Environmental Assessment United States for the Department of Agriculture Crow Hazardous Fuels
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Environmental Assessment United States for the Department of Agriculture Crow Hazardous Fuels Forest Reduction Project Service March 2021 Emigrant Creek Ranger District Malheur National Forest Harney County, Oregon For More Information Contact: Joshua Giles Malheur National Forest 265 Highway 20 South Hines, OR 97738 Phone: (541) 573-4300 https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57288 Email: [email protected] Fax: (541) 573-4398 Cover photo: Crow project ponderosa pine stand, Emigrant Creek Ranger District, Malheur National Forest 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 Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1 – Purpose of and Need for Action ............................................................................... 1-1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1-1 Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) ................................................................................ 1-1 Format of this Environmental Assessment .............................................................................. 1-2 Purpose and Need for Action ................................................................................................... 1-4 Ochoco Forest Plan Direction .................................................................................................. 1-8 Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation ..........................................................................1-10 Issues ...................................................................................................................................... 1-12 Regulatory Framework .......................................................................................................... 1-15 Decision Framework .............................................................................................................. 1-15 Chapter 2 – Alternatives ............................................................................................................... 2-1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 2-1 Alternatives Considered in Detail ............................................................................................ 2-1 Chapter 3 - Environmental Consequences ................................................................................... 3-1 Specialist Reports, and Use of “Best Available Science” ........................................................ 3-1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions ................................................................ 3-1 Forest Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 3-3 Effects to Forest Vegetation ..................................................................................................... 3-9 Fire, Fuels and Air Quality .................................................................................................... 3-15 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plant Species ............................................................ 3-32 Effects to Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plant Species ........................................... 3-33 Invasive Plants ....................................................................................................................... 3-40 Effects to Invasive Plants ....................................................................................................... 3-40 Transportation System ........................................................................................................... 3-41 Effects to Transportation System ........................................................................................... 3-42 Terrestrial Wildlife ................................................................................................................. 3-43 Aquatics and Water Quality ................................................................................................... 3-74 Effects to Aquatics and Water Quality................................................................................... 3-78 Soils ........................................................................................................................................ 3-88 Effects to Soils ....................................................................................................................... 3-89 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................................ 3-91 Effects to Environmental Justice ............................................................................................ 3-93 Economics .............................................................................................................................. 3-93 Effects to Economics.............................................................................................................. 3-93 Scenery Management ............................................................................................................. 3-95 Effects on Scenery Management ............................................................................................ 3-96 Recreation .............................................................................................................................. 3-97 Effects on Recreation ............................................................................................................. 3-99 Range Resources .................................................................................................................. 3-101 Effects to Range Resources .................................................................................................. 3-102 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................... 3-103 Effects on Cultural Resources .............................................................................................. 3-103 Special Areas and Undeveloped Areas ................................................................................ 3-104 Effects on Undeveloped Areas ............................................................................................. 3-106 Global Climate Change Prevention Act (7 USC 6701) ........................................................ 3-109 Evaluation of Proposed Forest Plan Amendments ............................................................... 3-111 Other Disclosures ................................................................................................................. 3-116 References ............................................................................................................................ 3-120 Commonly Used Acronyms BA Biological Assessment NF National Forest BE Biological Evaluation NFMA National Forest Management Act BMP Best Management Practice NFS National Forest System CEQ Council on Environmental NTMB Neotropical Migratory Birds Quality ODFW Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife CFR Code of Federal Regulations OG Old Growth DBH Diameter Breast Height PA Proposed Action DecAID Decayed Wood Advisor Tool PCE Primary Cavity Excavator DEQ Department of Environmental Quality PDC Project Design Criteria DOG Dedicated Old Growth PFA Post-Fledging Area EA Environmental Assessment RHCA Riparian Habitat Conservation Area FP Forest