Name, address, and (if possible) telephone number;

Transcription

1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina Nantahala Ranger District 90 Sloan Rd Franklin, NC File Code: 1950 Date: August 12, 2008 Dear Interested Citizen: Enclosed is a document describing a project on the Nantahala Ranger District to prescribe burn 10,047 acres over a period of 8 to 12 years. Maps for the proposed project can be accessed on the Forest internet site at or by request from our office. Pursuant to a Federal Court decision in Earth Island Institute v. Ruthenbeck, this project is subject to a 30-day notice and comment period, and a 45 day appeal period. A legal notice will be published in the Franklin Press newspaper in Franklin, NC, of which the publication date begins the 30 day comment period. Only those who submit timely comments or have otherwise expressed interest in the proposed action will have eligibility for appeal purposes. In order to have appeal eligibility, each individual or representative from each organization submitting comments must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request. Persons wishing to submit comments in response to this notice should provide the following information: Name, address, and (if possible) telephone number; Title of the document on which comments are being submitted (Nantahala Multi-Year Prescribed Burn Program); Specific facts or comments along with supporting reason that the person believes the Responsible Official should consider in reaching a decision; and Your signature or other means of identification verification. For organizations, a signature or other means of identification verification must be provided for the individual authorized to represent your organization. Comments must be postmarked or received within 30 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Franklin Press. Written comments should be sent to Nantahala Ranger District, ATTN: Prescribed Burn Program, 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734; or faxed to (828) Oral or hand-delivered comments may be made at the Ranger District office within the normal weekday business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments may also be mailed electronically to this office, in a common digital format using the following address: comments-southern-north-carolina-nantahala-wayah@fs.fed.us. In accordance with 36 CFR 215, all written comments received, including those submitted electronically, will be placed in the project file and will become a matter of public record. Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

2 For further information about this project please contact Greg Brooks, project leader, at the Nantahala Ranger District Office; or telephone at (828) Thank you for your interest in the management of the National Forests in North Carolina. Sincerely, /S/ MICHAEL WILKINS MICHAEL WILKINS District Ranger, Nantahala Ranger District Enclosure

3 Multi-Year Prescribed Burn Program UA Forest Service Southern Region Nantahala National Forest Nantahala Ranger District Macon, Swain, and Jackson Counties, North Carolina PROPOSAL I am proposing to implement a multi-year program of low intensity prescribe burns on a total of 10,047 acres at 26 sites on the Nantahala Ranger District in Macon, Swain and Jackson Counties, North Carolina. Each site would be prescribed burned two or more times over a period of 8 to 12 years. Most of the sites have already been burned one or more times in the years past to reduce fuel buildups and reduce the understory density. The following table identifies each of the sites. # Burn Area Name Acres # Burn Area Name Acres 1 Alarka Laurel Hurricane Creek Awl Knob Indian Camp Ben Creek Jarrett Knob Big Indian Kimsey Bald 8 5 Bull Pen Park Creek 39 6 Buster Vinson Pine Mountain I Chestnut Knob Pine Mountain II Deweese Ridge Rattlesnake Knob Dirty John Shepard Bald Fontana I Siler Bald Fontana III Steeltrap Knob I Fontana V Steeltrap Knob II Hickory Branch 1, Wolf Knob 574 Control lines would include water bodies, roads, dozer lines and hand lines. Most of the sites have been burned one or more time in the past and would only require the reestablishment of existing fire lines, either using a dozer or, in sensitive areas, rakes and other hand tools. Following the burn, all dozer lines and hand lines would be treated as needed to prevent erosion. The burns would be conducted during the winter dormant season for the purpose of reducing the amount of leaf litter and hazardous fuels on the ground. Because these are under story burns, the average observer will not be able to detect that the areas have been burned after the trees have leafed out in the spring. Visual quality in the burn areas may be enhanced by some reduction of mountain laurel and increased production of grasses and forbs. The exception will be where areas of thick mountain laurel and brush can be burned hot enough to have pockets of stand replacement. This could occur on unsuitable (for timber management) areas most often described as laurel slicks on dry rocky ridges. Nantahala Multi-Year Rx Burn Program 1 August 8, Day Comment Period Attachment

