Proposal for the Flag Point Emergency Rock Source Project

Transcription

1 Proposal for the Flag Point Emergency Rock Source Project USDA Forest Service Alaska Region Cordova Ranger District, Chugach National Forest BACKGROUND The Copper River Highway (CRH) extends about 49.5 miles from Cordova along the old railbed of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway. It is one of two discontinuous segments of Alaska Route 10, a State highway. It is the only land-based route that connects visitors and residents to portions of the Chugach National Forest, State, Tribal, and Native Corporation lands. The first 25 miles are open yearround and the remaining 24.5 miles are open during snow-free months (primarily summer months). According to a 2009 State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) report, the last 35 miles of the CRH has an annual average daily traffic rate of 125 vehicles, which equates to about 45,625 vehicles annually using this section of highway. General Project Information The Cordova Ranger District (CRD) is proposing to reopen an existing inactive rock source immediately adjacent to the Copper River Delta crossing near the 27 mile marker (Figure 1) for emergency public works projects requiring mineral materials such as repair of blowouts created by the Copper River. This rock source would produce large armor stone and smaller mineral materials. The State of Alaska is expected to be the primary user of materials from this site. The Flag Point Emergency Rock Source Project (project area) is located about 23 miles east southeast of Cordova, Alaska and is within the Chugach National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) Management Prescription 321 (501(b) -3). The project s legal location is within sections 29 and 30, T. 16 S., R. 2 E., Copper River meridian (Figure 2). The proposed footprint of the project area would include about 6.5 acres of land, which is similar to the historic footprint. Available materials include oversize reject piles from past activities, lowering of the current rock pad, excavation of colluvial materials, and drilling and blasting of rock in outcrops. There is a large grove of young cottonwood trees that is acting as a visual screen to the majority of the project area. Through implementation of project design features, the scenery surrounding the project area would be unmodified or only slightly altered in appearance to travelers on the CRH. The project area is accessible using an existing road (FR 390) that crosses State of Alaska lands, near mile marker 27 of the CRH, on the west side of the Copper River Delta crossing. This access road (FR 390) ends at the inactive rock source, the southeast tip of Flag Point (Figure 2). The entire project area is accessible year-round and would still be accessible if one or more crossing structures, within the Copper River Delta, washed out. Current Conditions The entire CRH (49.5 miles) is open and accessible to all visitors of the Chugach National Forest during summer (non-snow) months. The CRH delta crossing is identified as Roaded Natural (RN) for the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS), and as Management Area Prescription 522 Major Transportation/Utility Systems in the LRMP. The CRH is utilized by many people to access remote lands east of the Copper River Delta including but not limited to portions of the Chugach National Forest; lands owned or controlled by the State of Alaska, Chugach Alaska Corporation (CAC), and the Eyak Corporation. The highway facilitates many traditional and non-traditional activities throughout 1

2 the Copper River watershed and is a vital part of the local transportation network. The tourism associated with the CRH provides a substantial economic benefit to the Cordova area. The closest active large armor stone source is about 10.5 miles farther away from the edge of the Copper River Delta crossing than the proposed Flag Point rock source. It is located on Eyak Corporation lands and is controlled by the Chugach Alaska Corporation (CAC). Desired Conditions The LRMP provides clear direction for desired conditions associated with the project and surrounding areas accessed by the CRH. Primarily, the Copper River Delta lands of the Chugach National Forest will be managed for the conservation of fish and wildlife. Most of the area will remain in its natural state with the exception of the road corridor extending from Cordova. The unique ecological role of the Copper River Delta in providing habitat to migrating waterfowl, shorebirds and other wildlife will be maintained. Human access will remain almost exclusively by boat or aircraft with the exception of the CRH corridor. The following excerpts are goals and objectives (contained within the LRMP) that provide desired future condition direction that are applicable to this project either directly or indirectly. Biological Elements Ecological Systems Management Goal (pg 3-3): Prevent introduction and spread of exotic plants and reduce areas of current infestation. Attached to this Goal are the following applicable Objectives: Identify infestations of exotic plant species and maintain infestation data in a standard database. Treat infestations with a high potential to spread. Biological Elements Management of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Goal (pg 3-4): Maintain habitat to produce viable and sustainable wildlife populations that support the use of fish and wildlife resources for subsistence and sport hunting and fishing, watching wildlife, conservation, and other values. Attached to this Goal are the following applicable Objectives: Implement standards and guidelines to protect species and their habitats through protection, conservation and restoration of important terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Implement elements of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the U.S. Shorebird Plan, and the Partners in Flight Landbird Conservation Plan as and where appropriate. Goal (pg 3-5): Emphasize maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat in the 501 (b) area of the Chugach National Forest. Attached to this Goal is the following applicable Objective: Identify special needs for fish and wildlife management emphasis within the Copper River Delta Fish and Wildlife Habitat Emphasis Area. Resource Production Minerals Goal (pg 3-6): Provide opportunities to develop minerals for personal and commercial uses. Attached to this Goal is the following applicable Objective: 2

