Environmental Assessment

Transcription

1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service November 2009 Environmental Assessment Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Medicine Wheel / Paintrock Ranger District, Bighorn National Forest Big Horn County, Wyoming For Information Contact: District Recreation Staff or District Ranger 604 East main Lovell, WY

2 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.

3 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment Table of Contents Summary... i Chapter 1 Purpose and Need... 1 Document Structure... 1 Background... 1 Existing Direction... 3 Purpose & Need for Action... 3 Proposed Action... 4 Decision Framework... 5 Public Involvement... 5 Issues... 5 Chapter 2 - Alternatives... 7 Alternatives... 7 Chapter 3 Environmental Consequences... 9 Affected Environment... 9 Environmental Effects of the Proposed Action... 9 Chapter 3 - Consultation and Coordination... 12

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5 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment SUMMARY This Environmental Assessment (EA) describes the environmental effects of the USDA Forest Service (USFS) proposal to redevelop and improve management of developed recreation sites within the Paintrock Lakes area. The Proposed Action includes modifications within the analysis area to the following developed sites: Medicine Lodge Lake Campground, Medicine Lodge fisherman parking, Lower Paintrock Lake Campground, Upper Paintrock Lake Campground, Paintrock Lakes and Edelman Trailheads. More specifically, the analysis area is located approximately 26 miles southeast of Highway 14 on the Paintrock Road (FDR 17), T. 51N, R. 87W, Sections 7, 12 and 18. The purpose of the project is to implement the 2008 decision of the Recreation Facilities Analysis (RFA). Results would include the redevelopment of recreation sites in the Paintrock Lakes area in order to provide desirable recreation opportunities, decrease the backlog of deferred maintenance and allow the Forest Service to be more fiscally responsible with limited budgets. The action is needed because there is a demand for developed recreation opportunities in the Paintrock Lakes area. However, the existing improvements are not being maintained to Forest Service standards or Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access standards. The action is also needed to deal with the failed toilet vault at Paintrock Lakes Campground due to the health and safety and water quality issues. i

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7 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND NEED Document Structure The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Assessment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations. This Environmental Assessment discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives. The document is organized into four parts: Introduction: The section includes information on the history of the project proposal, the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. Comparison of Alternatives, including the Proposed Action: This section provides a more detailed description of the agency s proposed action as well as alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives were developed based on significant issues raised by the public and other agencies. This discussion also includes possible mitigation measures. Finally, this section provides a summary table of the environmental consequences associated with each alternative. Environmental Consequences: This section describes the environmental effects of implementing the proposed action and other alternatives. This analysis is organized by environmental component. Within each section, the affected environment is described first, followed by the effects of the No Action Alternative that provides a baseline for evaluation and comparison of the other alternatives that follow. Agencies and Persons Consulted: This section provides a list of preparers and agencies consulted during the development of the environmental assessment. Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the environmental assessment. Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record located at the Medicine Wheel Paintrock Ranger District Office in Lovell, Wyoming. Background The Paintrock Lakes Project Area consists of three campgrounds, two trailheads, and a fisherman parking and access. Location for the Project Area is approximately 26 miles southeast of Highway 14 on the Paintrock Road (FDR 17), legal description of T. 51N, R. 87W, Sections 7, 12, 18. The developed facilities include Medicine Lodge Lake, Lower Paintrock Lake and Upper Paintrock Lake Campgrounds, Paintrock Lakes and Edelman Trailheads, and Medicine Lodge Fisherman Parking. The Paintrock Lakes area is a hub for developed and dispersed recreation as well as fisherman use and parking and an access to the Cloud Peak Wilderness through the Paintrock Lake Trailhead. 1

