Scoping Report for the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project 51712

Transcription

1 United States Department of Agriculture Scoping Report for the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project Poplar Bluff Ranger District Mark Twain National Forest Butler County, Missouri Cover Photo: Tornado damaged trees similar to that which exists across much of the project area with downed, damaged, and dead trees. The proposed project is needed to set the stage to regenerate vegetation and desired conditions. Forest Service Mark Twain National Forest Publication Date April 21, 2017

2 For Further Information Contact: Paul Whitworth, Ph.D. NEPA Planner Poplar Bluff Ranger District Mark Twain National Forest 1420 Maud Street Poplar Bluff, MO Phone: (573) Responsible Official: Jon M. Stansfield, District Ranger Poplar Bluff Ranger District Mark Twain National Forest 1420 Maud Street Poplar Bluff, MO Phone: (573) Specify Subject: Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project 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.

3 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 1 What is the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project?... 1 LOCATION AND SETTING... 1 Where is the project area located?... 1 What are the Existing Conditions in the project area?... 1 What are the Desired Conditions for the project areas?... 2 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION... 3 Why is the project needed?... 3 PROPOSED ACTION... 4 What actions would be taken?... 4 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS... 5 What type of environmental analysis would be conducted for this project?... 5 What preliminary issues have been identified?... 5 Will the Forest Service consult with other agencies?... 5 DECISION TO BE MADE... 6 What type of decision may be made for this project?... 6 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT... 6 How can I comment on this project?... 6 PUBLIC COMMENT FORM... 8 REFERENCES APPENDIX A APPENDIX B APPENDIX C... 13

4 INTRODUCTION What is the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project? The Poplar Bluff Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest is seeking your comments on the proposed Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project. The purpose of this project is to address the after-effects of a tornado or high wind event that occurred on March 9, The wind event downed and or damaged trees across approximately 68 acres of national forest land. The Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project is proposed to restore the landscape and reduce fuel loading as consistent with the Mark Twain National Forest 2005 Land and Resource Management Plan (2005 Forest Plan) (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005). LOCATION AND SETTING Where is the project area located? The Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project is located on the Poplar Bluff Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest. See Appendix A Vicinity Map for the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project. The Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project is located in Butler County, Missouri, approximately 8 miles northwest of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The area is located east of US Highway 67 and lies between County Roads 520 and 522. The general legal description for the area is T.25 N., R. 5 E., sec. 34 and 35, fifth principal meridian. The approximate location of the area to be treated is shown in Appendix B Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project. The map in Appendix B shows the "stands" that would be treated. The term "stand" refers to a community of trees or other vegetation sufficiently uniform in composition, age, spatial arrangement, or condition to be distinguishable from adjacent communities; most stands are from 5 to 40 acres in size. Stands exist within a "compartment". The term "compartment" refers to a portion of a forest, usually contiguous and composed of a variety of stand types, defined as a location reference and basis for forest management. Appendix C Treatment Acres by Compartment and Stand show the number of acres in the blown down area that would be treated in each stand. What are the Existing Conditions in the project area? The March 9, 2017 high wind or tornado event downed and damaged trees on national forest lands. Whole trees were uprooted, tops broken-off, and stems splintered with trees and tree and 1

5 limb remnants strewn across the landscape. The photo in Figure 1 is representative of the winddamaged area proposed for treatment in the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project. A need exists to restore vegetative conditions in this wind-damaged area. The capability of the area to revegetate by allowing growth of existing vegetation (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 2-31) is unknown. Few, if any, residual standing large trees likely remain in some areas. The seed tree sources that do remain may be insufficient to reforest the area by natural regeneration. Reforestation plantings may be needed across some or much of the project area to generate adequate revegetation. Figure 1. Ground Photo of Tornado-impacted Trees. This photo displays typical existing conditions of tornado-damaged or windblown trees. The downed and damaged trees need to be removed to set the stage to regenerate vegetation and desired conditions. What are the Desired Conditions for the project areas? The 2005 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 3-3) directs that this area be managed as Management Prescription 2.1. Management Prescription 2.1 emphasizes restoration of natural communities. Goals for Management Prescription 2.1 include providing a variety of uses, products, and values by managing within the capacity and resource potential appropriate to natural communities and the landscape. 2

