United States Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District Myrtlewood Field Office 1300 Airport Lane Coos Bay, OR 97459

Categorical Exclusion Review

Chetco Bar Fire Timber Salvage Project

DOI-BLM-ORWA-C040-2018-0002-CX

BLM Office: Myrtlewood Field Office

Lease/Serial/Case No. : DOI-BLM-ORWA-C040-2018-0002-CX

Proposed Action Title: Chetco Bar Fire Timber Salvage Project

Location of Proposed Action: Township 39 South, Range 13 West, Sections 1, 2, 11, 13-15, 22, 23, 25-27, Willamette Meridian, Curry County, Oregon (see attached Map2 and Map3).

Background Reported on July 12, 2017, the Chetco Bar Fire started in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness on U.S. Forest Service Land from lightning strikes. The fire burned within the 2002 Biscuit Fire and 1987 Silver Fire scars between Brookings, Oregon to the west and Cave Junction to the east. Winds pushed the fire southward towards Brookings and onto private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered lands in Curry County. The fire burned on approximately 185,920 acres of which 6,501 acres are BLM-administered lands. The fire burned on steep slopes (elevations range from 3,420 ft. on ridge tops to 1,200 ft. in drainages) within two watersheds (North Fork Chetco River and South Fork Pistol River).

The BLM assigned a Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) team to BLM-Administered land effected by the Chetco Bar Fire. The BAER team created a Burned Area Reflectance Classification (BARC) map and field reviewed the area to create a soil burn severity (SBS) map. SBS maps identifies fire-induced changes in soil and ground surface properties that may affect infiltration, run-off, and erosion potential (Parsons et al. 2010). Much of the fire progression on BLM-Administered lands occurred during the large runs in mid-August. The BAER report reflects this in the extent of moderate and high severity SBS acres on BLM administered lands (See Map1). While the SBS map focuses on fire effects to the soil, the Coos Bay BLM wildlife and forestry staff reviewed mapped severities and found generally consistent correlations with vegetation effect:

High Severity: areas with high SBS had an altered dominate vegetation class and greater than 75 percent loss of canopy cover and tree mortality. Moderate Severity: areas with moderate SBS had an altered dominate vegetation class and greater than 75 percent loss of canopy cover and tree mortality. These stands had slightly greater number of live trees than high severity burned areas, but still below 75 percent canopy cover. Low Severity: areas with low SBS retained greater than 75 percent canopy cover. Most stands were underburned with signs of scorch in the upper canopy and occasional pockets of torching where canopy was lost.

The SBS map indicates that approximately 55 percent (3,688 acres) of BLM-Administered lands within the fire perimeter showed effects of high and moderate fire intensity (USDI-BLM 2017).

In September/October, the Coos Bay District Myrtlewood Field Office (Field Office) decided to explore the possibility of proposing timber salvage activities of marketable timber located throughout the BLM-administered

Page 1 of 16 lands effected by the fire. The intent of this salvage is to harvest stands that would deteriorate rapidly due to the decomposition process experienced during large-scale stand replacing fires such as this one, and to begin site preparation for reforestation.

Description of Proposed Action On October 23, 2017, Field Office forestry staff first visited the fire area to begin verifying the tree mortality in the high and moderate SBS. Staff used criteria established by Lowell et al. (2010) to distinguish trees and stands impacted by the fire that have a low probability of survival and still provide enough economic value for contractors to harvest. The Field Office determined the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation to adopt by evaluating variables such as stand age (stands greater than 50 year old), stand composition, operability, access and field verifying the land use allocations. With the provided information, the Field Office decided to move forward with categorically excluding this project.

The BLM is proposing a post-fire salvage on 140 acres of BLM-administered land. The salvage would occur on 12 units ranging in size from 1 to 37 acres in Moderate Intensity Timber Area Harvest Land Base land use allocation as defined in the Northwestern and Coastal Oregon Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan (2016 ROD/RMP). Land use allocations excluded from salvage in this project are the Riparian Reserve, District Designated Reserve, and Late-Successional Reserve.

Salvage treatments would remove dead or dying trees from the proposed units. For the purpose of this categorical exclusion, the BLM is adopting the definition of a dying tree from the BLM NEPA Handbook (H-1790-1). The BLM defines a dying tree as a standing tree that has been severely damaged by forces such as fire, wind, ice, insects, or disease, and that in the judgement of an experienced forest professional or someone technically trained for the work, is likely to die within a few years.

