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FINAL Programmatic Environmental Assessment Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Projects in the State of Montana

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FINAL Programmatic Environmental Assessment Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Projects in the State of Montana FINAL Programmatic Environmental Assessment Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Projects in the State of Montana September 2019 Federal Emergency Management Agency Region VIII Department of Homeland Security Denver Federal Center Building 710, Box 25267 Denver, CO 80225-0267 This document was prepared by Contract No.: HSFE60‐15‐D‐0015 Task Order: HSFE60‐17-J-0026 Cover Photo Credit: Nicky Ouellet, Montana Public Radio Table of Contents SECTION 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Wildfire Hazard Mitigation .......................................................................................... 1-2 1.2 Background ................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Area of Study ................................................................................................................ 1-2 1.4 Process for the Use of This PEA .................................................................................. 1-4 SECTION 2. Purpose and Need .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Project Purpose ............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Project Need .................................................................................................................. 2-1 SECTION 3. Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2.1 Defensible Space (Greater than 100 Acres) ......................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Hazardous Fuels Reduction .................................................................................. 3-2 3.2.3 Soil Stabilization ................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.4 Hazard Tree Removal ........................................................................................... 3-7 3.3 Alternatives Considered and Eliminated from Evaluation ........................................... 3-7 3.3.1 Activities Ineligible for HMA Funding ................................................................ 3-7 3.3.2 Ignition Resistant Construction ............................................................................ 3-8 3.3.3 Defensible Spaces (Less than 100 Acres) ............................................................. 3-8 3.3.4 Flood Reduction Activities ................................................................................... 3-9 SECTION 4. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................ 4-1 4.1 Evaluation Criteria and Thresholds .............................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Resources Not Affected and Not Considered Further .................................................. 4-8 4.2.1 Prime and Unique Farmland ................................................................................. 4-8 4.2.2 Coastal Resources ................................................................................................. 4-8 4.3 Geology, Soils, and Topography .................................................................................. 4-8 4.3.1 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 4-8 4.3.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 4-9 4.4 Air Quality .................................................................................................................. 4-13 4.4.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 4-15 4.4.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 4-15 4.5 Visual Quality and Aesthetics..................................................................................... 4-17 4.5.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 4-17 4.5.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 4-17 4.6 Water Quality and Water Resources ........................................................................... 4-19 4.6.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 4-19 4.6.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 4-22 4.7 Floodplains.................................................................................................................. 4-25 4.7.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 4-25 4.7.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 4-25 4.8 Wetlands ..................................................................................................................... 4-28 4.8.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 4-28 Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Projects in Montana i Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment Table of Contents 4.8.2 Environmental Consequences ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.9 Wild and Scenic Rivers............................................................................................... 4-32 4.9.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 4-33 4.9.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................. 4-34 4.10 Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 4-34 4.10.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-35 4.10.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-42 4.11 Fish and Wildlife ........................................................................................................ 4-45 4.11.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-46 4.11.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-50 4.12 Threatened and Endangered Species and Critical Habitat .......................................... 4-52 4.12.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-52 4.12.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-59 4.13 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................... 4-61 4.13.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-62 4.13.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-64 4.14 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................. 4-66 4.14.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-67 4.14.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-67 4.15 Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 4-68 4.15.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-68 4.15.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-69 4.16 Public Health and Safety............................................................................................. 4-69 4.16.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-69 4.16.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-69 4.17 Noise .......................................................................................................................... 4-71 4.17.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-71 4.17.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-72 4.18 Traffic and Transportation .......................................................................................... 4-73 4.18.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................... 4-73 4.18.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................... 4-74 4.19 Public Services and Utilities ....................................................................................... 4-76 4.19.1 Affected Environment .....................................................................................
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