6 The desired condition for Management Prescription 2.1 (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 3-11) emphasizes multiple use resource objectives while allowing for the enhancement of natural communities and improvement of forest health conditions. Vegetation consists of a variety of stand sizes, shapes, crown closures, and age structures in patterns that simulate the structural variability of natural communities. The desired condition would move the area toward open woodland natural communities consistent with 2005 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005) Table A-2 on Appendix page A-3. The desired open woodland community would have 40%-70% canopy cover and basal area. The area would exhibit an understory of scattered grasses, sedges, and forbs covering 30%-40% of the area. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION Why is the project needed? The March 2017 wind event and or tornado resulted in areas of downed and damaged trees. The 2005 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005) Goal 2.4 allows for removal of downed and damaged trees and response to disturbance events in a timely manner (p. 1-5). The 2005 Forest Plan guides the Forest Service to salvage timber resources damaged by natural or human-caused disturbance events when compatible with resource goals, objectives, management prescription or to protect public safety (pp. 1-5, 2-20, 2-29). Conducting the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project is consistent with 2005 Forest Plan Management Prescription 2.1 (p. 2-29). Vegetation management would contribute to the social and economic well-being of the local community by providing values, products, and services in a cost-effective manner (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 1-4). Quickly and efficiently removing fallen trees and broken tops would also reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, Poplar Bluff and Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger Districts, 2002, p. 5). Existing dead, dying, declining, and at-risk trees in the project area need to be treated within approximately 1 year, or commercial salvage harvest would no longer be possible. As time progresses and the trees undergo insect damage, blue stain (a fungus that blocks nutrients to the tree causing death), wood rot, and declining timber value, commercial timber operators would have less desire to harvest the material. In the absence of commercial salvage harvest, it would not likely be feasible to have the downed, damaged, and declining trees treated. 3

7 What actions would be taken? Conduct Timber Salvage PROPOSED ACTION Damaged standing trees and downed trees would be salvaged through commercial timber harvest across approximately 68 acres of forest. Trees already on the ground may be cut year round (e.g., bucking, removing tops limbs, and root wads). Any trees not completely blown over would be felled after November 1 and before April 1. Mechanical harvesters, chainsaws, tractors, skidders, loaders, and large trucks would be used for salvage harvest operations. Skid trails, log landings, and temporary roads would be created to remove the harvested trees. Damaged or dying standing trees would be harvested including trees that are leaning, root sprung (the root system is compromised and exposed from the soil), twisted, or broken trees. Removal would be based on the extent of damage to the tree and the likelihood that the tree would recover and or provide wildlife habitat. Undamaged trees would be left uncut. Where possible, salvage activities would retain at least 10%-15% of the area unless unacceptable risk exists to public health and safety or forest health (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 2-29). All trees felled for harvest; to create log landings, temporary roads, or skid trails; and to remove safety hazards would be felled from November 1st through April 1 as consistent with the 2005 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 2-6). Create Temporary Roads for Project and Decommission After Use Less than ½ mile of temporary roads would be built to support project activities. Once all salvage, reforestation, and other resource activities are completed, all temporary roads would be decommissioned and blocked with berms and or logging debris. Allow Natural Revegetation Where possible and desirable, revegetation would occur by allowing growth of existing vegetation (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 2-31). Natural revegetation would be periodically monitored for adequacy of regrowth to determine the need for reforestation planting. Conduct Reforestation Planting Where revegetation from growth of existing vegetation is not possible or adequate, reforestation planting would be conducted (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 2-31). If needed, planting could occur over the entire area (approximately 68 acres). Planting activities would be conducted as-needed, on a stand-by-stand basis. 4

8 Chainsaw felling of residual trees less than 9" in diameter that are too old or of the wrong species would be conducted to promote growth of desirable species (i.e., shortleaf pine, white oak, red oak, hickory). All planting would be conducted as hand-planting. Where natural regrowth is inadequate native species (i.e., shortleaf pine and hardwoods) would be planted. All shortleaf pine seedlings or planting would use stock developed from native Mark Twain National Forest superior trees (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 2-29). ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS What type of environmental analysis would be conducted for this project? The project falls within a "Categories of Exclusion" found in Forest Service Handbook FSH , Chapter 32.2 (USDA Forest Service, Washington Office, 2014). The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and Forest Service Handbook allow categorical exclusions for actions which individually or cumulatively do not have a significant effect on the human environment. Categorical exclusions may be excluded from further analysis and documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA). However, a project and case file is required and the decision to proceed must be documented in a decision memo. This project will be analyzed and considered consistent with the categorical exclusion at 36 CFR 220.6(e)(13): Salvage of dead and/or dying trees not to exceed 250 acres, requiring no more than 1/2 mile of temporary road construction. The proposed action may include incidental removal of live and dead trees for landings, skid trails, and road clearing. What preliminary issues have been identified? The Interdisciplinary Team has identified preliminary issues for review that seek to: Manage forest conditions that pose an unacceptable risk to public health and safety or forest health (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, pp. 2-5, 2-29). Conduct standing tree removal from November 1st through April 1 to avoid impacts to bats as consistent with the 2005 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005, p. 2-6). Will the Forest Service consult with other agencies? The Forest Service would comply with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended). The Forest Service would engage in Section 7 Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and protect endangered species as codified at 16 USC The Forest Service would consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and seek concurrence on species effects 5