The proposed salvage is located within a mixed conifer forest primarily dominated by Douglas-fir. Other common tree species include knobecone pine, madrone, and tan oak. Understory vegetation is variable and includes evergreen huckleberry, salal, swordfern, blue blossom ceanothus, and beargrass.

Salvage harvest would consist of 50 acres of cable yarding in Units 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10, with the remainder of the units (90 acres in total) harvested using ground-based yarding methods. Stands are designed to have five percent of the pre- harvest basal area (nine total acres) per harvest unit in live trees or snags. No additional snag creation or retention is required for salvage harvest. Three yarding corridors would be required to bring logs through Riparian Reserves with two full suspension yarding corridors required over an intermittent stream.

No salvage harvest would occur within the Riparian Reserve (160 feet site potential tree height). All streams, seeps, and wetlands have been field verified and are excluded from the proposed action areas.

With this proposed project, the BLM would maintain 24 miles of haul roads and renovate 0.55 miles to haul road standards, as well as construct and decommission 0.5 miles (2.3 acres) of temporary roads in Units 1, 7, and 8 (See Map2 and Map3). All work would be carried out during the dry season (May 16th through October 14th). Once work on these roads is completed, the proposed temporary roads would require decommissioning and reestablishment of vegetation cover within the construction footprint to minimize erosion in the disturbed areas. The BLM would replace two culverts with longer and larger diameter pipes along the haul route where the proposed temporary roads intersect the main haul road.

The BLM would leave slash remaining in units after salvage operations are complete in a discontinuous horizontal pattern near the ground. The material would decompose faster in this arrangement and minimize the amount of time slash would be available to influence fire behavior. Retaining slash would ameliorate impacts to sensitive burned soils by decreasing the chance for off-site erosion and increasing retained nutrients on-site. The BLM would oversee the piling and burning of slash found at landings. Excessive slash in ground-based areas may be spot piled and burned as necessary to mitigate fire risk while still providing for soil protection. Following salvage operations, the BLM would evaluate for any additional site-preparation within the units for reforestation.

Page 2 of 16 Purpose and Need The BLM designed the post-fire salvage project to recover economic value and to minimize commercial loss or deterioration of damaged trees where the BLM determined that removal is economically viable (2016 ROD/RMP p. 63). Timely salvage is critical to capture a portion of remaining merchantable timber before further deterioration occurs. Salvaging dead or dying trees would allow the BLM to retrieve some economic value from these trees while retaining levels of basal area in live trees and snags to meet 2016 ROD/RMP standards and guidelines. The BLM would evaluated each unit and prepare them for both natural and artificial reforestation.

Best Management Practices and Project Design Features Project Design Features (PDFs) are an integral part of the proposed project. They are developed to avoid or reduce the potential for adverse impacts to resources. These PDFs include seasonal restrictions on many activities that help minimize erosion and reduce disturbance to wildlife. PDFs also outline protective buffers for sensitive species and delineate many measures for protecting sensitive Riparian Reserves throughout the project. Where applicable, PDFs reflect Best Management Practices (BMPs). The applicable BMPs are cited in parentheses; the numbers (e.g., SP-05, TH-08) correspond to the BMP numbers listed in Appendix C of the 2016 ROD/RMP. The PDFs would be incorporated into the BLM timber sale contract and be monitored to ensure that contract specifications are implemented as designed.

The BLM has included applicable BMPs to prevent and reduce nonpoint source pollution and maintain water quality at the highest practicable level to meet water quality standards and Total Maximum Daily Level loads as set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The specific BMPs for this project are selected from Appendix C of the 2016 2016 ROD/RMP, p. 140. Common to All Proposed Actions Objective 1: Prevent and contain hazardous material spills • During operations require the operator to have a BLM-approved spill plan or other applicable contingency plan. In the event of any release of oil or hazardous substance, as defined in Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 340-142-0005 (9) (d) and (15), into the soil, water, or air, immediately have the operator implement the site’s plan. Require the operator to have spill containment kits present on the site during operations. Require the operator to be in compliance with OAR 629-605-0130 of the Forest Practices Act, Compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the Department of Environmental Quality. Accomplish notification, removal, transport, and disposal of oil, hazardous substances, and hazardous wastes in accordance with OAR 340-142, Oil and Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Requirements, contained in Oregon Department of Environmental Quality regulations (SP-05, SP-06, and SP-09). • Store all hazardous materials and petroleum products in durable containers placed outside (>100 feet) of the Riparian Reserve and other water features. Locate so an accidental spill would be contained and not drain into any stream system (SP-03 and RST 08). • Refuel equipment a minimum of 150 feet from streams, ponds, or other wet areas. Store equipment containing reportable quantities of toxic fluids outside of the Riparian Reserve. Ensure hydraulic fluid and fuel lines are in proper working condition to minimize leakage into streams (SP-03 and RST-10). • Check equipment for leaks prior to starting work. Do not allow equipment use until leaks are repaired or leaking equipment is replaced (SP-03 and RST-07).

