Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 07/01/2013 to 09/30/2013 Lewis And Clark National Forest This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact. Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact

Lewis And Clark National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide) R1 - Northern Region Little Belt Mountains Hazard - Recreation management In Progress: Expected:09/2013 11/2013 Jamey Lowdermilk Tree Removal - Facility management Comment Period Public Notice 406-791-7700 EA - Road management 05/29/2013 comments-northern- [email protected] *NEW LISTING* Est. Objection Period Legal Notice 07/2013 Description: The Little Belt Mountains Hazard Tree Removal Project proposes removal of hazardous trees along public roads and recreation and administrative facilities in the Little Belt Mountains. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42170 Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Belt Creek Ranger District, Judith Ranger District, Musselshell Ranger District. STATE - . COUNTY - Cascade, Judith Basin, Meagher, Wheatland. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Little Belt Mountains. Permit Reissuance for 6 - Grazing management In Progress: Expected:02/2013 02/2013 Tessa Donahue Pastures and 1 Fenceline - Scoping Start 04/01/2008 406-791-7710 Castle, Crazy, and Big Snowies Est. 215 Comment Period Legal [email protected] CE Notice 12/2012 s Description: CASTLES: Hereim Pasture S13 &23, T7N, R9E -Voldseth Pasture S13,T7N,R9E, S19 & 30,T7N,R10E - Rostad Pasture S23,T7N,R9E - IV Ranch Pasture S32,33,T9N,R9E CRAZIES: JCM Cattle Co S18,T6N,R11E BIG SNOWIES: Swanz Pasture S13, T11N,R18E Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Judith Ranger District, Musselshell Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Cascade, Fergus, Judith Basin, Meagher. Castle, Crazy, and Big Snowies Mountains.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide) R1 - Northern Region Sun River Electric - Special use management Developing Proposal Expected:01/2013 01/2013 Tessa Donahue CE Est. Scoping Start 12/2012 406-791-7710 [email protected] s Description: Operation and Maintenance of powerlines on the Rocky Mountain and Belt Creek Ranger Districts

Location: UNIT - Rocky Mountain Ranger District, Belt Creek Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Cascade, Lewis and Clark, Teton. LEGAL - Sec 4, T24N, R8W; Sec 25, 26 T25N R9W; Sec 2, 3, 4, T21N R9W; Sec 33, 34, 35 and 36, T22N R9W; Sec 25, 24, 23, 14, 10 & 11, T20N, R9W; Sec 1 & 12, T19N R9W; Sec 2, 11 & 10 T18N R8W; Sec 2 & 5, T17N R7. Multiple locations on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District and in Logging Creek area of the Belt Creek Ranger District.

Lewis And Clark National Forest Belt Creek Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region 2013 Blankenship Vegetation - Forest products Completed Actual: 07/16/2012 08/2012 Michael Munoz Project - Fuels management 406-466-5341 EA [email protected] Description: The vegetation treatments include commercial harvesting, pre-burn slashing, and prescribed burning. This project proposes 2.3 miles of road reconstruction and 4.3 miles of temporary road construction. All temporary roads would be obliterated Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38984 Location: UNIT - Belt Creek Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Cascade. Dry Fork of Belt Creek drainage, Little Belt Mountains. GTF Snowmobile Club - Recreation management Developing Proposal Expected:02/2013 02/2013 John Metrione Grooming Shed Special Use - Special use management Est. Scoping Start 12/2012 406-236-5511 Permit Reissue [email protected] CE Description: Reissue a term Special Use Permit for snowmobile club grooming shed and related facility. No changes or ground disturbing activities are proposed Location: UNIT - Belt Creek Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Cascade. LEGAL - T. 13 N., R. 8 E. Sec. 34. Kings Hill Winter Recreation Area, Belt Creek.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest Belt Creek Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region Pilgrim Creek Trailhead and - Recreation management In Progress: Expected:05/2012 06/2012 John Metrione Connector Trail Construction - Facility management Scoping Start 05/07/2011 406-236-5511 CE Est. 215 Comment Period Legal [email protected] Notice 04/2012 Description: Construct Trailhead parking area sufficient to park approximately 6 horse trailer towing units in addition to 2-4 non-towing vehicles. Construct 0.75 mile of connector trail to tie in with existing Trail #304 from the new trailhead. Location: UNIT - Belt Creek Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Cascade. LEGAL - SW ¼ section 23, T16N, R6E. Little Belt Mountains off Forest Road 839 in the Logging Creek Drainage, The Trailhead would be located approximately ½ mile NW of the existing trailhead.

