DECISION MEMO Chief Joseph Cross Country Ski Area Hazard Tree Project

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1 Page 1 of 7 DECISION MEMO Chief Joseph Cross Country Ski Area Hazard Tree Project Background and Rationale for Decision USDA Forest Service Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest T 1S, R 19W, Sections 34, 35 T 2S, R 19W, Sections 2, 3 Wisdom/Wise River Ranger District Beaverhead County, Montana Bitterroot National Forest Sula Ranger District Ravalli County, Montana The Chief Joseph Cross Country Ski Area is located primarily on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, with smaller acreages located on the Bitterroot and Salmon-Challis National Forests. The ski area is a popular destination for cross country skiing enthusiasts. The greatest use occurs in the winter months when over 7,000 visitors come to ski approximately seventeen miles of groomed ski trails and warm up or stay in the Gordon Reese Cabin. Ski trial grooming is coordinated through an agreement with the Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club, using a Pisten-Bully groomer from nearby Lost Trail Powder Mountain Ski Area. Due to its proximity to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) the area also experiences limited use during the summer months; in fact, the trails used for skiing in the winter are old logging roads that double as non-motorized trails during other times of the year. Many trees in southwestern Montana have been affected by insect infestation over the past several years; tree mortality as a result of the infestation is expected to continue into the near future. This infestation has created a large quantity of dead and dying trees in multiple tree species, including but not limited to lodgepole pine and Douglas fir. The ski area has also been affected by the insect infestation, and increasing numbers of dead and dying trees are occurring, resulting in a hazardous situation for ski area visitors and for workers and volunteers involved in maintenance of the ski trails. The USDA Forest Service has a responsibility to remove and/or otherwise abate the hazard posed by the potential of the trees falling on people or infrastructure in this intensively used area. The abatement of these hazardous trees is a high priority for the Forest. Decision In order to reduce hazards to human health and safety, we have decided to authorize removal of hazard trees on this popular cross country ski trail system over a 10 year period as the infestation spreads and hazard trees occur. It is our decision to use commercial hazard tree removal on 117 acres along the Broadway, Lost Trail Loop, CD, Timber, Gold Medal, Moose, Whoopee, Bench, Sentinel Meadow, Solitude, Cut Through, Vista View, and Sunny Meadows trails in the Chief Joseph Cross Country Ski Area (see map). The project may take place up to 10 years as mountain pine beetle continues to kill trees on the heavily used trail system.

2 Page 2 of 7 The project would involve ground disturbing activities associated with the use of rubber tired skidders and log trucks. Hazard trees would be cut within 150 feet of the trail center line. Mechanized felling equipment may be used and skidding would be completed by rubber tired skidders unless otherwise authorized by the Forest Service. Log trucks will load from the trails within the x-country ski area. We anticipate removal of 500 dead and dying trees for commercial sale during calendar year These routes are former logging routes and have constructed features such as drain dips, water bars, and culverts. No improvements to the trail system would be required. Mitigation and Design Features Required by This Decision: Aquatics If western toads are observed within the project area, notify the Fishery Biologist within 24 hours and appropriate mitigation will be applied. Any refueling activities will occur outside riparian conservation areas (RCA). Heritage If cultural resources are located and cannot be avoided operations in the area of the discovery shall cease and the South Zone Archeologist will be notified immediately to ensure analysis and evaluation of the heritage resources are completed, including consultation with the Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and appropriate Indian Tribes. Hydrology Mechanized removal of trees will not be allowed in designated wetland areas, if wetland delineation is needed a hydrology or soils specialist will be available prior to implementation in any RCA encountered that has not been properly mapped. Recreation Notice will be posted on the cabin rental web site to inform people when activity will take place near the Gordon Reese Cabin. Signs will be placed on roads and trails entering the project area to notify users of activities and potential hazards and to post any necessary instructions. All grade dips will be left in place on the CDNST after the project to prevent unauthorized motorized use. All operation will be conducted between May 15 and December 1. Scenery Stumps will be cut as low as possible along all trails. Dispose of slash piles as soon after treatment as possible. Mimic natural patterns in treatment design and operations, especially in the elements of form and line. Create natural appearing, meandering edges, and tie units into existing meadows and clearings. Retain smaller, low-branched trees on the edges of the units to minimize a "bole-edge effect", where feasible. Sensitive Plants To the extent possible, avoid disturbance or damage to individual whitebark pine trees.