3 Provide areas for salable mineral materials (sand, gravel, stone). Current community pits and valuable materials sites are managed with a prescription that permits salable mineral activity. Use and Occupation - Recreation Opportunities, Access and Facilities Goal (pg 3-8): Maintain quality settings for motorized recreation opportunities. Attached to this Goal is the following applicable Objective: Provide roads, trails, and open areas for summer and winter motorized recreation as shown on the Summer and Winter Motorized Recreation Access Maps. Note: The CRH provides access to the largest landmass that is open to all summer motorized use on the Forest, as well as many large areas that are open to motorized use for subsistence. Goal (pg 3-8): Maintain areas where natural quiet predominates consistent with the management area direction and Recreation Opportunity Spectrum settings. Goal (pg 3-9): Maintain current recreational capacity through the maintenance of existing recreational facilities and trails. Expand recreational capacity by developing new recreational facilities and trails in response to user demands and where appropriate to management area objectives. Attached to this Goal are the following applicable Objectives: Maintain and renovate existing recreational facilities. Maintain the current trail system on the Forest (Appendix B, Roads Analysis and Access Management Plan of the LRMP). In summary, the CRH will continue to be open and available for use throughout the summer (nonsnow) months annually. Law and policy authorize reasonable access to private land inholdings, valid mining claims, and where other property rights exist within the Chugach National Forest (LRMP pg 3-20). The means of access will be consistent with management area direction and emphasis (ibid). Therefore, an open and usable CRH is necessary to many users on many levels. An economical and efficient source of large armor stone would facilitate keeping the CRH open to land-based motorized users. As identified in the LRMP Goals and Objectives above, the acquisition and creation of this material should be pursued in a manner that minimizes impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, recreationists, and other visitors to the area. DECISION FRAMEWORK The decision to be made by the responsible official is whether to implement the proposed action, meet the purpose and need for action through another combination of activities, or take no action at this time. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION This project is proposed in an attempt to be proactive due to the high likelihood that the Copper River will degrade or destroy the current transportation infrastructure. The Copper River is a very dynamic river system and has a long history of changing its stream course during high flow events throughout the Copper River Delta. The CRH has two complete crossings of the Copper River. The first crossing traverses the Copper River Delta, about 11 miles upriver from the mouth, and is about 27 miles from the beginning of the CRH. According to ADOT&PF records, this crossing utilizes eleven (11) bridges, three (3) 3

