Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 04/01/2014 to 06/30/2014 Ashley National Forest

Project Name

Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA)

04/01/2014 to 06/30/2014

Ashley National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.

Project Purpose Planning Status Decision

Expected

Implementation

Project Contact

Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide)

Western Area Power

Administration Right-of-Way

Maintenance and

Reauthorization Project

EIS

- Special use management In Progress:

DEIS NOA in Federal Register

09/27/2013

Est. FEIS NOA in Federal

Register 02/2014

Expected:03/2014 04/2014 Christopher Wehrli

435-896-1053 clwehrli@fs.fed.us

Description: Update vegetation management activities along 278 miles of transmission lines located on NFS lands in Colorado,

Nebraska, and Utah. These activities are intended to protect the transmission lines by managing for stable, low growth vegetation.

Location: UNIT - Ashley National Forest All Units, Grand Valley Ranger District, Norwood Ranger District, Yampa Ranger

District, Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District, Pine Ridge Ranger District, Sulphur Ranger District, East

Zone/Dillon Ranger District, Paonia Ranger District, Boulder Ranger District, West Zone/Sopris Ranger District,

Canyon Lakes Ranger District, Salida Ranger District, Gunnison Ranger District, Mancos/Dolores Ranger District.

STATE - Colorado, Nebraska, Utah. COUNTY - Chaffee, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Grand, Gunnison, Jackson,

Lake, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montrose, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, Dawes, Daggett, Uintah. LEGAL - Not

Applicable. Linear transmission lines located in Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska.

R4 - Intermountain Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)

Energy Gateway South 500 kV

Powerline (EGS)

EIS



04/01/2011


Register 08/2014

Expected:03/2015 01/2020 Charles Call

435-865-3730 ckcall@fs.fed.us

Description: This proposed 500 kV transmission line is designed to deliver power to Rocky Mountain Power utility costumers in

Utah and the intermountain west. Generation sources are located in central Wyoming.

Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42534

Location: UNIT - Duchesne Ranger District, Pine Valley Ranger District, Richfield Ranger District, Price Ranger District,

Fillmore Ranger District, Heber-Kamas Ranger District, Spanish Fork Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY

- Beaver, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Millard, Piute, Sevier, Uintah, Wasatch, Weber. LEGAL - Not

Applicable. The project initiates in central Wyoming and crosses public, private, and state lands in Wyoming,

Colorado, and Utah. Project terminates at the Mona substation in central Utah.

04/01/2014 04:44 am MT Page 1 of 10 Ashley National Forest

Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision

Expected

Implementation

Project Contact

R4 - Intermountain Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)

Greater Sage-grouse

Management Direction - Utah

EIS

- Land management planning

- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants

Expected:11/2014 http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse/western.html

11/2014 Glen Stein

801-625-5281 gstein@fs.fed.us

Description:

The purpose of this project is to prepare environmental impact statements (EISs) and supplemental environmental impact statements to incorporate greater sage-grouse conservation measures into Bureau of Land Management land use plans and Forest Plans.

Web Link:

In Progress:


11/01/2013


Register 05/2014

Transwest Express 600 kV

Direct Current Powerline (TWE)

EIS

Location:



02/18/2011


Register 07/2013

Expected:12/2014 03/2018 Charles Call

435-865-3730 ckcall@fs.fed.us

Description: This proposed 600 kV direct current transmission line is designed to carry renewable energy (primarily wind power) from generation sources in central Wyoming to markets in in the pacific southwest.


Location:

UNIT - Ashley National Forest All Units, Dixie National Forest All Units, Fishlake National Forest All Units, Manti-

Lasal National Forest All Units, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache All Units. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Beaver, Box Elder,

Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute,

Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

LEGAL - Not Applicable. All National Forests in Utah.

