative action that relied on biological methods of control was considered but not developed because no established grazing allotments exist on the district to contain domestic animals [Final Environmental Impact Statement, Vegetation Management in the Coastal Plain/Piedmont, (VEGEIS)]. Other potential biologic methods are not yet operational for forestry. Public Involvement On March 12, 2009, a scoping letter was sent to interested agencies, groups, and individuals asking for input on the proposed action. This proposal was also listed in the Schedule of Proposed Actions, for the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. All public comments received during scoping were considered by the interdisciplinary team (IDT). Three comment letters can be found in the project file from that scoping process. The first 30-day notice and comment period (refer to 36 CFR and 215.5) was published in the paper of record on January 13, Several changes were made to the proposed action after internal IDT discussions and data review. The changes included: the removal of two stands from the proposed action (compartment 124/stand 1, and compartment 147/stand 6) due to operability concerns; the establishment of a permanent dovefield in Compartment 146; and, the addition of two stands into the herbicide treatment and prescribed burning regime (compartment 14/stands 4 and 10). These stands were thinned to ft 2 /acre of basal area (BA) under a previous decision and would be maintained as savanna habitat using prescribed burning and herbicide treatments. The project was rescoped starting July 17, 2011 and also included notification of the second 30- day notice and comment period. Three comment letters were received. All public input is contained in the project record. Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations Forest Plan Consistency The selective alternative is consistent with the Forest Plan. Forest-wide goals, objectives and standards and management prescriptions are described in Chapter 2 and 3 of the Forest Plan. National Forest Management Act (NFMA) Timber will be harvested in accordance with the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) as specified under 16 U.S.C (g)(3)(e) and (F). Chapter 3 of the environmental assessment and the associated project file discloses the effects of harvest on soils and watershed conditions. Design criteria, Forest Plan standards and guidelines, including BMPs will be followed. These actions will provide protection to streams, stream banks, wetlands and other bodies of water from detrimental changes in water temperatures and deposits of sediment that could impact aquatic 14

15 species or habitat. The harvesting system was not selected because it will give the greatest dollar return or the greatest unit output of timber (EA pages 92-93). The potential environmental, biological, esthetic, engineering, and economic impacts have been assessed (EA, Chapter 3, pages ). Maximum size limits for meadows, woodlands and savannas are consistent with the Forest Plan (page 2-17, FW-54). All harvesting will be carried out in a manner that protects soil, water, fish, wildlife, recreation, and esthetic resources and the timber resource (EA, Chapter 3, pages and Biological Assessment/Evaluation (BA/E) and Amendment #1, BA/E). Biological Assessment/Evaluation (BA/E), Heritage Resources, Travel Analysis Process A BA/E and Amendment #1 were completed for this project. Since all threatened and endangered species were eliminated from consideration due to lack of habitat in the project area, ESA Section 7 consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service is not necessary (BA/E, page 6). The BA/E determined that there would be no impact to Bachman s sparrow, Georgia Aster, indigo bush, migrant loggerhead shrike and sweet pinesap. Based on the effects analysis in the BA/E, activities will improve habitat for Bachman s sparrow, Georgia aster and migrant loggerhead shrike by creating woodlands and early successional habitat. Activities will also improve habitat quality for indigo bush and sweet pinesap by improving tree growth and vigor. The project area was surveyed for heritage resources and a report submitted to the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). SHPO consultation concurred with the finding that no properties eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (Class1) or unevaluated sites (Class 2) will be adversely affected by the project (letters signed on May 19, 2009 and June 29, 2009). A travel analysis was completed following direction in FSH and FSM Authority. The analysis is located in the project file. 15

16 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) I have determined that Alternative 2 will not have a significant effect on the human environment based on the significance criteria of both context and intensity as defined by the National Environmental Policy Act in 40 CFR This alternative with design criteria and monitoring best meets the Purpose and Need as stated in the Woodland Management in the Indian Creek Wildlife Habitat Restoration Initiative Area Environmental Assessment (EA). I have concluded that an environmental impact statement is not necessary based on the following factors: Context The physical, biological, and social effects are limited to the project area and immediate adjacent areas, which are analyzed in Chapter 3 of the EA. All actions are consistent with the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, Sumter National Forest and all environmental effects are within the range disclosed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Revised Sumter National Forest. Intensity 1. Both adverse and beneficial impacts of the selected alternative are discussed and there are no significant adverse effects of the selected alternative. There are no known significant irreversible resource commitments or any significant irretrievable losses of timber production (EA pages 9-11, pages and page 100), wildlife habitats (EA pages 62-88), soil productivity (EA pages 28-34) or water quality (EA, pages 35-50). 2. The assessment describes the risks associated with each of the alternatives. Public health and safety will be minimally affected by the selected alternative. (EA, pages 94-97) 3. The analysis identified no significant impacts to any unique areas. (EA, Chapter 3, pages and Biological Assessment/Evaluation (BA/E) and Amendment #1, BA/E) 4. The effects on the quality of the human environment are not likely to be controversial based on public involvement and with input from the interdisciplinary team. (EA, Chapter 1, page 11 and 12) 5. This action is similar to many past actions, both in the analysis area and adjacent areas. There will not be any highly uncertain effects that involve unique or unknown risks. (EA, section 1.1, pages 4-6, section 1.5, pages 9-11, Chapter 3, pages ) 6. This project will not set precedence for future actions with significant effects or represents a decision in principle about future projects. (EA, section 1.7, Decision to be Made, page 11) 7. There are no known significant cumulative effects from this project and other past or reasonably foreseeable projects in the area. (EA, Chapter 3, pages ) 16

17 8. There are no significant impacts on any proposed or listed National Historic places or any loss or destruction of any scientific, cultural or historic places. The direct, indirect and cumulative effects are disclosed in the EA (pages 91-92). Design criteria in the EA will protect sites and any new ones discovered during implementation. SHPO consultation concurred with the finding that no properties eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (Class1) or unevaluated sites (Class 2) will be adversely affected by the project (letters signed on May 19, 2009 and June 29, 2009). 9. A Biological Assessment/Evaluation and Amendment #1 were completed for this project. All threatened and endangered species were eliminated from consideration due to lack of habitat in the project area. ESA Section 7 consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service is not necessary (BA/E, page 6). 10. The actions do not threatened a violation of federal, state, or local environmental laws. (EA, section 1.5, Forest Plan Direction, pages 9-11, Chapter 3, pages , EA, Appendix B, Biological Assessment/Evaluation and Amendment #1, Decision Notice, Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations, pages 14-16). Appeal Opportunities This decision is subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR A written appeal, including attachments, must be postmarked or received within 45 days after the date this notice is published in the Newberry Observer newspaper, Newberry, South Carolina. The Appeal shall be sent to Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, ATTN: Appeals Deciding Officer, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, South Carolina Appeals may be faxed to (803) Hand-delivered appeals must be received within normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appeals may also be mailed electronically in a common digital format to appeals-southernfrancismarion-sumter@fs.fed.us. Appeals must meet content requirements of 36 CFR For further information on this decision, contact District Ranger, Enoree Ranger District, 3557 Whitmire Highway, Union, South Carolina 29379, Telephone: (864) If no appeal is received, implementation of this decision may occur on, but not before, five business days from the close of the appeal filing period. If an appeal is received, implementation may not occur for 15 business days following the date of appeal disposition. (36 CFR 215.9) 17

18 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.) will contact USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TTD). 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. 18