4 culverts, and multiple islands. This crossing stretches over 11.3 miles in length. In recent years, substantial changes in the river pattern have been noticed and blowouts of existing structures are anticipated. Therefore, large armor stone will be necessary at some point in the future to repair or prevent an imminent blowout from occurring. The second crossing is the historic Miles Glacier Bridge (also known as the Million Dollar Bridge ). It is located about 49 miles from the start of the CRH. Flag Point is the closest potential source of large armor stone to any of the Copper River Delta crossing structures from the west side of the crossing. Access to large armor stone within a few miles of the Copper River Delta crossing would substantially decrease the time involved in being able to make round trips to and from existing rock sources. Thereby, substantially decrease the amount of time and energy (fossil fuels) consumed in making repairs or performing preventative maintenance to the CRH along the Copper River Delta crossing and elsewhere as needed. It is estimated that round trips by large dump trucks to the Flag Point rock source would save about 40 minutes and consume about 4 gallons less diesel fuel per trip. PROPOSED ACTION This project would reopen an existing rock source for an emergency source of large armor stone and associated materials. Rock material from this site would be for emergency public works projects only, such as repair of the CRH by the State of Alaska, if a serious blowout event occurs or is expected. The timing and duration of all proposed activities would be dependent upon the need for rock. The project area consists of about 6.5 acres of the southeast portion of Flag Point (See Figures 2 and 3). The entire project area is within LRMP Management Area prescription 321 (501(b) -3) (Roaded/Developed Designation). If a mining Operation Plan is completed for the project area, the 521 Mineral Management Area prescription would be applied over the top of the existing Management Area and be removed once mineral activities are no longer authorized. New road construction or reconstruction would not be necessary. Brushing back of the existing road and minor clearing of new vegetative growth, since the rock source s last use, would be necessary. This brushing and clearing would occur immediately prior to the first use of the pit. Due to the potential high visibility of this project, rock material would be targeted in the following progressive sequence: 1) in-place rock piled on-site from historic pit use, 2) excavation of colluvial materials from the toe of the slope and beneath the existing surface, and 3) two (2) rock outcrops that could be drilled and blasted. If the emergency need for rock is severe enough to warrant likely visual tradeoffs, the decision maker (line officer) may elect to utilize all rock source options. All rock would be loaded onto trucks using an excavator, loader, or other heavy equipment and the materials hauled to wherever needed along the CRH by trucks. Excavation, drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling would substantially increase human related noise during those activities. The timing, extent, and duration of noise would be dependent upon how much material is needed and when it is needed. No material would be stock-piled in anticipation of future emergencies. However, if circumstances arise that would prevent blasting during certain periods of the year, this direction may change as needed and stockpiling of materials may occur within or near the rock source. Opening of this rock source is for emergency situations (i.e. imminent blowout of one or more structure on the CRH) and as mutually agreed upon by the Forest Service and ADOT&PF. The rock source on the back (north northwest) side of Flag Point, which is completely out of the view of visitors using the CRH, is not being pursued because that rock is not believed to be capable of providing 4

5 large armor stone material. Only smaller rock materials would be able to be produced from that area, and therefore would not meet the purpose and need of this project. There are no streams or wetlands within 0.1 miles of the project area or haul route leading to the CRH. Therefore, no stream or wetland crossings of any kind would be needed to access the site from the CRH. Site reclamation following any use of the rock source will include closing the FR390 access road and monitoring the project area annually for a minimum of three years for weed infestations. Invasive plant species with Alaska Natural Heritage Program (AKNHP) invasiveness rankings greater than 55 will be manually controlled and may extend the monitoring timeframe. Interrelated and Interdependent If the State of Alaska identifies an emergency public works project, the Forest Service would issue a need dependant free-use mineral material permit. Also at that time or prior to it, the State of Alaska would need to authorize motorized access to the pit as the access road to the pit crosses State of Alaska lands. There are no other known interrelated or interdependent projects at this time. Project Duration The CRH has potential for major blowout issues annually from early May through October. These are the periods associated with high snowmelt run-off that can be complicated with ice flows through the rainy season. There is no currently identified need for materials; they would be made available as needed during an emergency to prevent an imminent large-scale blowout or for repair. There could be periods of time when materials are not needed for many years, or materials may be needed for consecutive years. This project could remain viable for twenty years or more. During this time the rock source could be opened and utilized whenever materials are needed for emergencies. This project would no longer be viable if conditions change and continued use of the rock source would result in impacts no longer analyzed for, it no longer fits within the LRMP, or desired conditions of the area. There are not any limitations on the number of trips, abundance of material that could be removed, or specific seasonality with this project, except for total availability of materials, and those listed within the project design features. Project Design Features If an active eagle, peregrine, or northern goshawk nest is discovered within ½ mile of the project area, the District Wildlife Biologist would be notified immediately and appropriate protection would be imposed around the affected nest area. Annually inspect the rock source and access road to ensure they are weed free. Monitor all weed treatments (if needed) for effectiveness. Vehicles or equipment will not be parked in areas where weed populations are known to occur. If a Region 10 designated sensitive plant is discovered within the project area, the zone or Forest Ecologist will be notified immediately to evaluate the population and recommend avoidance or mitigation measures. Protecting and maintaining a minimum foot buffer of cottonwood along the east edge of the rock source area would be essential to minimize the visual impact of the site. Rock removal following the three step progression would be implemented. However, if the emergency is severe enough, the line officer may decide to implement all three at the same time, which could result in high visibility from the CRH. 5

6 Figure 1. Flag Point Project Area Vicinity Map 6

7 Figure 2. Flag Point Project Area 7

8 Figure 3. Orthophoto of Flag Point 8