Huron-Manistee National Forests Mio Ranger District 107 McKinley Road Mio, MI 48647

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1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Huron-Manistee National Forests Mio Ranger District 107 McKinley Road Mio, MI (Voice) (Fax) (TTY) File Code: Date: August 21, 2017 Dear Forest Neighbor: Hoist Lake-Comstock Project The Hoist Lake-Comstock Project includes harvesting and regenerating pine and hardwood timber stands, reintroducing fire into a fire adapted ecosystem, abatement of NNIS, wildlife improvement projects, soil stabilization and restoration, managing the roads system, and improvements to recreation facilities. The Hoist Comstock Project area is approximately 39,675 acres in size and is located on the Huron Shores District. This project implements the Huron Manistee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan; USDA 2012). The project is subject to pre-decisional objection consistent with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (P.L ) as implemented by subparts A and B of 36 C.F.R. Part 218. The purpose of this letter is to invite you to comment on the proposed project and help identify issues, concerns, or opportunities associated with this project and its surrounding area. Project Location The proposed actions are located on National Forest System lands. The Hoist Comstock project area is located in Alcona County, Michigan. The legal descriptions of the proposed actions are as follows: Township 26N Range 05E Sections 1-4, 9-16, of Mentor, Curtis and Mitchell Townships, Township 26N Range06E Sections 1-12, 18-19, 30, and 31 of Mitchell and Millen Townships, Township 27N Range 06E Sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36 of Mitchell Township, Township 27N Range 07E Sections 19-22, and of Hawes Township, and Township 26N Range 06E Sections 3-8 of Millen Township. Please refer to the attached maps for specific locations of proposed actions. Maps and other project information can also be viewed at the followingwebsite: Purpose andneed for Project The need for the Hoist Comstock project came from examining the differences between the existing condition of the landscape and the desired condition described in the Forests Plan. Field reconnaissance, review of Forest Service databases, review of compartment folders, maps, and discussions between natural resource specialists have revealed substantial gaps in what actually occurs on the landscape and what the desired condition of the landscape should be as described in the Forests Plan. For example, the Forests Plan contains information on specific age class and management requirements for forest types. Currently the majority of the red pine and mixed pine-oak stands found within the project area are over-mature and exhibit reduced Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

2 growth rates and the Forests Plan and the project area landscape do not match. Another example is that the project area has a greater hazardous fuel risk than areas that have been treated outside of the project area. In addition, there are gaps in what the Forests Plan states regarding managing old growth and what the landscape exhibits currently. Current condition and desired condition gaps also exist in vegetation age class and diversity and road system. The Hoist Comstock project is needed to close the gap between the management goals of the Forests Plan (desired condition) and what s actually on the landscape (current condition). The Hoist Lake-Comstock Projectarea and the Huron National Foresthave a history of destructive wildfires that can threaten lives, destroy homes and property, and damage natural resources. Field reconnaissance, review of Forest Service databases, review of compartment folders, maps, and discussions between natural resource specialists have revealed the need to manage the landscape towards the desired conditions as described in the Forest Plan. The project area is predominated by oak and aspen and red pine forest types. Protecting lives, property, and forest resources from wildfires is a primary management concern. Fuelbreaks and other fuels treatments have been previously implemented in and near the project area. In the event of a major wildfire, current conditions could expose the public and emergency responders to levels of risk that would prohibit necessary wildfire suppression activities. Other needed actions were also identified in the initial review of the project area. These other needs include producing timber products for the local economy, ensuring future timber availability, creating and improving wildlife habitat, and protecting wetlands which are also important parts of managing natural resources. The project area has several red pine plantations that have exceeded recommended stocking levels, requiring thinning treatments. Changes to trail designations are needed to improve user access, comfort and safety, and to enhance recreational opportunities as well as user compliance with the Forest s Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).Non-native Invasive Species (NNIS)plants need to be managed and prioritized through an assessment of their current distributions and potential impacts within the project area. There is also a need to implement vegetation treatments for purposes of restoring old growth conditions. Restoration treatments may include, but are not limited to, prescribed fire and mechanical treatments to meet the potential old growth conditions as described in the Forest Plan. The purposeof this project is implementation of site-specific projects guided by the Forest Plan direction through management prescriptions designed to attain a desired condition in each Management Area (MA). The proposed actions address site-specific needs and opportunities to move the project area from the existing condition to the desired condition as set forth in the Forest Plan.The Hoist-Comstock Project boundary encompasses the following MAs. MA 2.1 Roaded Natural Rolling Plains and Morainal Hills (1,180 acres) MA 4.2 Roaded Natural Sandy Plains and Hills (15,555 acres) MA 4.3 Roaded Natural Wetlands (wildlife emphasis area) (5,918 acres) MA 4.4 Rural (7,164 acres) 2