Lewis And Clark National Forest Judith Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region Croff Reciprocal Access - Special use management In Progress: Expected:05/2012 06/2012 Tessa Donahue Exchange Scoping Start 02/01/2012 406-791-7710 CE Est. 215 Comment Period Legal [email protected] Notice 01/2013 s Description: James T and Holly Croff are exchanging road right-of-way easements with the Forest Service. The Forest Service will acquire access across Croff land on Frenchies Coulee Rd #6579. Croff will be granted across NFS lands on Lone Tree Boundary Rd #6578. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38222 Location: UNIT - Judith Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Judith Basin. LEGAL - NE 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec 25, T16N, R9E. Judith Ranger District, Lone Tree Boundary Road #6587. Highwood Mountains Range - Grazing management In Progress: Expected:11/2013 10/2013 John Casselli EA Notice of Initiation 11/01/2010 406-791-7723 Est. Comment Period Public [email protected] Notice 07/2013 Description: Use of adaptive management strategies to move toward desired condition objectives in authorizing livestock grazing across the Highwood Mountains landscape area. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=33676 Location: UNIT - Judith Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Cascade, Chouteau, Judith Basin. LEGAL - Portions of T19.N. R.8,9&10E. and T.20N. R.8,9&10E. National Forest Lands in the Highwood Mountains of Central Montana.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest Judith Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region John Fletcher Suber Special - Special use management Developing Proposal Expected:01/2013 01/2013 Tessa Donahue Use Road Permit Est. Scoping Start 12/2012 406-791-7710 CE [email protected] s Description: Issue a new permit to John Fletcher Suber to replace an expired permit for use and maintenance of a road to access a private inholding. Location: UNIT - Judith Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Judith Basin. LEGAL - Sec 12, T14N, R10E. Running Wolf area of the Judith Ranger District. Lyon Gulch AOP Culvert - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:04/2012 05/2012 Stan VanSickle Removal - Watershed management Scoping Start 01/01/2011 406-791-7743 CE [email protected] Description: This project will remove the upper culvert on the switchback. During replacement of the culvert with an aquatic organism passage (AOP) structure the road will be realigned to reduce impacts to the stream. Location: UNIT - Judith Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Judith Basin. LEGAL - T14N, R10E, Section 19. Lyons Gulch, Little Belt Mountains. Weatherwax Road Obliteration - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:06/2013 07/2013 Tracy Schilling Project - Watershed management 215 Comment Period Legal 406-791-7700 CE - Road management Notice 02/27/2013 comments-northern- [email protected] Description: Project proposal to decommission by obliteration approximately 5 miles of road as described by the Little Belt, Castle, and North Half Travel Plan ROD in the upper Weatherwax Creek watershed. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=41392 Location: UNIT - Judith Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Judith Basin. LEGAL - This project is located in Township 12 North, Range 8 East, Section 1; Township 12 North, Range 9 East, Sections 5 & 6. The Weatherwax Road Obliteration Project area is approximately 3 miles east of Kings Hill in the headwaters of Weatherwax Creek.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest Judith Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region Yogo Area Road Obliteration - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:06/2013 07/2013 Stan VanSickle Project - Watershed management 215 Comment Period Legal 406-791-7700 CE - Road management Notice 03/20/2013 comments-northern- lewisclark- [email protected] Description: We are proposing to decommission, using obliteration, approximately 25 miles of unneeded road as described by the Little Belt, Castle, and North Half Crazy Mountains Travel Plan ROD in the Yogo and Sage Creek watersheds. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=41602 Location: UNIT - Judith Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Judith Basin. LEGAL - T 13 N, R 11 E, Sect 6-8, 16-21, and 26-30; T 13 N, R 10 E, Sect 1- 6; T 14 N, R 11 E, Sect 5-22; T 14 N, R 10 E, Sect 1- 36. Proposed activities would take place approximately 14 miles southwest of Utica, MT in the headwaters of Yogo and Sage Creeks.