8 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Environmental Assessment Medicine Lodge Lake Campground includes two toilets, eight campsites, boat ramp, and day use/parking area that is used primarily for parking, launching boats and fishing access. Lower Paintrock Lake Campground is located adjacent to the Paintrock Lakes Trailhead and includes four campsites and one vault toilet. In 2008, new toilets were installed in both Medicine Lodge Lake and Lower Paintrock Lake Campgrounds. Upper Paintrock Lake Campground includes four campsites and is the access point to Upper Paintrock Lake. However, the campground is currently closed for health and safety concerns due to a failed toilet vault in Paintrock Lake Lodge is a full service resort located on Medicine Lodge Lake within 0.5 miles of Medicine Lodge Lake Campground. The developed sites within the project area were originally constructed years ago, during a time when recreational users primarily camped in tents or small camp trailers. Many of these developed sites have reached the end of their useful life without significant deferred maintenance investments in the past. These facilities and associated amenities were not originally constructed and have not been upgraded to meet all of the current Forest Plan (FP) standards or Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessibility standards. Each of the three ranger districts on the Bighorn National Forest completed a Recreation Facilities Analysis (RFA) May of The RFA was completed to assist the Forest in management of its developed recreation facilities. The Forest Service is responsible for the management of its developed facilities in a manner that is environmentally sound and provides safe recreation facilities for the public. The Recreation Facilities Analysis (RFA) process was conducted to define the proposed action for management of forest recreation sites in order to meet future needs and align with goals and objectives of the Forest Plan. The following objectives were developed to meet the purpose of the RFA: Operate and maintain sites to standard within available revenue stream. Reduce deferred maintenance by 20% over the 5 year life of the program of work. Focus available resources on sites which conform most closely to the Forest Recreation Program Niche. Maintain and enhance customer satisfaction with available sites. The fundamental premise of the program of work was to create an inventory of all facilities based on standard criteria. Sites were evaluated and ranked based in part on amount of recreation use, financial efficiency, and environmental and community sustainability. The Upper Paintrock Lake Campground ranked at the low end of the spectrum using the above evaluation criteria, thus listing the campground for decommissioning and the addition of those lost sites into the other two campgrounds located within the analysis area. 2

9 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment Existing Direction The 2005 Revised Forest Plan directs recreation and resource management on the Bighorn National Forest. Goals for the various resources are listed as statements describing a desired condition to be achieved. The project area is located within the 4.3 Dispersed Recreation Management Area Prescription. According to the plan, these areas are often heavily used because of inherent natural features that provide a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors. Within this management area prescription, recreation is managed to provide a diversity of non-motorized and non-motorized trail opportunities and there is a high potential for interaction with other visitors. The areas may offer developed recreation facilities and the areas may be used by large groups. In addition, the following goals and objectives and supporting strategies are relevant to this project and were used in part to formulate the proposed action. Goal 1, Objective 1a, Strategy 1: Attain or maintain water quality necessary to comply with the State of Wyoming water quality standards in all streams on the Forest. Water must be of sufficient quality to support state-designated beneficial uses and healthy riparian, aquatic and wetland ecosystems. Goal 1, Objective 1a, Strategy 7: Maintain, protect, and enhance wetland functions and value when analyzing or implementing all projects. Goal 2, Objective 2a, Strategy 2: Develop criteria and priorities for evaluating developed recreation facilities. Goal 2, Objective 2a, Strategy 8: Encourage, establish and sustain a diverse range of recreational facilities and services on NFS lands. Goal 2, Objective 2c, Tourism and Recreation, Strategy 3: Provide a variety of hunting and fishing opportunities in coordination with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Goal 4, Objective 4a, Strategy 7: Prioritize capital improvement, maintenance, construction and reconstruction project to reduce deferred maintenance backlog on all forest infrastructure. Purpose & Need for Action The purpose of these actions is to implement the 2008 RFA by redeveloping the Paintrock Lakes area in order to provide a high quality recreation experience and customer satisfaction while using available sites while still being fiscally responsible with limited budgets. This action is needed, because the Upper Paintrock Lakes Campground is currently closed due to a failed toilet vault. The site also has a history of failing to meet Department of Environmental Quality drinking water tests and has historical low use levels, along with high deferred maintenance costs. There is also currently a need to bring all developed recreation facilities up to American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, to provide accommodations for the larger 3

10 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Environmental Assessment recreational vehicles that are commonly used today, and to provide for the safe ingress/egress to each of the sites within the project area. The developed facilities currently do not meet ADA accessibility standards and due to their current conditions, would need extensive reconstruction and would be prohibitively expensive to bring all of the facilities up to standard. This proposed action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the 2005 Revised Forest Plan (Forest Plan), and helps move the project area towards desired conditions described in that plan (Ch.1, pgs ). The Upper Paintrock Lake Campground is a popular access area to fish Upper Paintrock Lake. There continues to be a need to provide environmentally sound parking for the public to access the lake for fishing. Proposed Action Timing of the actual reconstruction will be based on budget and resource availability. The actions proposed to meeting the purpose and need includes: 4 Developed Sites Existing Facilities Proposed Work Medicine Lodge Lake CG Medicine Lodge Fisherman Parking Lower Paintrock Lake CG Upper Paintrock Lake CG 8 Campsites 1 well 1 toilet 11 parking spaces 1 toilet 4 Campsites 1 well 1 toilet 4 Campsites 1 well Add campsites as space allows to replace Upper Paintrock Lake sites Rebuild roads and spurs as needed, add gravel. Construct a site pad for each camp site Replace tables and fire rings Replace information and traffic control signs Rebuild parking and add gravel Replace information and traffic control signs Add campsites if space allows to replace Upper Paintrock Lake sites Rebuild roads and spurs as needed, add gravel. Construct a site pad for each camp site Replace tables and fire rings Replace information and traffic control signs Decommission campground Remove toilet and well