3 Page 3 of 7 Soils Ground-based yarding will not occur on slopes greater than 35 percent that have not had a site specific evaluation by a soil scientist determining that damage is unlikely and soil goals and objectives can be met (Forest Plan direction; SWCP 14.07). To avoid potential compaction and/or rutting, operating heavy machinery in harvest units, on skid trails, and on landings will only take place when soils are dry or frozen as determined by the Forest Service (SWCP 13.06). Multiple pass skid trails will be designated and located by the sale administrator, and will be spaced between 75 and 100 feet apart. Skid trails that are used when the soil is not frozen will be adequately drained and located on slope positions where drainage structures can function, generally up out of draw bottoms, on slopes, and on ridge shoulders. Fine and coarse slash can be placed on skid trails as an alternative to drainage structures. Where feasible, existing roads and trails will be utilized as main skid trails with only short tributary skid trails within the harvest units. Monitoring of roadside hazard removal projects has shown that generally the impacts from skidding on these short tributaries are within Soil Quality Standards since fewer passes are made. Rubber-tired skidders will be used for skidding logs unless otherwise agreed to by the Forest Service. Equipment that uses the same trail to enter and exit a unit will do so without turning around to avoid excessive soil disturbance associated with turning. Operators on tracked equipment should feather the brake and make gradual turns to avoid soil displacement at the turn location when turning cannot be avoided. Landings with areas of compacted soil will be ripped or subsoiled and all disturbed areas will be revegetated with native seed as needed (SWCP 14.11). Slash will be piled in such a way (tall and narrow) as to reduce the footprint on the soil and piles will be burned when the soil is frozen or cold and moist. Vegetation Noxious weeds will be controlled following procedures in the Noxious Weed Control Program Record of Decision (2002) for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Wildlife Bear Sanitation Guidelines as detailed in Food Storage Order 2014-BD/BITT-009 will be followed for all activities associated with this proposed action If whitebark pine is found in any harvest unit, it will be protected to the extent possible by: (1) retaining all whitebark pine 3 dbh or greater through avoidance; (2) designating skid trails that avoid whitebark pine; and (3) directionally felling hazard trees to avoid damaging whitebark regeneration. Unless structurally weakened, live, healthy, non-hazard trees will be retained where they occur, especially preserving clumps of live trees, young to mature in age classes. Care will be taken to protect them from logging operations. Reasons for Categorically Excluding the Proposed Action An action may be categorically excluded from further analysis and documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) if it is within one of the categories identified by the USDA in 7 CFR part 1b.3 or 7 CFR part 1b.3 or 36 CFR 220.6(d) or (e), and there are no extraordinary circumstances related

4 Page 4 of 7 to the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative effect on the quality of the human environment. This project has been reviewed in accordance with FSH Chapter 30. I have determined the project fits the following category: 36 CFR 220.6(e)(4): Repair and maintenance of roads, trails, and landline boundaries. My decision is based on a review of the project record that shows a thorough review of relevant scientific information, a consideration of responsible opposing views, and the acknowledgement of incomplete or unavailable information. The record includes the following resource specialist reports: Biological Assessment and Evaluation for Aquatic, Botanic, and Wildlife species Tribal and Heritage Resource findings Soils Report Hydrology Report Recreation Report Scenery Report By definition, categorical exclusions do not individually or cumulatively have significant effects on the human environment (40 CFR ). Resource specialists considered direct and indirect effects from the proposed action coupled with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions. We have examined the proposed action and the effects analyses disclosed in the resource specialist reports listed above and conclude that without notable individual effects from the proposed action, there would be no discernable cumulative effects. The interdisciplinary team reviewed the resource conditions listed in FSH Chapter 30 (31.2) and other concerns applicable to this project to determine whether any extraordinary circumstances exist. The mere presence of one or more of the resource conditions listed below does not preclude the use of a categorical exclusion. It is the existence of a cause-effect relationship between a proposed action and the potential effect on these resource conditions, if such a relationship exists, and the degree of potential effect of a proposed action on these resource conditions that determine whether extraordinary circumstances exist. The following table provides a summary of the final determinations regarding the cause-effect relationship between the proposed action and degree of potential effect on the resource conditions in the left hand column in the table below. All specialist reports (available in the project record) have been finalized and I have reviewed them in detail prior to reaching this decision. Summaries of the determinations of potential effect to the listed resource conditions are summarized in the right column in Table 1 below. Table 1. Potential Effects to Resource Conditions Considered for Extraordinary Circumstances RESOURCE CONDITION Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. POTENTIAL EFFECT Threatened or Endangered Species: The project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect the Canada lynx and grizzly bear. Sensitive Species: May impact individuals or habitat, but would not contribute to a trend towards federal listing or loss of viability to the population or species for blackbacked woodpecker and gray wolf, Townsends big eared bat, western toad, and whitebark pine. No Impact all other Sensitive terrestrial, aquatic, and plant species.