Lewis And Clark National Forest Musselshell Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region Anest Special Use Road Permit - Special use management In Progress: Expected:01/2014 03/2014 Tessa Donahue CE Scoping Start 07/01/2011 406-791-7710 Est. 215 Comment Period Legal [email protected] Notice 12/2013 s Description: Issue a private road special use permit to Jody Anest authorizing access to his private property in the . Currently on hold. Location: UNIT - Musselshell Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Golden Valley. LEGAL - T11N, R19E, Sections 15, 16, 22, 23, 26. Big Snowy Mountains. Crazy M Ranch Irrigation Ditch - Special use management Developing Proposal Expected:01/2013 01/2013 Tessa Donahue CE Est. Scoping Start 12/2012 406-791-7710 [email protected] s Description: Diversion located in Cottonwood Creek in the Crazy Mountains, diverting water into a ditch where it goes to private land for irrigation use. Location: UNIT - Musselshell Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Meagher. LEGAL - Sec 13, T6N, R10E PMM. Cottonwood Creek - Crazy Mountains.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest Musselshell Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:09/2013 10/2013 John Casselli Restoration - Vegetation management Comment Period Public Notice 406-791-7723 EA (other than forest products) 06/17/2013 [email protected] Est. Objection Period Legal Notice 07/2013 Description: Restoration of a dry site site ponerosa pine ecosystem with an emphasis on providing habitat diversity and to minimize the risk of stand replacing fire through thinning, mastication and prescribed fire to meet outlined desired future conditions. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=33857 Location: UNIT - Musselshell Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Fergus, Golden Valley. LEGAL - Portions of T.11.N. R.20&21E. and T.12N. R.20&21E. National Forest Lands in the Little Snowy Mountains of Central Montana. Permit Reissuance for 8 - Special use management In Progress: Expected:02/2013 02/2013 Tessa Donahue pastures & new issues for 1 Scoping Start 07/01/2008 406-791-7710 pasture, Little Belt Mtns Est. 215 Comment Period Legal [email protected] CE Notice 12/2012 s Description: Inclusion of adjoining NFS lands for convenience pastures for ease of fencing, use of natural barriers, spring developments & water gaps and not logical to include in grazing allotment. Location: UNIT - Musselshell Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Judith Basin, Meagher, Wheatland. LEGAL - Prince S10-11,14-15,T9NR10E,Indreland S28,33-35,T10NR10E,Gough S29,T10NR10E&S5,T9NR10E,Nelson S32,T10NR10E,Brewer S21,T10NR10E,Goodrich S4T9NR10E,Capser S3T10NR13E,Gaugler S21T11NR5E,Saylor S7T11NR15E. Little Belt Mtns, Musselshell Ranger District.

Lewis And Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region

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Lewis And Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region Benchmark Fuels Reduction III - Fuels management In Progress: Expected:09/2013 10/2013 Michael Munoz EA Comment Period Public Notice 406-466-5341 02/08/2013 [email protected] Est. Objection Period Legal Notice 06/2013 Description: Use of prescribed fire and vegetation treatments to break up continuous fuels, improve forest health, promote surface fire, retain mature fire-resistant trees, and protect homes and developments in the Benchmark Area. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38983 Location: UNIT - Rocky Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lewis and Clark. LEGAL - T19N R9W S10,11,14,15 and T20N R10W S26,35,36,15,16,22. Ford Creek ,S.Fk. Sun River and Wood Lake drainages. Gibson Dam Hydroelectric - Special use management In Progress: Expected:12/2012 11/2013 Tessa Donahue Transmission Line 215 Comment Period Legal 406-791-7710 EA Notice 05/26/2010 [email protected] s *NEW LISTING* Description: Authorization to construct a transmission line within an existing utitlity corridor on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. This is part of the Gibson Dam Hydroelectric project licensed by FERC in January 2012. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42349 Location: UNIT - Rocky Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lewis and Clark, Teton. LEGAL - Sections 2, 3, and 4 T21N, R9W and Sections 34, 35, and 36 T22N, R9W. South of Gibson Reservoir in the utility corridor located along the Sun Canyon Road. Glacier Electric - Special use management Developing Proposal Expected:01/2013 01/2013 Tessa Donahue CE Est. Scoping Start 12/2012 406-791-7710 [email protected] s Description: Issue a new permit to replace an expired permit for operation and maintenance of electric transmission lines.