3 MA 8.4 Special Areas (9,673 acres) MA 9.1 Candidate Research Natural Area (185 acres) Specific objectives include: 1. Reduce life-threatening and property-damaging wildfire potential (FP III-4.2-2) 2. Produce high volumes of timber products and improve growing conditions for residual timber stands that are thinned (FP III-4.2-2) 3. Increase the amount of early successional wildlife habitat within the management areas (FP III-4.2-2) 4. Suppress non-native invasive plant species (NNIS) infestations within or adjacent to the treatment areas Age Classes (FP II-4) 5. Maintain a transportation system that meets health and safety, resource and administrative needs (FP page II-3). 6. Provide for motorized recreation opportunities (FP II-5). 7. Determine if existing Forest Service Roads (FSR) are needed for public or administrative use. Roads that are not necessary will be obliterated (FP II-39) 8. Restore and maintain savannahs, prairies, dry grasslands, mesic grasslands, shrub/scrub,or oak-pine barrens in areas where they were known to previously occur, to provide for habitat diversity and to meet species viability needs (FP II-4). 9. Manage designated old growth across all management areas and vegetation classes emphasizing old growth characteristics (FP II-39). 10. Dispose of refuse (garbage) generated or deposited on National Forest System lands through community or area-wide facilities that meet federal regulations. (FP II-39) Summary of Proposed Activities(related Forest Plan objectives from above in parentheses after the proposed action) 1. Clearcut approximately49 acres of jack pine (Objective 8), clearcut jack pine and replant with red pine on approximately 114 acres. (Objective 2) 2. Thin approximately 665 acres of red pine to produce timber products, promote growth of the residual stand, and reduce fuels. Thin approximately 1711 acres of red pine to produce timber products (Objective 2) and under burn to promote nutrient cycling and remove the majority of fine fuels.(objective 1) 3. Thin approximately 507 acres of high site potential oaks to provide produce timber products and to promote growth of the residual stand. Thin approximately 114 acres of low to moderate site potential oak to allow for the regeneration of other species.(objective 2) 4. Clearcut approximately 272 acres of aspen to produce high volumes of timber products and allow for aspen regeneration. (Objective 2) 5. Prescribed burn approximately 5,096 acres in about 12 different blocks to reduce hazardous fuels and improve wildlife habitat and plant diversity. (Objective 3) 6. Construct and maintain approximately 61 acres of fuelbreaks to reduce hazardous fuels in oak and jack pine dominated forest types. (Objective 1) 7. Construct open habitat through alder regeneration averaging about one acre each and maintain an additional approximately23 acres of openings through mechanical treatment, herbicides, and/or prescribed burning. Construct wildlife structures such as brush piles, snags and down wood. Seed and/or plant flowering plants and shrubs to improve plant, 3

4 pollinator, and wildlife habitat. Create of the 288 acres of barrens south of Sunny Lake road.(objective 3) 8. Administratively transfer jurisdiction of the following roadways to Alcona County: FR 3966 (Whippoorwill Drive, 0.7 miles) and FR 3963 (Twin Maples Road, 0.25 miles). (Objective 7) 9. Reconstruct and create daylighting on FR 4119 (Sunny Lake Road) in its entirety (4.72 miles). (Objective 2) 10. Close unauthorized routes within the project boundary and restore to its natural condition.routes would be blocked with natural barriers such as berms or rocks.(objective 7) 11. Suppress NNIS infestations of up to 1000 acres annually within or adjacent to treatment areas as needed and as funding permits. NNIS would be treated with herbicides, biological controls, mechanical, and/or manual means. (Objective 4) 12. Remove and dispose of properly multiple trash dump sites on Forest Service lands in the project area.(objective 10) 13. Promote old growth using treatments including, but not limited to prescribed fire and mechanical treatments to meet the potential old-growth conditions. (Objective 9) Public Involvement We would like your input concerning the proposed actions listed above. The input you provide may be factored into the analysis as we look to identify issues and/or concerns and develop alternatives to the proposed action. Your comments are welcome anytime, but they would be most helpful if submitted by August 25, Comments received, including names, addresses, addresses, and phone numbers of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record and will be available for public inspection. Written or hand-delivered comments may be delivered to: District Ranger-USDA Forest Service Huron Shores Ranger Station 5761 N. Skeel Rd. Oscoda, MI The office is open to the public between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm EST,Monday through Friday. Comments may be submitted via telephone during business hours by calling (989) or 711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (TTY). Comments may be faxed to (989) , or ed to attachments must be readable by Microsoft Office 2007 (or later versions) or Adobe formats. Include the following information in your comments: 1. Name, address, organization represented and title (if appropriate); 2. Title of project for which comments are being submitted (The Hoist Lake-Comstock Project); 3. Specific facts and supporting reasons you believe should be considered in reaching a final decision. 4

5 Your input may be considered in preparing the Draft Environmental Assessment in the near future. There will be aformal 30-day comment period once thedraft Environmental Assessment is prepared. If you have any questions or need further information about this proposal, please contact Tony Martoglio, District Ranger, at the Huron Shores Ranger Station(989) You may also contact David Shanley-Dillman, Planning Specialist, with questions about the project or to submit comments at (989) , ext Sincerely, Tony Martoglio District Ranger Enclosures: Maps In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C ; (2) Fax: (202) ; or (3) program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 5