11 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment 1 failed toilet (to Retain fisherman parking be removed) Paintrock Lakes TH 12 parking spaces Rebuild parking and add gravel Replace information and traffic control signs Edelman TH 10 parking spaces Rebuild parking and add gravel Replace information and traffic control signs Decommisioning the Upper Paintrock Lake Campground will include removal of all related structures such as toilet, campfire rings, tables, and other associated materials. Roadways, campsites, spurs, and turnaround may be mechanically scarified and recontoured then revegetated with an approved seed mix. Access and parking will be retained for fisherman access. Decision Framework Given the purpose and need, the deciding official reviews the proposed action and the other alternatives formed through internal and external scoping in order to make the following decisions: Whether or not to decommission Upper Paintrock Lake campgrounds in the manner outlined above and if so, whether to retain fisherman access. Whether or not to incorporate lost sites from Upper Paintrock Lake Campground into Medicine Lodge Lake and/or Lower Paintrock Lake Campgrounds. Whether or not reconstruction should take place within the project area as described in the proposed action. Public Involvement The project was originally listed in the Schedule of Proposed Actions January The proposal was provided to the public and other agencies for comment through legal notice in the Forest s paper of record, the Casper Star-Tribune on June 15, 2009; comments were requested within 30 days following publication of the legal notice. In addition, the agency mailed out twenty scoping letters and documents to interested or affected parties. Issues The Forest Service separates issues into four groups: key issue, non-key issue, outside the scope of the document, and issues already addressed. 5

12 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Environmental Assessment 6 Key issues are used to formulate alternatives, prescribe mitigation measures, or analyze environmental effects. Issues are significant because of the extent of their geographic distribution, the duration of their effects, or the intensity of interest or resource conflict. Issues outside the scope of the document are issues that are not related to the current purpose and need of the proposed action. Non-key issues are irrelevant to the decision to be made or may be conjectural and not supported by scientific or factual evidence. Issues already addressed may be 1) already decided by law, regulation, Forest Plan, or other higher level decision 2) addressed during processes or analyses routinely conducted by the ID Team: or 3) addressed through implementation of project specific mitigation measures. The Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations require this delineation in Sec , identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental review (Sec ) A list of issues that arose during scoping and their categorization may be found in the table below. Table 1. Issues Table. Issue Issue Type Disposition No. 1 Access roads into the area need to be improved Non-Key Issue This is outside the scope of the project area boundary. Any major repair/reconstruction to FDR 17 will have to be analyzed through a separate analysis. 2 Does not support campgrounds being managed by a concessionaire Non-Key Issue This is outside the scope of the project, as the concessionaire program is under a contractual agreement with the Forest Service until such time that the contract has expired. 3 Concerned that the campsites will become crowded with the addition of sites Key Issue 4 Keep cows out of campgrounds Already Addressed The Forest Service will incorporate public safety, and privacy into the layout and design of the campground when evaluating the addition of any campsites. This issue has already been addressed by excluding livestock grazing by constructing fences around the facilities. 5 Opposes closing the campground Non-Key Thank you for your comment however, this issue has been addressed in the Recreation Facilities Analysis (RFA). 6 The three facilities are not currently Outside the This issue is outside the scope of