Location: UNIT - Rocky Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Glacier, Pondera. LEGAL - Sec 2, 10, 15, 16, 20, 21, 29, 30 & 31 T30N, R13W and Sec 24, 25, 26, 35 & 34 T30N R12W. Adjacent to US Hwy 2 where it crosses the Rocky Mountain Ranger District and providing service to Mt Baldy electronic site.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R1 - Northern Region Old Beaver-Willow Road Trail - Recreation management In Progress: Expected:05/2011 07/2011 Ian Bardwell 282 Connector Scoping Start 10/01/2010 406-466-5341 CE Est. 215 Comment Period Legal [email protected] Notice 04/2012 Description: One thousand feet of new trail will be built to connect Trail 292 to the Little Willow Trailhead.

Location: UNIT - Rocky Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Lewis and Clark. LEGAL - T20N, R9W, Sections 2, 3, and 11. Rocky Mountains. Reconstruction Trail #201 and - Recreation management In Progress: Expected:07/2012 07/2012 Ian Bardwell Trail #110 Reroute 215 Comment Period Legal 406-466-5341 CE Notice 05/25/2012 [email protected] Description: Reconstruction of the turnpike along Trail #201 immediately north of the wilderness boundary. The reroute will move the trail #110 from crossing a spring in a riparian area to crossing Biggs Creek in a more rock armored location. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38980 Location: UNIT - Rocky Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Teton. Rocky Mountains, The reroute on 110 (trail 201 turns into 110 at cabin creek, it¿s the old district boundary) will move the trail from crossing a spring in a riparian area to crossing Biggs creek in.

Lewis And Clark National Forest White Sulphur Springs Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one R1 - Northern Region District) Castle Mountain Ranch - Special use management In Progress: Expected:01/2013 01/2013 Tessa Donahue Diversion and Ditch 215 Comment Period Legal 406-791-7710 CE Notice 08/03/2012 [email protected] s Description: A right-of-way 4 ft in width and approximately 1548 feet in length for use and maintenance of an irrigation ditch and headgates on Daniels Creek for irrigation of private land. Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Springs Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Meagher. LEGAL - NWNWSW Sec 22, T12N, R7E. Daniels Creek.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest White Sulphur Springs Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one R1 - Northern Region District) Castle Mountains Restoration - Forest products In Progress: Expected:11/2014 01/2015 Carol Hatfield Project - Vegetation management Notice of Initiation 04/12/2013 406-495-3860 EA (other than forest products) Est. Comment Period Public [email protected] *NEW LISTING* - Fuels management Notice 02/2014 - Watershed management Description: This project has seven discrete silvicultural treatments on 30,744 acres, requiring 19.5 miles of temporary road and 41.1 miles of road reconstruction. There are no new system roads within this proposal. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=41955 Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Springs Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Meagher. Castle Mountains.

Flying S Ranch - Special use management In Progress: Expected:01/2013 01/2013 Tessa Donahue CE 215 Comment Period Legal 406-791-7710 Notice 08/03/2012 [email protected] s Description: authorization for the use and maintenance of a water transmission line to transport water from National Forest to private land for livestock watering. Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Springs Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Meagher. LEGAL - S1/2 SW1/4 Sec 20 and E1/2 NE1/4 Sec 30, T12N, R6E. Sheep Mountain C & H allotment area. Miller Fuels Reduction - Forest products On Hold N/A N/A Timothy Lahey CE - Fuels management 406-495-3950 [email protected] Description: This project proposes to salvage dead and dying lodgepole pine on approximately 100 acres surrounding a subdivision north of Miller Gulch on the west side of US Highway 89. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38978 Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Springs Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Meagher. LEGAL - T11N, R7E Sections 4, 5 & 9. Little Belt Mountains, Meagher County.

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Lewis And Clark National Forest White Sulphur Springs Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one R1 - Northern Region District) Sheep South Road Obliteration - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:06/2013 07/2013 Tracy Schilling Project - Watershed management 215 Comment Period Legal 406-791-7700 CE - Road management Notice 02/27/2013 comments-northern- [email protected] Description: We are proposing to decommission, using obliteration, approximately 100 miles of road as described by the Little Belt, Castle, and North Half Crazy Mountains Travel Plan ROD in the upper Sheep Creek watershed. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=41389 Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Springs Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Meagher. LEGAL - Township 11 North, Range 7 East, Sec 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12; Township 11 North, Range 8 East, Sec 1-20; Township 12 North, Range 7 East, Sec 34-36; Township 12 North, Range 8 East, Sec 33. The Sheep South Road Obliteration Project area is approximately 20 miles southeast of Neihart, Montana in the headwaters of Sheep Creek.

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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.

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