UNIT - Roosevelt Ranger District, Pine Valley Ranger District, Richfield Ranger District, Fillmore Ranger District,

Ferron Ranger District, Heber-Kamas Ranger District, Spanish Fork Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY -

Beaver, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Millard, Piute, Sevier, Uintah, Wasatch, Weber. LEGAL - Not

Applicable. This project initiates in central Wyoming and crosses public, private, and state lands in Wyoming,

Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.

Ashley National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide) R4 - Intermountain Region



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact

Ashley National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)

Cart Creek Watershed

Integrated Vegetation

Restoration Project

CE

R4 - Intermountain Region


- Vegetation management

(other than forest products)

- Fuels management

Completed Actual: 01/10/2014 http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42749

05/2014 James McRae

435-781-5123 jmmcrae@fs.fed.us

Description:

We are proposing pre-commercial thinning as well as removal of conifers from riparian areas and from sagebrush communities to: improve timber stands, reduce the risk of unacceptable wildfires, and restore riparian and sagebrush plant communities.

Web Link:

East Side Recreation Facilities

Decommissioning

EA

*NEW LISTING*

Location:

- Recreation management

- Facility management

In Progress:

Comment Period Public Notice

03/04/2014

Est. Objection Period Legal

Notice 02/2015

Expected:05/2015 05/2015 Molly Ryan

435-781-5282 mollymryan@fs.fed.us

Description: This project proposes decommissioning 12 Developed Recreation sites on the Flaming Gorge (9 sites) and Vernal

Districts(3 sites). These sites were chosen because of their limited use by the public, outdated facilities, and/or aging infrastructure.


Location:

UNIT - Vernal Ranger District, Flaming Gorge Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Daggett, Uintah.

LEGAL - T1N R21E sections 11-14 and 23-26; T1N R22E sections 5-6, 8, 17, 20, & 29-32; T1S R22E sections 4-8; and T2N R22E sections 15-16, 21-22, 26-28, and 35. Selected locations in the Cart Creek

Watershed, located on both the Vernal and Flaming Gorge Ranger Districts.

UNIT - Vernal Ranger District, Flaming Gorge Ranger District. STATE - Utah, Wyoming. COUNTY - Daggett,

Uintah, Sweetwater. LEGAL -

T14NR108WSEC34;T2NR18SEC14;T2N22ESEC29;T3NR21E;SEC28;T2NR21ESEC35;T1SR20ESEC12;T2NR2

1ESEC21;T1NR22ESEC20;T2NR20ESEC9;T1SR21ESEC30;T2NR19ESEC12;T3NR21ESEC19;. This project proposes decommissioning 12 Developed Recreation sites on the Flaming Gorge (9 sites) and Vernal Districts(3 sites). Sites range from Sweetwater County WY, to Daggett and Uintah County,UT.



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact

Ashley National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)

Junction Hazard Tree Removal

Project

CE



- Forest products

- Fuels management

Completed Actual: 02/28/2014 http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42767

06/2014 Lesley Tullis

435-781-5103 ltullis@fs.fed.us

Description:

This project would involve the removal of dead and dying hazard trees from along roadways and around developed sites in the vicinity of the junction of the Elkhorn Loop and Chepeta Lake roads.

Web Link:

Location: UNIT - Vernal Ranger District, Roosevelt Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - T3N

R1W, sections 6, 7, and 18; T3N R2W, sections 1 and 12; T4N R1W, sections 19, 30, and 31; and T4N R2W, sections 24 and 25; all Uintah Meridian. The project area lies mostly in the vicinity of the junction of the Elkhorn

Loop and Chepeta Lake roads, as well as along the West Fork Trailhead Road.

Ashley National Forest Duchesne/Roosevelt Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Big Springs Road Paving

Project

CE

*NEW LISTING*


- Special use management

- Road management

In Progress:

Scoping Start 01/17/2014

Expected:05/2014 06/2014 Leann Colburn

435 781 5163 lscolburn@fs.fed.us

Description: There are approximately 0.38 miles of unpaved road that would be paved with asphalt. The existing road width is about 18 feet. The proposed project would increase the road width to 22 feet and the total right of way would be 60 feet.