Objective 2: Implement measures to contribute towards preventing the introduction and spread on non-native invasive plants • Ensure hay, straw, and mulch are certified as free of prohibited noxious vegetative parts or seeds, per 75 FR 159:51102. Straw or hay must be obtained from the BLM or purchased from growers certified by the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Weed Free Forage and Mulch Program. If hay is used, it must be from native grasses only (RST-12). • Wash equipment travelling off system roads or temporary routes prior to entry onto federally administered lands (R53).

Objective 3: Protect known and newly identified cultural resources

Page 3 of 16 • The BLM archaeologist has adjusted project units to avoid known cultural resources. If the contractor encounters, discovers or becomes aware of any cultural or paleontological resources (historic or prehistoric site or object) during project implementation, all activity would cease in the immediate vicinity, area flagged for avoidance within 150 feet, followed by immediate notification of the Field Manager and District Archaeologist. Project work will not proceed in the vicinity of the discovery until evaluation and appropriate mitigation to prevent the loss of significant cultural or scientific values are completed (ROD/RMP 2016, p.76).

Objective 4: Minimize impacts to water quality and soil productivity from activities related to this project. • Implement erosion control measures such as waterbars, slash placement, and seeding in cable yarding corridors where the potential for erosion and delivery to waterbodies, floodplains, and wetlands exists (TH-06). • Do not operate machinery for timber harvest or fuels treatment within 50 feet of steams (slope distance), except where machinery is on improved roads, designated stream crossings, or where equipment entry into the 50-foot zone would not increase the potential for sediment delivery into the stream (F-09). • Restrict non-road, in unit, ground-based equipment used for harvesting operations to periods of low soil moisture; generally from May 15 to Oct. 15, or when soil moisture exceeds 25 percent. (TH-07 and TH- 11). • Incorporate existing skid trails and landings as a priority over creating new trails and landings where feasible, into a designated skid trail network for ground-based harvesting equipment, consider proper spacing, skid trail direction and location relative to terrain and stream channel features. In addition, limit designated skid trails to a single width for thinning or regeneration harvesting, and to ≤ 15 percent of the harvest unit area to reduce displacement or compaction to acceptable limits (TH-08, TH-09, and TH-12). • Ensure leading-ends of logs be suspended when skidding (TH-10). • Limit non-specialized skidders or tracked equipment to slopes less than 35 percent, except when using previously constructed skid trails or accessing isolated ground-based harvest areas requiring short trails over steeper pitches. Also, limit the use of this equipment when surface displacement creates trenches, depressions, excessive removal of organic horizons, or when disturbance would channel water and sediment as overland flow (TH-13). • Limit the use of specialized ground-based mechanized equipment (those machines specifically designed to operate on slopes greater than 35 percent) to slopes less than 50 percent, except when using previously constructed skid trails or accessing isolated ground-based harvesting areas requiring short trails over steeper pitches. Also, limit the use of this equipment when surface displacement creates trenches, depressions, excessive removal of organic horizons, or when disturbance would channel water and sediment as overland flow (TH-14). • Designate skid trails in locations that channel water from the trail surface away from waterbodies, floodplains, and wetlands, or unstable areas adjacent to them (TH-15). • Apply erosion control measures to skid trails and other disturbed areas with potential for erosion and subsequent sediment delivery to waterbodies, floodplains, or wetlands. These practices may include seeding, mulching, water barring, tillage, and woody debris placement. Use guidelines from the road decommissioning section (TH-16). • Construct waterbars on skid trails using guidelines in Table C-6 of the 2016 ROD/RMP where potential for soil erosion or delivery to waterbodies, floodplains, and wetlands exists (TH-17). • The BLM would monitor turbidity during harvest operations through visual observation (camera deployment) in Bravo Creek Tributaries near Units 8 and 9. This information would influence turbidity control measures should the hydrologist find an increase in sediment transport from BLM harvest actions (RST-15).

