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Red Butte Cinder Pit Expansion Project Environmental Assessment

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Red Butte Cinder Pit Expansion Project Environmental Assessment Red Butte Cinder Pit Expansion Project United States Environmental Assessment Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District Department of Agriculture Deschutes National Forest Deschutes County, Oregon Forest Service February 2015 Township 18 South, Range 11 East, Section 28 Willamette Meridian For More Information Contact: Beth Peer, Environmental Coordinator 63095 Deschutes Market Road Bend, OR 97701 Phone: 541-383-4769 [email protected] Red Butte Pit Expansion EA 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) 720-2600 (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 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Red Butte Pit Expansion EA TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... 1 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1: Purpose and Need for Action ...................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Background and Existing Condition ................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Project Area Description ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.6 Management Direction ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.6.1 Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan .............................................. 7 1.6.2 Amendments to the Deschutes Land and Resource Management Plan ..................................... 10 1.7 Summary of the Scoping Process...................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Issues ................................................................................................................................................. 10 1.8.1 Key Issues .................................................................................................................................. 10 1.8.2 Analysis Issues ........................................................................................................................... 11 1.9 Other Pertinent Laws and Regulations .............................................................................................. 11 1.9.1 National Forest Management Act of 1976 ................................................................................. 11 1.9.2 The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended .................................................. 11 1.9.3 The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended ................................................................... 12 1.9.4 Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960................................................................................ 12 1.9.5 The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended ................................................... 12 1.9.6 The Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Executive Order 13186 ..................................................... 13 1.9.7 Executive Order on Invasive Species ......................................................................................... 13 1.9.8 The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1977 and 1990 .................................................................... 13 1.10 Project Record ................................................................................................................................. 14 1.11 Decision to be Made ....................................................................................................................... 14 Red Butte Pit Expansion EA Chapter 2 – Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action........................................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Alternative Development Process ..................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Alternatives Considered in Detail ..................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Alternative 1 – No Action .......................................................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Alternative 2 ............................................................................................................................... 15 2.4 Comparisons of Alternatives ............................................................................................................. 16 2.5 Project Design Elements ................................................................................................................... 16 2.5.1 Resource Protection Measures ................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3 – Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................. 17 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Cumulative Actions and Activities ................................................................................................... 17 3.3 Alternative Evaluation ...................................................................................................................... 18 3.3.1 Wildlife ...................................................................................................................................... 18 3.3.2 Botany ........................................................................................................................................ 58 3.3.3 Invasive Plants ........................................................................................................................... 58 3.3.4 Scenery ....................................................................................................................................... 60 3.3.5 Heritage ...................................................................................................................................... 66 3.4 Required and Additional Disclosures and Consistency with Laws, Regulations, Policy and Procedures ............................................................................................................................................... 66 3.4.1 Human Health and Safety .......................................................................................................... 66 3.4.2 Water Quality and Fisheries ....................................................................................................... 67 3.4.3 Wetlands and Floodplains .......................................................................................................... 68 3.4.4 Prime Farmland, Rangeland, and Forestland ............................................................................. 68 3.4.5 Civil Rights and Environmental Justice ..................................................................................... 68 3.4.6 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources ........................................................ 69 3.4.7 Climate Change .......................................................................................................................... 69 Chapter 4 – Consultation and Coordination ................................................................................................ 70 4.1 Public Involvement ........................................................................................................................... 70 Red Butte Pit Expansion EA 4.2 Consultation with Others .................................................................................................................. 71 4.3 Interdisciplinary Participation ........................................................................................................... 71 Appendix A. Literature Cited ..................................................................................................................... 72 Appendix B. Scenic Viewpoint Simulations ..............................................................................................
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