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Moonlight Fire Area Restoration Environmental Assessment/FONSI

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Moonlight Fire Area Restoration Environmental Assessment/FONSI United States Department of Agriculture Moonlight Fire Area Restoration Project Final Environmental Assessment Forest Service Plumas National Forest Mt. Hough Ranger District May 2018 For More Information Contact: Daniel Lovato, Forest Supervisor c/o: Christine Handler, Project Leader TEAMS Enterprise Unit Mt. Hough Ranger District 39696 Highway 70 Quincy, California 95971 Phone: 559-920-2188 Email: [email protected] Project specific website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49421 Photo Description: Landscape view of Moonlight burned area featuring snags and chaparral understory. Photo taken by Moonlight Interdisciplinary Team, July 2016. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD- 3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. ii Moonlight Fire Area Restoration Project Environmental Assessment Contents Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Proposed Project Location ........................................................................................................................ 1 Need for the Proposal ............................................................................................................................... 3 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Management Direction .......................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need ..................................................................................................................................... 8 Purpose 1 - Forest Health, Landscape Diversity and Resilience........................................................... 8 Purpose 2 - Watershed Health ............................................................................................................. 14 Purpose 3 - Recreational Opportunities .............................................................................................. 16 Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation .............................................................................................. 17 Issues and Alternative Development ...................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2 - Proposed Action and Alternatives ............................................................................................ 19 Alternative A - No action ....................................................................................................................... 19 Alternative B - Proposed action .............................................................................................................. 19 Restore Vegetation, Thin and Reduce Fuels ....................................................................................... 19 Restore Watersheds and Roads ........................................................................................................... 25 Maintain Non-motorized and Motorized Trails .................................................................................. 27 Standard Management Requirements and Design Features ................................................................ 27 Alternative C - California spotted owl interim recommendation ........................................................... 27 Alternative D – Reforestation without the use of herbicides .................................................................. 28 Alternatives considered but eliminated from detailed study .................................................................. 28 Alternative E – Incorporate Firewise actions on private lands ........................................................... 28 Alternative F – Maintain and improve roads and do not close them to public use ............................. 29 Alternative G – Consider the use of grazing for release treatments .................................................... 29 Chapter 3 - Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives ........................................... 31 Vegetation and Silviculture .................................................................................................................... 31 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................................... 32 Alternative A – No action ................................................................................................................... 39 Alternative B – Proposed action ......................................................................................................... 46 Alternative C – California spotted owl interim recommendations ..................................................... 60 Alternative D – No herbicide use ........................................................................................................ 60 Summary and Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 61 Fire and Fuels ......................................................................................................................................... 62 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................................... 64 Alternative A – No action ................................................................................................................... 68 Alternative B – Proposed action ......................................................................................................... 69 Alternative C – California spotted owl interim recommendations ..................................................... 74 Alternative D – No herbicide use ........................................................................................................ 74 Summary and Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 74 Air Quality, Greenhouse Gases, and Carbon .......................................................................................... 74 National Ambient Air Quality Standards ............................................................................................ 75 Greenhouse Gasses and Carbon Sequestration ................................................................................... 76 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................................... 77 Alternative A – No action ................................................................................................................... 79 Alternative B – Proposed action ......................................................................................................... 80 Mt. Hough Ranger District - i – Plumas National Forest Moonlight Fire Area Restoration Project Environmental Assessment Alternative C – California spotted owl interim recommendations ..................................................... 82 Alternative D – No herbicide use ........................................................................................................ 83 Summary and Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 83 Soil .........................................................................................................................................................
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