Timber Salvage Harvest Objective 1: Minimize impacts to wildlife species and special habitat elements • Retain at least five percent of pre-harvest stand basal area in live trees or snags in individual harvest units. Retain trees and snags in a variety of spatial patterns, including aggregated groups and individual trees (2016 ROD/RMP).

Page 4 of 16 • Leave all live Oregon oak trees (Quercus garryana- Unit 10). RMP management objectives include: “Support the persistence and resilience of oak species (Quercus spp., not to be confused with tan oak which is in the Nitholithocarpus) within oak woodlands and mixed hardwood/conifer forests” (2016 ROD/RMP p.86). • No trees would be felled that have potential nest structure for the marbled murrelet. • Timber harvest, yarding, all road management actions (new construction; renovation/improvement; and culvert work associated with both new construction and road renovation/improvement); and other heavy equipment use would be seasonally restricted (March 1 through August 5) within the disruption buffer of unsurveyed habitat adjacent to Unit 3. • Tailhold use for Chetco Salvage sales in unsuveyed nesting habitat: Any use of tailhold, guyline, or lift trees within a murrelet occupied site would not occur during the critical breeding period of April 1 to August 5; or within 2 hours of sunset or sunrise during the late breeding period of August 6 to September 15. Selection of tailhold trees would be subject to the following specifications: o Select the smallest acceptable trees. o As operationally feasible, avoid trees that: . Have a DBH > 34 inches . Have visible nests, or nesting structures (e.g., platforms). . Are the only large conifer present in a visible area. o If tailhold would remain standing, prevent damage by using appropriate protection (i.e., tree plates, tires, or nylon straps) where possible to avoid girdling of the tree. Girdling or notching should not exceed 60 percent of the trees circumference.

Objective 2: Protect the Riparian Reserve Land Use Allocation • No treatment would occur within the Riparian Reserve (160 ft. site potential tree height) buffer zone. • Yarding corridors within the Riparian Reserve (approximately 3-4) would not exceed 12 feet in width and all would be oriented mostly perpendicular to streams (TH-01). • If operators fall trees to facilitate yarding corridors, operators would directionally fall trees towards stream channels and leave the trees on site (TH-02). • Limit the number and length of equipment access points through the Riparian Reserve (RST-05). Timber Haul, Road Construction/Decommission, Road Renovation Objective 1: Minimize impacts to water quality and soil productivity from timber haul and roadwork. • All temporary roads would be located on stable locations (e.g. ridge tops, stable benches, or flats) and gentle-to-moderate slopes minimize road construction on steep slopes (> 60 percent) (R-01). • Locate temporary road construction or improvements to minimize the number of stream crossings (R-02). • Temporary roads and landings would be located away from wetlands, the Riparian Reserve, floodplains, and waters of the State, unless no practical alternative exists. Avoid locating landings in areas that contribute runoff to channels. The BLM would design landings to disperse surface water to potential vegetated stable areas (R-03 and R-38). • Locate roads and landings to reduce total transportation system mileage. Renovate or improve existing roads or landings when it would cause less adverse environmental impact than new construction. Where roads traverse land in another ownership, investigate options for using those roads before constructing new roads (R-04). • Restrict the use of motorized equipment and vehicles to existing roads within the following naturally occurring special habitats to maintain their ecological function: seeps, springs, wetlands, natural ponds, and natural meadows (2016 ROD/RMP, pp. 115). • Landings would generally be less than a ¼ acre in size. • Restrict road renovation work and road construction from October 15th to May 15th (R-62). • Block or barricade identified roads and skid trails after use and before beginning rainy season (generally by October 15th) (R-84 and TH-20). • Suspend ground-disturbing activity if forecasted rain would saturate soils to the extent that there would be potential for movement of sediment from the road to wetlands, floodplains, and waters of the state. Cover or temporarily stabilize exposed soils during work suspension. Upon completion of ground-disturbing