Location: UNIT - Roosevelt Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - Township 2 North, Range 2

West, Section 4. The project is located on Big Springs Road which splits off of the Uintah Canyon Highway

(Highway 121).

High Uintas Wilderness

Colorado River Cutthroat Trout

(CRCT) Habitat Enhancement

EIS

- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress:


12/24/2013


Register 10/2014

Expected:03/2015 06/2015 Ronald Brunson

435-781-5202 rbrunson@fs.fed.us

Description: Cooperative project with UDWR to restore and enhance CRCT populations within the High Uintas wilderness through the use of piscicide rotenone to remove non-native fish from selected streams and lakes. CRCT would be reintroduced following treatment


Location: UNIT - Roosevelt Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. High Uintas Wilderness Area

Roosevelt Ranger District, Duchesne Ranger District.



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact


Iron Mine Calcite Project

EA


- Minerals and Geology Cancelled N/A N/A David Herron

435-781-5218 daherron@fs.fed.us

Description: A proposal for short-term small-scale hard-rock mining operations in the upper Iron Mine Creek area of the

Ashley National Forest (Section 19, T2N R9W, Uinta Meridian).


Lower Stillwater Fishery

Enhancement

EA

Location: UNIT - Duchesne Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Wasatch. LEGAL - Northern ½ of Section 19,

T2N R9W, Uinta Meridian. Headwaters of Iron Mine Creek, Wasatch County, Utah.



- Facility management

In Progress:


12/23/2013


Notice 06/2014



Description: This project would enhance conditions for the fishery at the Lower Stillwater pond complex by dredging ponds to increase water depth, stabilizing banks and dykes, and improving water delivery.


Moon Lake Boat Ramp

EA

Location: UNIT - Duchesne Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - T.1 N. R.111 W. Sections 5

& 8 - Uinta Meridian. Lower Stillwater ponds located in the Rock Creek drainage near the southern Forest boundary on the Duchesne District of the Ashley National Forest.

- Recreation management In Progress:

Notice of Initiation 04/24/2012

Est. Comment Period Public

Notice 05/2014



Description: The proposed project would improve boating access to Moon Lake by installing a concrete boat ramp and paved parking area. The proposed ramp measures 800' long by 20' wide with 85' by 85' turnaround areas every 200'.


Location: UNIT - Roosevelt Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - Not Applicable. West shoreline of Moon Lake adjacent to the developed campground in Lake Fork Canyon on the Roosevelt-Duchesne

Ranger District of the Ashley National Forest.



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact


Rhoades Canyon Commercial

Rock Project

EA


- Minerals and Geology Cancelled N/A N/A David Herron


Description: Proposal to purchase and remove up to 2,000 tons per year of rocks, for up to 10 years, for commercial construction purposes. Rocks would be from within Rhoades Canyon, on the Duchesne District of the Ashley

National Forest.


Strawberry Peak Livestock

Conversion

EA

Location: UNIT - Duchesne Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - The proposed rock removal area is located within or near the SW ¼ of SW ¼ of Section 3, T1N R9W, Uintah Meridian. Rhoades Canyon area on the west side of the Duchesne Ranger District.

- Grazing management In Progress:


05/09/2012


Notice 08/2014

Expected:12/2014 01/2015 Amber Helmus

435-738-5205 ahelmus@fs.fed.us

Description: The Roosevelt-Duchesne Ranger District proposes to convert the Strawberry Peak allotment on the Ashley

National Forest from sheep to cattle.


Swift Creek Watershed Trail

Relocations

CE

Location: UNIT - Duchesne Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - Strawberry allotment occurs in portions of: 1) T4S. R9W. 2) T5S. R9W. 3) T5S. R9W. 4) T5S. R10W. 5) T6S. R9W. 6) T6S. R10W.