13 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment economical and will not accommodate the potential weekend use due to the number of sites, proposes the addition of sites in this area for economic viability 7 Proposes developing the Upper Paintrock Lake Campground into a horse-use facility 8 Trailhead and dispersed users illegally camp at trailhead and use facilities in the campgrounds without paying. 9 Access road and parking area remain open for fisherman access 10 Any soil disturbance should be done in such a way as to eliminate sediment loading into the lakes Scope Outside the Scope Outside the Scope Key Issue, but Already Addressed Key Issue, but Already Addressed the document as the Purpose and Need calls for implementing the RFA which has already taken into consideration the deferred maintenance costs vs. recreation needs. This issue is outside the scope of the document as it does not meet the purpose and need for this analysis. Any new construction would have to be addressed through a separate analysis. This is outside the scope of the project, enforcement and education is currently in place to alleviate these issues. The Proposed Action proposes to retain fisherman parking and the access road following the decommissioning of Upper Paintrock Lakes Campground. The Forest Service is required to meet the laws and regulations under the Clean Water Act and to be in compliance with the Watershed Conservation Practices Handbook. CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES This chapter describes and compares the alternatives considered. This section also presents the alternatives in comparative form, sharply defining the differences and providing a clear basis for choice among options by the decision maker and the public. Alternatives The interdisciplinary team considered a range of alternatives before determining which alternatives should be considered in detail. Two alternatives for the Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project were considered. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires analysis of a proposed action and other reasonable alternatives, including no action. The no action alternative provides a baseline for estimating environmental effects. An additional action alternative was developed to meet the purpose and need for action, and in response to the issues and concerns identified. Alternative 1: No Action Under the No Action alternative, current management plans and actions would continue to guide the management of these facilities. Ongoing maintenance and some light project 7

14 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Environmental Assessment work would continue, however, recreation facility site conditions would continue to decline due to significant deferred maintenance costs with limited income due to low occupancy rates. Upper Paintrock Lake Campground would remain closed due to health and safety issues resulting from the failed toilet vault. Potential for any facility reconstruction to expand or accommodate future needs would continue to be limited. These facilities would continue to be out of compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards, thus limiting the ability of some users. Alternative 2: Proposed Action- Reconstruct Existing Recreation Sites Alternative 2 is the proposed action as identified in Chapter 1 implementing the following RFA goals: Reduce backlog maintenance at recreation facilities district-wide by being fically responsible with limited recreation budgets. Operate and maintain recreation sites to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and health and safety standards. Gain compliance with Forest Plan standards and guidelines for resource protection. Alternative 2 Design Criteria The following mitigation measures, as identified below, were developed to address potential resource impacts. 8 Any disturbed areas will be monitored and treated for Canada thistle or other noxious weeds until native vegetation re-establishes. Re-seed all bare ground with approved seed mix within 5 days of completing reconstruction. Implement erosion control measures to minimize soil erosion and storm water pollution during vegetation management and site reconstruction. Protect reclamation in Upper Paintrock Lake Campground by closing the area to dispersed camping. Any reconstruction activities within Lower Paintrock Lake Campground will be limited to area outside the area of concern as designated by District Archaeologist. Trail will be constructed consisting of timbers, filter cloth and gravels in Lower Paintrock Lake Campground from water pump to the access road to protect archaeological site. Any stumps or treated lumber will need to be removed from Forest. Slash created during reconstruction will be piled in a location designated by Forest Service to be burned by Forest Service crews.

15 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment Fences will need to be repaired or replaced if site expansion occurs outside of the current livestock fences. Follow guidelines outlined in the Water Conservation Practices Handbook for any ground disturbing activities. CHAPTER 3 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES This section summarizes the physical, biological, social and economic environments of the affected project area and the potential changes to those environments due to implementation of the alternatives. It also presents the scientific and analytical basis for the comparison of alternatives. Affected Environment The project area is located on the east face of the Bighorn Mountains and adjacent to the Cloud Peak Wilderness Boundary. Vegetation is characterized primarily by naturally fragmented areas of sagebrush, open grasslands, aspen pockets, lodgepole pine, spruce/subalpine fir, and forb/willow dominated riparian areas. Elevations are all between 9,200 and 9,500 elevation. The project area is characterized by livestock grazing use and dispersed/developed recreation use in the summer and fall months. Dispersed recreation is light to moderate throughout the area due to the wilderness access, abundance of lake and stream fishing, Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV), and other recreational opportunities in the area. Developed recreation use is focused within the three campgrounds, Paint Rock Lodge, and recreation residences. Due to the more remote location of the project area, access is limited to FDR 17 or FDR 344. Effects of this action upon various resources are shown through specialists reports located in the project record. The interdisciplinary team reviewed issues and potential environmental effects, and the specialist reports include an estimate of the magnitude of those effects, both positive and negative upon the resources in the area. Environmental Effects of the Proposed Action This section provides a summary of the effects of implementing the proposed action. Information in this section is focused on activities and effects where different levels of effects or outputs can be distinguished quantitatively or qualitatively among alternatives. Specialist reports in the project record contain the supporting information from which this information was summarized. Many of the comments from these specialist reports were incorporated as additional design criteria, as described previously. Under the analysis 9