Page 5 of 16 activities, immediately stabilize fill material over stream crossing structures. Measures could include, but are not limited to, application of native seed, erosion control blankets and mats, soil binders, water bars, soil tackifiers, and slash placement (RST-11 and RST-12). • Restrict all timber hauling and landing operations on native surface or rocked roads whenever soil moisture conditions or rain events could result in road damage or the transport of sediment to nearby stream channels, generally October 15th to May 15th . The Authorized Officer will coordinate with field office hydrologist and engineers to determine that hauling would not result in road damage or the transport of sediment to nearby stream channels based on soil moisture conditions or rain events. The conditional waiver may be suspended or revoked if conditions become unacceptable (where the road surface is deteriorating due to vehicular rutting or standing water, or where turbid runoff is likely to reach stream channels) as determined by the Authorized Officer (R-93). • Prior to haul over the North Fork Chetco River Bridge and wet weather conditions within the rest of project area, install protective features such as certified weed-free straw bales, silt fences, geo-fabric rolls, and water-bars where there is potential for haul-related road sediment to enter the aquatic system. Maintain protective features by removing accumulated sediment and placing sediment in stable location where it cannot enter the aquatic system (R-13, R-64, and R-94). • Use right-of-way clearing limits, including roadbed, of approximately 35 feet (RST-05). • The BLM would design and construct roads to the narrowest and smallest sizes that would meet safety standards, objectives of anticipated uses, and resource protection. For this project, natural surface roads would typically have a running surface of 14 feet or less. All proposed roads would be designed to effectively drain the road surface as outlined by BLM engineers (R-30 and R-31). • Use no-fill structures (e.g., portable mats, temporary bridges, and improved hardened crossings) for temporary stream crossings. When not practicable, design temporary stream crossings with the least amount of fill and construct with coarse material to facilitate removal upon completion (R-27). Post-Activity Landing Pile Fuel Treatments Objective 1: Conduct fuels reduction to minimize impacts to other resources • The BLM would supervise all burning activities and ensure compliance with BLM, State and Federal guidelines. • Fire operations would comply with State of Oregon fire and smoke regulations and the unit-specific fire plan. A variety of smoke reduction techniques would be used, as appropriate, to minimize impacts to public health. • Piles would be burned during rainy season conditions to minimize the chance of escaped wildfires and other problematic fire behavior. To prevent fire escapes and minimize damage to residual vegetation and trees, schedule burning to occur when weather and fuel conditions allow for lower fire intensities (typically late fall through spring). • Pile burning within Unit 1 and Unit 3 would not occur between March 1 and August 5 to avoid disruption in the adjacent murrelet and spotted owl habitat. • Lop-and-scatter slash left in units for erosion control. Avoid creating piles greater than 16 feet in height or diameter in units. Reduce burn time and smoldering of piles by extinguishment with water and tool use (F-07, F-08, and F-11). • To facilitate control of when piles are burned, the BLM would ensure all unburned piles are covered with 4 MIL black polyethylene sheeting in accord with Oregon Department of Forestry guidance (OAR 629- 048-0210). • The BLM would construct piles at least 15 feet from retention features and 35 feet from stream channels to minimize the risk of the damage from excess heat or burning (F-06). • During burn operations the BLM would avoid all the Riparian Reserve (160 foot buffer zone), and would store and dispose of all ignition devices and refuel all equipment outside of this area (F-02 and F-03).

Land Use Plan Conformance Review The BLM developed this project under the management direction of the 2016 Northwest and Coastal Oregon Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan (2016 ROD/RMP) on August 5, 2016.

Page 6 of 16 The proposed action is in conformance with the applicable RMP because it is specifically provided for in the following RMP decision: Harvest Land Base MITA 1. Implement timber salvage harvest after disturbance events to recover economic value and to minimize commercial loss or deterioration of damaged trees where the BLM determines that removal is economically viable. a. In timber salvage harvest units, retain at least 5 percent of pre-harvest stand basal area in live trees or snags in individual harvest units. Retain trees and snags in a variety of spatial patterns, including aggregated groups and individual trees (pg. 63).

2. For areas without timber salvage harvest after disturbance events, use natural or artificial regeneration or both to reforest a mixture of species appropriate to the site to a stand-level average of at least 150 trees per acre (including surviving trees) within 10 years of the disturbance event, to the extent practicable given safety and operational constraints (pg. 63). Late Successional Reserve 3. Do not conduct timber salvage, except when necessary to protect public safety, or to keep roads and other infrastructure clear of debris (pg. 65). Riparian Reserve 4. Prohibit timber salvage, except when necessary to protect public safety, or to keep roads and other infrastructure clear of debris (pg. 68).