USM. The Strawberry Peak allotment is located on the South Unit of the Ashley National Forest.


- Watershed management

In Progress:


Expected:04/2014 06/2014

Description:

We are proposing to construct hiking trail reroutes at 7 selected locations in the Swift Creek Focus Watershed.

The project would total approximately 4,600 feet of trail construction and 3,300 feet of trail closures and rehabilitation.


Christopher Plunkett

435-781-5140 cplunkett@fs.fed.us

Location: UNIT - Roosevelt Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - SE, Sec 20, T3N, R4W;

SW, SE, Sec 5, T3N, R4W; NW, NW, Sec 5, T3N, R4W; NW, SE, Sec 32, T4N, R4W; NE, NE, Sec 32, T4N, R4W;

NW, NE, Sec 4, T3N, R4W; SE, SW, Sec 4, T3N, R4W Uintah Base Meridian. Seven locations in the Swift Creek

Watershed.



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact


Vantage 2014 Oil and Gas

Project

CE


- Minerals and Geology Developing Proposal

Est. Scoping Start 03/2014

Expected:07/2014 08/2014 David Herron


Description: Proposal from Vantage Energy to construct a single new well pad, on existing oil and gas leases, in the Wildhorse

Ridge area of the South Unit, then drill up to 4 oil and gas wells from that pad.


Location: UNIT - Duchesne Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Duchesne. LEGAL - The well pad, along with any road upgrades or new road construction, would be located with Section 1, T6S R6W, Uinta Meridian. The well pad, and any needed road upgrades or new road construction, would be located on Wildhorse Ridge, within section 1, T6S R6W Uinta Meridian.

Ashley National Forest Flaming Gorge Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

2014 Special Use Permit

Reauthorization

CE

*NEW LISTING*




Expected:05/2014 05/2014 Jayson Roundy

435-781-5281 jcroundy@fs.fed.us

Description: Four special use permits located on the Flaming Gorge Ranger District that are expired or expiring and are being requested for reauthorization.


Antelope Flat Vegetation

Management Project

CE

*NEW LISTING*

Location: UNIT - Flaming Gorge Ranger District. STATE - Utah, Wyoming. COUNTY - Daggett, Uintah, Sweetwater.

LEGAL - Not Applicable. Multiple locations on the Flaming Gorge Ranger District located near Manila Utah, Green

River Wyoming, Buckboard Marina Wyoming and Dutch John Utah.




In Progress:


Expected:06/2014 08/2014 David Olsen

435-781-5181 dwolsen@fs.fed.us

Description:

Pinyon and juniper trees encroaching into sagebrush communities will be mulched or lopped, scattered and otherwise left in place. Objective is to maintain the sagebrush community for sage-grouse and to maintain native vegetative diversity.


Location: UNIT - Flaming Gorge Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Daggett. LEGAL - T3N, R21E, portions of

Sections 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, and R22E portions of Sections 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 in Daggett County, Utah.

Project is located along the North side of Dutch John Mountain and Antelope Flat. The project is bisected by the

Antelope Flat boat launch road and runs parallel and easterly across Hwy 191.



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact

Ashley National Forest Flaming Gorge Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Bighorn Sheep Habitat

Improvement Project

EA


- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants Expected:01/2015 http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=24730

10/2015 Leann Colburn

435 781 5163 lscolburn@fs.fed.us

Description:

This project would improve bighorn sheep forage and lambing habitat, including increasing sight distances to detect predators, in areas along Flaming Gorge Reservoir. We would use prescribed fire to remove encroaching conifers (mostly juniper).

Web Link:

In Progress:



Notice 04/2015

Half Whiskey Moon Lookout

Forest Restoration Project

EA

Location:


- Forest products

- Fuels management


In Progress:



Notice 12/2015

Expected:04/2016 05/2016 Lesley Tullis

435-781-5103 ltullis@fs.fed.us

Description: This project would include a variety of timber and fuels vegetative management activities totaling 1,106 acres within a 1,787-acre project area. Trees killed by beetles or infected by dwarf mistletoe would be removed to achieve project objectives.