4 Personnel working on the prescribed burns would be trained in prescribed burning. A prescribed burning plan would be completed by the district fire management officer prior to the day of each burn. Particulate emissions would be reduced by burning during proper fuel moisture and weather conditions (dry, fine fuels; moist soil, duff, and large fuels; a clear day with a light, steady wind; low to moderate humidity). Trained personnel would patrol all control lines before, during, and after ignition to ensure proper containment of the fire within the control lines. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE ACTION These activities are needed to implement direction in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) to Use prescribed fire to create and maintain desired vegetative composition, scenic vistas, and wildlife habitat; reduce fire hazards; control forest pests; and accomplish other management objectives including site preparation. (p.iii-52). The burns would reduce brush and woody understory plants. In so doing, the amount of herbaceous understory (grasses and forbs) should increase, thus providing grazing and bugging areas for wildlife. Burning would reduce surface fuel and ladder fuel buildups that pose a wildfire threat (leaves, pine needles, blowdowns, dead limbs and trees). Periodic prescribed burning serves to reduce fuel loads and subsequently reduces the risk that potentially intense wildfires could damage desirable forest species and soils. Burning would improve the habitat for game species such as deer, turkey, quail, and neotropical migratory bird species by stimulating new growth of grasses, forbs, legumes, and sprouting of woody plants. The major effects on wildlife are indirect and pertain to changes in food and cover. Low-intensity under-story burning improves wildlife habitat by stimulating the sprouting of low-growing woody vegetation and herbaceous groundcover for use by browsing and grazing animals. It also reduces the litter layer, which sets in motion the reproduction of oak seedlings for future mast production. Prescribe fire can increase the edge effect and amount of browse material, in so doing improve conditions for deer and other wildlife. Turkey favor food species and semi-open conditions that can be created and maintained by prescribed burning. Burning will take place outside of the spring nesting season to reduce the destruction of active nesting sites. Forest health will be improved by restoring the historic role of fire (natural and man caused) in the Appalachian ecosystem, reducing encroaching native and nonnative plants, recycling nutrients and carbon, maintaining and/or changing stand structure and composition. SCOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT The purpose of scoping and public involvement is to find out issues and concerns related to the proposal and to determine whether extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action warrant further analysis and documentation in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Nantahala Multi-Year Rx Burn Program 2 August 8, Day Comment Period Attachment

5 Scoping began in March, 2008 when a letter was sent to groups and individuals known to be interested in the management of National Forest lands on the Nantahala Ranger District. No comments were received by us in response to our letter. In April 1, 2008 the project was listed in the Forest s Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions and mailed to a Forest-wide list of 100+ recipients. EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES The District interdisciplinary team considered the cause-effect relationship between the proposed action and the potential effect on the following resource conditions in determining whether extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed actions warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA of an EIS: 1. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species; 2. Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds; 3. Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas; 4. Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas; 5. Research natural areas; 6. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites; 7. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. Conditions 2, 3, 4, and 5 were determined not to be present in the activity areas. Condition 1: surveys for sensitive invertebrate species are currently being conducted on the Forest. Conditions 6, 7: Archeological surveys are being conduction in the activity areas. Contingent upon invertebrate species survey results and archeological survey results, mitigation measures will be implemented to insure that extraordinary circumstances do not exist. DECISION TO BE MADE These actions may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The specific category is Section 31.2 Category 6: Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities, identified in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) (National Environmental Policy Act Handbook). A decision to proceed may be documented in a decision memo. NOTICE, COMMENT AND APPEAL OPPORTUNITIES Pursuant to a Federal Court decision in Earth Island Institute v. Ruthenbeck, this project is subject to a 30-day notice and comment period, and a 45 day appeal period. A legal notice will be published in the Franklin Press newspaper in Franklin, NC, of which the publication date Nantahala Multi-Year Rx Burn Program 3 August 8, Day Comment Period Attachment

6 begins the 30 day comment period. Persons wishing to submit comments in response to this notice should provide the following information: Name, address, and (if possible) telephone number; Title of the document on which comments are being submitted (Nantahala Multi-Year Prescribed Burn Program); Specific facts or comments along with supporting reason that the person believes the Responsible Official should consider in reaching a decision; and Your signature or other means of identification verification. For organizations, a signature or other means of identification verification must be provided for the individual authorized to represent your organization. Comments must be postmarked or received within 30 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Franklin Press. Written comments should be sent to Nantahala Ranger District, ATTN: Joan Brown, 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734; or faxed to (828) Oral or hand-delivered comments may be made at the Ranger District office within the normal weekday business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Comments may also be mailed electronically to this office, in a common digital format using the following address: comments-southern-north-carolina-nantahala-wayah@fs.fed.us. In accordance with 36 CFR 215, all written comments received, including those submitted electronically, will be placed in the project file and will become a matter of public record. CONTACT INFORMATION For further information about this project, contact project leader, Greg Brooks, at the Nantahala Ranger District Office; or telephone at (828) Nantahala Multi-Year Rx Burn Program 4 August 8, Day Comment Period Attachment