Compliance with NEPA The Proposed Action is categorically excluded from further documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with the Department of Interior Manual 516 DM 11.9 (C) (8): Salvage of dead or dying trees not to exceed 250 acres, require no more than 0.5 mile of temporary road construction. Such activities: a) May include incidental removal of live or dead trees for landings, skid trails, and road clearing. b) May include temporary roads which are defined as roads authorized by contract, permit, lease, other written authorization, or emergency operation not intended to be part of the BLM transportation system and not necessary for long-term resource management. Temporary roads shall be designed to standards appropriate for the intended uses, considering safety, cost of transportation, and impacts on land and resources; and c) Shall require the treatment of temporary roads constructed or used so to permit the reestablishment, by artificial or natural means, of vegetative cover on the roadway and areas where the vegetation cover was distributed by the construction or use of the road, as necessary to minimize erosion from the disturbed area. Such treatment shall be designated to reestablish vegetation cover as soon as practicable, but at least within 10 years after the termination of the contract. d) For this CX, dying tree is defined as a standing tree that has been severely damaged by forces such as fire, wind, ice, insect, or disease, and that in the judgement of an experienced forest professional or someone technically trained for the work, is likely to die within a few years. Examples include, but are not limited to: i. Harvesting a portion of a stand damaged by a wind or ice event. ii. Harvesting fire damaged trees.

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THE PROPOSED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION ACTION WILL: YES NO impacts to cultural resources are anticipated since tribal consultation and survey efforts have not identified National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible or potentially eligible cultural resources within the project area. (c) Have highly controversial environmental effects or involve unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources [NEPA Section X 102 (2)(E)] Rationale: Based on experience from similar timber harvest activities, there are no predicted environmental effects from the proposed salvage harvest that the BLM considers highly controversial, nor are there unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses. The proposed action is located entirely within the Harvest Land Base, as established by the 2016 ROD/RMP. Management direction authorizes this activity, and as such, unresolved conflicts regarding other uses of these resources would not occur. (d) Have highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effects X or involve unique or unknown environmental risks Rationale: The BLM interdisciplinary team of resource specialists reviewed the project and determined there are not significant environmental effects or unique or unknown environmental risks. Salvaging dead or dying trees is a common BLM activity and experience has shown no highly uncertain, potentially significant, unique, or unknown risks. (e) Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions with potentially significant environmental X effects. Rationale: Authorizing the removal of dead and dying trees does not set any precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions with potentially significant environmental effects. The BLM has broad experience conducting similar actions and evaluates the need for management on a case-by- case basis. (f) Have a direct relationship to other actions with individually insignificant X but cumulatively significant environmental effects Rationale: A total of 6,501 acres of BLM-administered lands burned during the Chetco Bar Fire. Private lands adjacent to BLM-administered lands in the proposed project area have been logged or are currently being logged. The proposed project treatment area is 140 acres, which totals 2 percent of BLM-administered acres burned within the fire perimeter. While actions on private and BLM-administered lands occur within the same geographical area, the conservative approach taken by the BLM in the proposed project does not contribute to cumulatively significant environmental effects.

The BLM interdisciplinary team of resource specialists reviewed the project based on current on-the-ground conditions. The interdisciplinary team incorporated PDFs into the project to minimize impacts to resources and prevent off-site effects that could otherwise contribute to the cumulative effects of other projects in the area (e.g., no treatment in the Riparian Reserve, full suspension over intermittent streams, and limited road construction). The interdisciplinary team determined that the actions proposed in the Chetco Bar Fire Timber Salvage would not result in a cumulative significant effect when added to relevant past, present and reasonably foreseeable action in the area. (g) Have significant impacts on properties listed, or eligible for listing, on the National register of Historic Places as determined by either the bureau X or office. Rationale: The BLM has met the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (amended) which is the foremost legislation governing the treatment of cultural resources during project planning and implementation. Section 106 compliance was completed under the guidance of the 2015 Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer regarding the manner in which the BLM would meet its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act (USDI-BLM 2015). Conduction of an intensive Class III inventory located one cultural resource site within the project area. To ensure protection of this site, the timber salvage unit was removed from the project area. PDFs have been incorporated into the NEPA document to provide protection for any inadvertent discoveries of cultural resources during project implementation. Therefore, no impacts to cultural resources are anticipated since tribal consultation and survey efforts have not identified National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible or potentially eligible cultural resources within the project area.

