El Yunque National Forest Draft Environmental Impact Statement For
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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. El Yunque Forest Plan Revision │ Draft Environmental Impact Statement Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Sharon Wallace HC-01, Box 13490 Rio Grande, PR 00745-9625 For Information Contact: Pedro Rios, Project Leader HC-01, Box 13490 Rio Grande, PR 00745-9625 Phone: (787) 888-1880 Abstract: Three alternatives for revision of the 1997 El Yunque National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) are described, compared, and analyzed in detail in this draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Alternative 1 represents no change from the current Forest Plan. Alternative 2 is the proposed action for the draft revised Forest Plan and the alternative preferred by the Forest Service. Alternative 3 is a variation of alternative 2. Comments on this draft EIS must be received or postmarked within 90 days of the Environmental Protection Agency’s publication of the notice of availability in the Federal Register. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a way that they are useful to the agency’s preparation of the final Environmental Impact Statement. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer’s concerns. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed action (40 CFR 1502.10). The decision to approve the revised Forest Plan for the El Yunque National Forest will be subject to the objection process identified in 36 CFR Part 219 Subpart B (219.50 to 219.62). Only those individuals and entities who have submitted timely and substantive formal comments related to the El Yunque National Forest Plan revision will be eligible to file an objection (36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 219.53(a)). Send comments to: El Yunque National Forest Attn: El Yunque National Forest Plan Revision HC01, Box 13490 Rio Grande, PR 00745 Electronic comments may be submitted here: [email protected] http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44662 El Yunque Forest Plan Revision │ Draft Environmental Impact Statement Table of Contents Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Proposed Action ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need for Action .................................................................................................................... 1 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................................... 2 Issues ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 Significant Issues ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Alternatives ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Alternative 1. ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Alternative 2. ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Alternative 3. ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ................................................................. 4 Custodial (no recreation management, special uses, or research management). .................................. 4 Intense recovery of the Puerto Rican parrot. ......................................................................................... 4 Recommending designation of all eligible wild and scenic rivers. ....................................................... 4 Summary of Effects and Comparison of Alternatives .............................................................................. 4 Comparison of Alternatives ...................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action .......................................................................................... 9 1.1 Location ........................................................................................................................................ 9 1.2 Background ................................................................................................................................. 12 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action ...................................................................................................... 13 1.4 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................... 15 1.5 Decision Framework ................................................................................................................... 15 1.6 Public Involvement ..................................................................................................................... 15 1.7 Issues ........................................................................................................................................... 16 1.8 Other Related Efforts .................................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action .................................................................... 19 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.2 Alternative Development ............................................................................................................ 19 2.3 Alternatives Considered in Detail ............................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Alternative 1 (No Action) ................................................................................................. 19 2.3.2 Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) ....................................................................................... 20 2.3.3 Alternative 3 ..................................................................................................................... 27 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .................................................... 30 2.5 Comparison of Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 30 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................................... 35 3.1 Assumptions ................................................................................................................................ 35 3.2 Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................................................... 36 3.3 Physical Environment ................................................................................................................. 36 3.3.1 Soils .................................................................................................................................