9 determinations. The Forest Service would follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determinations on species, concerns about the proposed action, and implement any required protective measures. The zone archaeologist would survey the site, and a letter of concurrence on project actions would be obtained from the Missouri State Historic Preservation Officer as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended). DECISION TO BE MADE What type of decision may be made for this project? Jon M. Stansfield, District Ranger, is the responsible official for deciding whether or not to proceed with the proposed salvage project. The decision to be made is whether or not to conduct salvage harvest and vegetative treatments on portions of 7 stands impacted by the wind storm events, totaling an estimated 68 acres. Jon Stansfield may decide to: Implement the Proposed Action; Modify the Proposed Action; or Defer making a decision at this time. The decision and all project activities would be consistent with the 2005 Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, 2005), and its standards and guidelines, as well as all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations or requirements. Jon Stansfield may include mitigation measures that could be identified as being needed for resource protection. Documentation and rationale of included modifications and additional measures would be provided in the decision document. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT How can I comment on this project? The Forest Service invites you to submit written comments on this proposed project so that your concerns and issues may be fully considered during Scoping. Send written comments to: Paul Whitworth, Ph.D., NEPA Planner, Mark Twain National Forest, Poplar Bluff Ranger District, 1420 Maud Street, Poplar Bluff, MO You may fax comments to Paul Whitworth, Ph.D., at fax number (573) Comments may also be submitted via . Acceptable formats for electronic comments are: text or HTML , Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), or formats viewable in Microsoft Office applications. Comments or requests for information may be sent electronically to: comments-eastern-mark-twain-poplar-bluff@fs.fed.us 6

10 To ensure that your comments are properly routed and processed during the transmittal of any written comment forms, written comments, fax comments, or s, please include Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project in the subject line. Please provide site-specific comments that are useful in helping us analyze this project. Useful comments are those that focus on the specific sites and proposed action, state what the Forest Service should/should not do, and provide reasons why such action(s) should or should not be taken. The comment period will end May 10, A comment form is attached for your convenience. There will be no additional designated comment periods beyond that conducted during this Scoping period. As specified at 36 CFR (a), categorically excluded projects and activities are not subject to legal notice and opportunity to comment. Further, categorically excluded decisions are not subject to the objection process at 36 CFR

11 PUBLIC COMMENT FORM Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project Scoping Comment You are invited to comment on this proposal. Useful comments are those that focus on the specific sites and proposed action, state what the Forest Service should/should not do, and provide reasons why such action(s) should or should not be taken. If you have concerns specific to this project, or if you desire to be kept informed please complete this form and mail it to the following address: Paul Whitworth, Ph.D., NEPA Planner Poplar Bluff Ranger District, Mark Twain National Forest 1420 Maud Street Poplar Bluff, MO Please return your comments by May 10, Name: Address: Phone #: Comments: 8

12 9

13 REFERENCES 16 USC 35. Title 16: Conservation, chapter 35 endangered species. Available: chapter35&saved=%7cz3jhbnvszwlkolvtqy1wcmvsaw0tdgl0bguxni1zzwn0aw9u MTUzMQ%3D%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim&edition=prelim 36 CFR 218. Title 36 Title 36: parks, forests, and public policy; Part 218 project-level predecisional administrative review process. Available: a 36 CFR Title 36: parks, forests, and public policy; Part 220 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, categorical exclusions. Available: Endangered Species Act of 1973 (As Amended). Retrieved from National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (As Amended). (1966, October 15). Retrieved from df USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest. (2005, September). Mark Twain National Forest 2005 land and resource management plan (2005 forest plan). Available: USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, Poplar Bluff and Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger Districts. (2002, June 11). Briefing for the Council on Environmental Quality: Request for alternative NEPA arrangements to address the April, 2002 tornadoes on the Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri, Poplar Bluff and Potosi-Fredericktown Ranger Districts. Unpublished report, on file with the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, zone NEPA planner, Poplar Bluff Ranger District, 1420 Maud Street, Poplar Bluff, Missouri USDA Forest Service, Washington Office. (2014, May 11). Forest Service Handbook FSH National Environmental Policy Handbook. Available: 10

14 APPENDIX A Vicinity Map for the Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project 11

15 APPENDIX B Aldridge Creek Tornado Salvage Project Map 12

16 APPENDIX C Treatment Acres by Compartment and Stand Compartment Stand Affected Acres *Note: All acres are reported as approximations with rounding. 13