16 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Environmental Assessment conducted for this project, no issues or resources were found to be significantly affected by the proposed action. The assessments within the specialist reports are consistent with the National Forest Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1604(g)(1) and with the management direction described in the 2005 Bighorn National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Revised Plan). It provides the necessary information to determine whether or not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Recreation As previously mentioned, the Recreation Facilities Analysis (RFA) process completed in 2008, was conducted to define the proposed action for management of forest recreation sites in order to meet future needs and align with goals and objectives of the Forest Plan. The fundamental premise of the program of work was to create an inventory of all facilities based on standard criteria. Sites were evaluated and ranked based in part on amount of recreation use, financial efficiency, and environmental and community sustainability. Facilities mentioned in this project analysis were ranked at the low end of the spectrum using the above evaluation criteria. The RFA results are to be used as a guideline to display the tasks needed over the next 5 years to bring the Forest s recreation infrastructure up to standard and into alignment with the resources available to operate and maintain them to standard. Thus the purpose and need for this project is based on the results of the RFA. The effects of implementing the proposed action would reduce deffered maintenance costs and bring all the facilities within the project area into compliance with the Forest Plan and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. Recreation activities are aniticipated to increase with the impementation of the proposed action due to newly reconstructed facilities. Cumulatively, there may be a slight increase in dispersed camping in and around the project area from those who do not want to camp in any one of the other campgrounds. Soils/Watershed The streams, soils, and watershed functioning within the project area are not anticipated to be of concern as documented in the specialist report. There is some ongoing sedimentation/erosion along existing roads and campgrounds that are managed through regularly scheduled road maintenance activities. Under the no-action alternative, there would continue to be ongoing effects to soils and watershed due to the continued compaction to soils and sedimentation into the watershed. The proposed action would have short term affects to watershed conditions during decommissioning, but the overall soil and water quality conditions will be improved at the Upper Paintrock Lake Campground by removing the effects of camping activities and removing the risk of health, safety, and water quality concerns of the failed toilet. 10

17 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Project Environmental Assessment Wildlife, Fish, Plants and Habitat Specialist reports prepared for botany, wildlife, and TES/MIS/Local Concern are located in the project record. The reports indicate that either the no-action or proposed action alternative will have no effect for any of these resources. Surveys conducted indicate that there is no suitable habitat for any of the TES plant species that are of concern for the Bighorn NF. The lack of suitable habitat is due to the areas being previously disturbed through development of the campgrounds and trailheads. Wildlife and fisheries specialist report was prepared in accordance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements, Executive Order (Migratory Birds and Birds Species of Concern) and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. There are no known TES plant or wildlife species that will be adversely affected by the proposed actions. The project will not affect the viability of any native or desired non-native wildlife species, and viability determinations made in the Revised Forest Plan would not be changed by this project. Summary of Other Law, Regulation and Policy The following table summarizes other resource conditions and findings relative to the project area, and summarizes consistency with other laws and regulations required by this type of action. Resource Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. Inventoried roadless areas. Research natural areas American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas Applicability to the Project The project will result in no net loss of wetlands or alter the current floodplain. Refer to watershed specialist comments. The project is not located within a wilderness, wilderness study area, or national recreation area, nor directly adjacent to them. The project is not located within an inventoried roadless area as determined by the 2005 inventory for the Revised Forest Plan. In addition, neither the project area, nor the proposed disturbances, would be in an area identified as roadless within the Roadless Area Conservation Rule definition of roadless (2001). The project is not located within or adjacent to a research natural area. Tribal consultation was provided through the opportunity to review the EA, and through the NEPA Quarterly report. Any concerns raised would be addressed prior to final project authorization. Class 3 surveys for archaeological resources were completed for this project (see project record). One potential site was discovered in Lower Paintrock Lake Campground. Mitigation measures were incorporated into the Proposed Action to deal with any potential disturbance. Should any resources be found during implementation, SHPO would be consulted via the District archaeologist. 11

18 Paintrock Lakes Area Recreation Sites Redevelopment Environmental Assessment CHAPTER 3 - CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION Public involvement is paramount to the NEPA process. The Recreation Facilities Analysis project (RFA) proposal was provided to the public for involvement through several venues from December 2007 through March District and Supervisor s Office employees were presented the project January All involved County Commissioners were originally contacted in March of 2007 with a follow up in December In addition, media stories and open house meetings were hosted for all communities involved in February Public involvement for this implementation proposal of the RFA and recreation sites redevelopment was provided to the public for comment beginning in 2009 with the formal initiation of the scoping letter published in the Casper Star Tribune on June 15, The project record contains a list of individuals, federal, state, and local agencies, tribes and non-forest Service persons the Forest Service consulted during the development of this project. 12