Page 9 of 16 THE PROPOSED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION ACTION WILL: YES NO (h) Have significant impacts on species listed, or proposed to be listed, on the List of Threatened or Endangered Species, or have significant impacts X on designated Critical Habitat for these species. Rationale: A BLM botanist, fish biologist, and wildlife biologist reviewed the area proposed for salvage harvest and determined that the proposed action would not have significant impacts on listed or proposed-listed species, nor would the proposed action have significant impacts on designated Critical Habitat for such species. These findings are summarized as follows:

Botany

Plants and Fungi: There are no Threatened or Endangered vascular plants, lichens, bryophytes or fungi known or suspected to occur at or near the project area. Specialists did note that there are two Bureau Special Special Status plants (California globe mallow, Illiamna latibracteata, and golden fleece Ericameria arborescens) with home ranges within the fire footprint. California globe mallow is restricted in range to northwestern California and southwestern Oregon and is found almost exclusively in the understory of top-killed stands as well as at edges of or in gaps within live-burned stands in recently burned forests dominated by white fir and/or Douglas fir (Kalt 2007). There are no known sites currently on Coos Bay BLM lands although there are sites on the adjacent Rogue-Siskiyou NF in Curry County. Golden fleece is found in California and into southwestern Oregon, which is the very north end of its range. It is also adapted to grow post wildfire and is found in young Douglas-fir/tan oak forests in Curry County where it appears to become established after wildfire (Zika 1993). The best time to survey for these species would be in late June and July for California globe mallow (Kalt 2003) and in late August and September for golden fleece (Zika 1993). Coos Bay BLM’s only site of golden fleece was burned over during the Chetco Bar fire. It is outside the project area but within half mile of proposed Unit 3. This site was visited post-fire and there was no sign of any live golden fleece plants as the fire intensity was high at the site and all shrubs and forbs were completely consumed. This species also occurs on adjacent Siskiyou NF lands, although the current status of those sites are unknown.

Review of GIS data indicated that pre-fire there was one site of a Bureau Sensitive Special Status vascular plant, Gaquet manzanita (Arctostaphylos hispidula), located along the roadside within proposed Unit 2. Field surveys did not locate any live manzanita along the roadside in Unit 2due to high burn severity. This species does not sprout after fire; however, the seed needs fire to sprout so it is possible that new plants could reappear along this road cutbank in a year or two, post-fire where seed from the plant may have accumulated (Emerson 2009). Because the location is along the road cutbank, salvage activities would not likely disturb any new plants that could resprout post-fire.

Wildlife

Northern Spotted Owl:

Critical Habitat: There is no critical habitat within the project area.

Nesting Habitat: No nesting habitat would be affected by the proposed project.

Disruption: The proposed action would affect the spotted owl due to disruption. Within the Cashner Butte home range, the proposed salvage harvest would remove 77.5 acres of timber, of which 38 are within the 500-acre core area. All 77.5 acres are within stands burned at moderate and high soil burn severity, with minimal cover remaining. After modeling and field review, the BLM typed most of the stands as non-habitat due to their distance from intact habitat and the degree to which the surrounding stands were burned. Unit 16 does contain approximately 1 acre of post-fire forage habitat; however, all proposed units are on ridgetops, adjacent to the large area of high severity burn effects, and spread across the home range. An additional acre of post-fire forage habitat is modeled in Unit 9, but based on field review it is not within 500 feet of suitable nesting habitat and was typed as non-habitat.

1.3-mile reproduction action area: The proposed action would affect spotted owls at the 1.3-mile action area due to the removal of post-fire forage habitat. The reduction of post-fire forage habitat is relatively small, less

Page 10 of 16 THE PROPOSED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION ACTION WILL: YES NO than one percent of the 1.3-mile action area, and is spread out across units 1, 2, 9, and 16. All post-fire forage habitat within the harvest units is located on ridgetops, reducing the likelihood it would be used for forage. The additional acres proposed for harvest are within non-suitable spotted owl habitat. The Riparian Reserve and retention areas within these units would provide corridors and legacy features for stands, reducing the potential impacts.

Marbled Murrelet:

Critical Habitat: There is no critical habitat within the project area.

Suitable Habitat: No marbled murrelet habitat would be modified or removed within or adjacent to the proposed project units, as previously mapped stands are no longer suitable due to the tree mortality and canopy loss.