Location:

UNIT - Flaming Gorge Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Daggett. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project analysis area lies approximately 30 miles north of Vernal, Utah in Daggett County. It is above the Flaming

Gorge Reservoir from Bears Tusk on the west to Gold Point.

UNIT - Flaming Gorge Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Daggett. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project is located in the vicinity of Half Moon Park, Whiskey Creek, and the historic Ute Lookout Tower on the

Flaming Gorge Ranger District of the Ashley National Forest.

Ashley National Forest Vernal Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R4 - Intermountain Region



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact

Ashley National Forest Vernal Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Cart Creek Watershed Roads

Improvement Project

EA





- Road management

Expected:11/2014 http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=41469

12/2014 Christopher Plunkett

435-781-5140 cplunkett@fs.fed.us

Description:

We are proposing to reroute and rehabilitate a 1.33 mile segment of Forest Road 49 and a 1.35 mile segment of

Forest Road 177. This proposed project also includes seasonal closures of portions of FR 49 and FR 177 and

Forest Trails 3, 4, and 8.

Web Link:

In Progress:



Notice 06/2014

Flume Trail Reroute

CE

*NEW LISTING*

Location: UNIT - Vernal Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Uintah. LEGAL - T 1N, R 22E, Sec 2, 10 - 12, 15,

16, 21 - 24, 27, 28. T1N, R23E, Sec 7. Salt Lake Meridian. Bowden Draw and Greens Draw in the Cart Creek

Watershed, located east of Hwy 191.


- Land ownership management

Completed Actual: 02/13/2014 06/2014 Rene Arce

435-781-5177 rcarce@fs.fed.us

Description: Relocation of approximately 1 mile of the Flume Trail from private land to Forest Service lands. The project would also include construction of one trail bridge.


Mosby Mountain Pipeline

EA

Location: UNIT - Vernal Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Uintah. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project is located approximately 8 miles north of the Red Cloud Loop Road at it's junction with the Dry Fork Canyon Road, and about 16 miles northwest of Vernal, UT.

- Grazing management In Progress:



Notice 05/2014

Expected:11/2014 11/2014 Garry Brown

435-781-5168 gdbrown@fs.fed.us

Description: This project would involve the construction of a pipeline from Mosby Canal to the lower pastures of Mosby

Mountain Allotment to provide a reliable water source for cattle.


Location: UNIT - Vernal Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Uintah. LEGAL - Salt Lake Meridian T2S, R18E,

Sec 22, 27, 34, 35; T3S, R18E, Sec 2, 10, 11 Uintah Meridian T2N, R1E Sec 9, 16. Mosby Mountain-23 miles north of Lapoint, Utah on Mosby Mountain Road.



Expected

Implementation

Project Contact

Ashley National Forest Vernal Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Whiterocks Canyon Hazardous

Fuels Reduction Project

EA


- Forest products



- Fuels management

Developing Proposal

Est. Notice of Initiation 05/2014

Expected:06/2015 06/2015 Chris Deets

435-781-5153 cdeets@fs.fed.us

Description:

This project would include campground vegetation management, ponderosa pine restoration and maintenance, mixed conifer broadcast burning, and the creation of shaded fuel breaks and a safety zone in Whiterocks Canyon.


Location: UNIT - Vernal Ranger District. STATE - Utah. COUNTY - Uintah. LEGAL - T2N R1E, sections 5-7; T2N R1W, sections 1 and 12; T3N R1E, sections 30-32; T3N R1W, sections 21-28 and 35-36; all Uintah Meridian.

Whiterocks Canyon (on the southwestern edge of the Vernal Ranger District).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.


Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 04/01/2014 to 06/30/2014 Ashley National Forest

Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA)

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Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 04/01/2014 to 06/30/2014 Ashley National Forest

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