5 Page 5 of 7 RESOURCE CONDITION Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) Research Natural Areas American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. POTENTIAL EFFECT The project is not in a municipal watershed. However, portions of the project are located in a wetland and RCA. Mitigation will prevent any negative impacts. Effects to portions of the Continental Divide National Scenc Trail include changes to the scenic resources of the area adjacent to the trail and recreational experience of users. These will result from the visible effects of logging and loss of forested environment immediately adjacent to the trail, as well as short term effects to trail users passing through operations areas. However, these effects, in the long term, will be reduced as regeneration occurs. No other congressionally designated areas occur in or near the project. There are no IRAs within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, negative impacts to any IRA is not projected. There are no research natural areas within the project area. Therefore, negative impacts to any research natural areas are not projected. The survey was completed and the project may proceed as planned in accordance with the Region 1 Forest Service Programmatic Agreement with the Montana SHPO. We find that the determinations reached in the extraordinary circumstances consideration table above maintain a high degree of certainty. Therefore, we are confident that this project would have no significant effect on the human environment, individually or cumulatively, and no uncertainty exists regarding this degree of potential effect. We have reviewed the individual specialist reports for detailed description of the methods and data used to come to these determinations. Scoping and Public Involvement A scoping letter including this and several other projects went to 80 interested individuals, organizations and other governments on August 23, It was posted on the schedule of proposed actions on the same date. No comments were received. Forest Plan Direction The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires the development of long-range land and resource management plans. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Plan was approved in 2009 and provides guidance for all natural resource management activities on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. NFMA also requires that all projects and activities be consistent with the plans. The decision is consistent with Forest Plan direction including all applicable standards. Forestwide Recreation and Travel Management Goals and Objectives Goal - Road and Trail Use: A system of routes and areas designated for non-motorized and motorized use are identified and available for public use. A Roaded or Backcountry recreation allocation does not determine the motorized status of

6 Page 6 of 7 any route, including the CDNST, within those allocations. A non-motorized recreation allocation (Summer Non-Motorized, Recommended Wilderness, or designated Wilderness) does close all routes within the area to motorized use. Resources are protected and user conflicts are minimized by allowing motorized wheeled travel only on designated routes and areas. Established routes to dispersed campsites are recognized as part of the Forest transportation system. A system of trails designated for non-motorized uses are also identified and available for public use. (FP pg. 31) Objective - Trails: Maintain motorized and non-motorized trails to standard. Reconstruct trails that do not meet standards based on the following Region One priorities: a. Safety hazards to users, b. Actual or potential resource damage, especially in key watersheds, c. Level of use. (FP pg. 31) Findings Required by Law National Forest Management Act - The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) was approved in 2009, as required by this Act. The Forest Plan has been reviewed in consideration of this project and the project meets all applicable management direction, including consistency with all applicable standards. On April 9, 2012 the Department of Agriculture issued a final planning rule for National Forest System land management planning (2012 Rule) 77 FR 68 [ ]). None of the requirements of the 2012 Rule apply to projects and activities on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, as the 2009 Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Plan was developed under a prior planning rule (36 CFR (c)). Furthermore, the 2012 Rule explains, [The 2012 Rule] supersedes any prior planning regulation. No obligations remain from any prior planning regulation, except those that are specifically included in a unit s existing plan. Existing plans will remain in effect until revised (36 CFR ). Endangered Species Act - See the Reasons for Categorically Excluding the Proposed Action Section of this document, and Table 1, for a summary of the effects of this project to Endangered, Threatened, or Candidate Species for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (1/8/2015) and Bitterroot National Forest (4/8/2015). The summary is based on a more thorough analysis available in the project record. This project is consistent with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. Sensitive Species (Forest Service Manual 2670) - This direction requires analysis of potential impacts to sensitive species and the Regional Forester approved the sensitive species list on February 25, 2011 (updated August 26, 2011 to include white bark pine). Our review of the potential effects of this decision upon the sensitive species has been completed and the analysis documented in the project file and Resource Condition Table above. Environmental Justice (Executive Order 12898) - This Order requires consideration of whether projects would disproportionately affect minority or low-income populations in or around the project area. Based on internal review and public scoping, the proposed action did not identify any adversely impacted local minority or low-income populations. Clean Water Act The intent of the Act is to restore and maintain the integrity of waters. The Forest Service complies with this Act through the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs). This decision incorporates Best Management Practices to ensure protection of soil and water resources and complies with the Clean Water Act and State water quality standards. Clean Air Act Under this Act, areas of the country were designated as Class I, II or III airsheds for Prevention of Significant Deterioration purposes. There will be no air quality impacts as a result of this decision.

7 Page 7 of 7 The National Historic Preservation Act As discussed earlier in this document and in detail in the project file, impacts to cultural resources are not expected. Migratory Bird Treaty Act There will be no known substantial losses of migratory bird habitat expected from the implementation of this proposal. National Environmental Policy Act - This Act requires public involvement and consideration of potential environmental effects. This decision memo and the project record provide documentation of compliance with this Act. Other Laws or Requirements The proposed action is consistent with all other Federal, State, and/or local laws or requirements. Administrative Review Opportunities Decisions made under Categorical Exclusions are not subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218. Implementation Date This decision is not subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218 and may begin immediately. Work is expected to commence in May of Contact Person Supporting documentation for this decision is available for public review at the Wisdom Ranger District 300 Forest Service Road, Wisdom, MT Further information about the decision can be obtained from the Wisdom Ranger District during normal office hours (weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the address above; by phone: ; or by to Roger Anderson at rogeranderson@fs.fed.us. Responsible Officials /s/ Melany Glossa 4/19/16 MELANY GLOSSA Forest Supervisor Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Date /s/ Julie K King 4/4/16 JULIE K KING Forest Supervisor Bitterroot National Forest 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 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.