Disruption: The proposed actions would affect, the marbled murrelet due to disruption. Any proposed action activities that could disrupt nesting murrelets would not occur within the disruption distances during critical breeding season. Critical breeding period seasonal restrictions; and late breeding season daily timing restrictions would be applied for activities within the disruption distance of unsurveyed suitable habitat (Units 1 and 3). Activities that would be restricted include, but are not limited to: timber felling, yarding, road management, culvert activities, burning and other heavy equipment use. Disturbance would still occur outside of the disruption distance.

Fisheries

Two elements of the proposed project have potential to affect aquatic habitat: construction and decommissioning of 0.5 miles of roads and landings; and timber haul. However, since the roads are located outside of the Riparian Reserve, and the amount of sediment generated by decommissioning would be less than what is currently contributed by the road, this effect would be biologically insignificant to aquatic habitat. None of the Riparian Reserve would be salvaged as part of this action. Haul would be restricted to dry season only, and the BLM would incorporate PDFs to further reduce the possibility of sediment delivery. As such, implementation of the proposed project would have no effect to fish or fish habitat or upstream aquatic habitats. Because all elements of this project would result in no effects, or undetectable or inconsequential effects, it would not add cumulatively to habitat degradation resulting from other past and ongoing activities impacting the analysis area streams. (i) Violate a Federal, State, Local, or tribal law or requirement imposed for X the protection of the environment. Rationale: The BLM interdisciplinary team reviewed the project for compliance with applicable laws such as the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act, National Historic Preservation Act and Archaeological Resources Protection Act, among others. The resource specialists found the project conforms to the direction given for the management of public lands in the 2016 ROD/RMP, which complies with all applicable Federal and State law. (j) Have a disproportionately high and adverse effect on low income or X minority populations (Executive Order 12898). Rationale: The action would not have a disproportionately high or adverse effect on low or minority populations. The project area is within the Harvest Land Base land use allocation, which the BLM actively manages for sustained-yield timber production. There is no past evidence of low income or minority populations utilizing these areas. (k) Limit access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites on Federal lands by Indian religious practitioners or significantly adversely affect the X physical integrity of such sacred sites (Executive Order 13007). Rationale: The BLM archaeologist reviewed the project area, and initiated consultation with neighboring tribes. On February 13, 2018, Federal, State, Tribal, and local officials toured the Chetco Bar Fire burned area on BLM-administered lands and viewed the proposed salvage unit locations. Representatives from the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Tolowa Dee-ni′ Nation participated in the tour and provided prospective to BLM officials.

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Literature Cited Emerson, Clint. 2009. Conservation Assessment for Gasquet Manzanita (Arctostaphylos hispidula) within the State of Oregon. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Region 6 and U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management Interagency Special Status and Sensitive Species Program. 53 p. Web link: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp/planning-documents/assessments.shtml Jones, G.M., R.J. Gutierrez, D.J. Tempel, S. Whitmore, W. Berigan and M.Z. Peery. 2016. Megafires: an emerging threat to old-forest species. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 14: 300-306. Kalt, Jennifer L. 2003. Status Review and Field Inventory for California Globe Mallow, Iliamna latibracteata, in Northwestern California. Jennifer Kalt, McKinleyville, CA. Kalt, Jennifer L. (in prep) Draft Conservation Assessment and Monitoring Strategy for California Globe Mallow (Iliamna latibracteata), 1 June 2007 update. USDA Forest Service Region 6 Oregon and Washington. Lowell et al. 2010. Lowell, Eini C., Rapp, Valerie A., Haynes, Richard W., and Cray, Caitlin. Effects of Fire, Insect, and Pathogen Damage on Wood Quality of Dead and Dying Western Conifers. Parsons et al. 2010. Parsons, A., P.R. Robichaud, S.A. Lewis, C. Napper and J.T. Clark. 2010. Field Guide for Mapping Post-Fire Soil Burn Severity. RMRS-GTR-243, United States Department of Agriculture, F. S., Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO. 49 pp. USDI-BLM. 2015. State Protocol Between The Oregon –Washington State Director of the BLM and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer USDI-BLM. 2016. Northwestern and Coastal Oregon Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan. Portland, OR. https://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/rod/index.php. USDI-BLM. 2017. Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER), BLM Oregon Post-fire recovery plan for Chetco Bar Fire. Coos Bay, Oregon. Zika, Peter F. 1993. Golden Fleece (Ericameria arborescens) in Oregon. 15p. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland, Oregon.

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