7 Nantahala Ranger District Rx Burn Project Vicinity Map 1 of Miles

8 Nantahala Ranger District Rx Burn Project Vicinity Map 2 of Miles 6 5

9 Alarka Laurel 690 Acres FS 86B FS 86 Previous Burn 2004 FS Roads handline bladed road Streams 1, ,500 Feet 1:18,000 alarka laurel burn FS Property

10 Awl Knob 4662 PREVIOUS BURN , ,000 Feet Awl knob burn handline streams FS Property 1:12,000

11 Ben Creek 7040 SR 1397 Proposed Burn Appalachian Trail FS Road 7110 FS Roads Streams FS Property 2,000 1, ,000 Feet ben creek burn handline 1:24,000

12 Big Indian 67 Previous Burn , ,000 Feet FS Trails handline FS Wayah streams FS Tusquitee big_indian_rx 1:12,000

13 Bull Pen Bull Pen 0 1,250 2,500 3,750 5, Feet Streams Roads

14 Buster Vinson SR B 4567 Previous Burn 2006 handline streams buster vinson burn 1, ,000 Feet FS Property

15 Chestnut Knob Proposed Burn Streams FS Roads fsownership chestnut_knob 2,000 1, ,000 Feet bladed road/dozerline Appalachian Trail 1:24,000

16 Deweese Ridge SR 1397 FS Road 7110 FS Road 7279 FS Road 7279 E AT Previous Burn 2007 Appalachian Trail FS Roads Hand Line Deweese Ridge Burn Streams 2,000 1, ,000 Feet FS Property bladed road 1:24,000

17 Dirty John 711D Previous Burn 2007 SR , ,500 Feet Appalachian Trail handline Streams FS Roads dirty_john_burn FS Property 1:18,000

18 Fontana Burn 7000A handline fontana lake rx 3,000 1, ,000 Feet FS Property streams

19 Hickory Branch Burn 1100 AC. DP 1 Hickory branch Tr DP 2 Londan Bald Tr DP 3 FS RD 6166A SR1401 DP 4 Previous Burn 2006 FS RD 6166 Hickory Branch Burn Drop Points Streams Handline FS Trails FS Roads 1:24,000 Hickory Branch Burn 2,000 1, ,000 Feet FS Property dozerline/ bladed road

20 Hurricane Creek 711 SR 1310 Proposed Burn 1, ,000 Feet Appalachian Trail handline Streams FS Roads hurricane creek burn FS Property 1:12,000

21 Indian Camp 711 Proposed Burn streams indian camp branch burn 1, ,500 Feet FS Property 1:18,000

22 Jarrett Knob 437 SR B Previous Burn 2005 handline jarrett knob burn 1, ,500 Feet FS Property streams 1:18,000

23 Kimseybald Burn 71 Kimsey Bald Burn 1, ,000 Feet FS Trails Kimseybald Burn ( 7.5 AC. ) FS Wayah FS Tusquitee 1:12,000

24 PARK CREEK #2 7215B 71 1, ,000 Feet Previous Burn 2003 FS Trails handline FS Nantahala streams park_creek_2_rx FS Tusquitee 1:12,000

25 PARK CREEK #2 7215B 71 1, ,000 Feet Previous Burn 2003 FS Trails handline FS Nantahala streams park_creek_2_rx FS Tusquitee 1:12,000

26 Pine Mountain 7215 Previous Burn & Proposed Burn 1, ,500 Feet FS Trails handline FS Wayah streams pine mountain burn add on to pine mtn burn dozerline 1:18,000

27 Rattlesnake Knob 7131D 7131 Proposed Burn 1, ,500 Feet FS Trails handline FS Wayah streams rattlesnake knob burn 1:18,000

28 Shepardbald Previous Burn dozerline handline shepardbald burn streams 1:12,000 1, ,000 Feet

29 Siler Bald AT Previous Burn 1998 Appalachian Trail Streams FS Roads fsownership Feet siler bald bladed_road 1:6,000

30 Steeltrap Knob Burn 67L 67 Previous Burn ( 2005 ) & Proposed Burn 2,000 1, ,000 Feet 1:24,000 Steeltrap Knob Burn FS Roads streams Handline Dozerline add on to steeltrap Steeltrap Knob Burn ( 265 ac. )

31 WOLF KNOB 575 Acres FS 7063 FS 86 Previous Burn 2006 FS 70 Wolf Knob Bladed Road 1, ,500 Feet 1:18,000 Hand Line FS Roads Streams Wolf Knob FS Property