Glacier Peak Seismic Monitoring Draft Environmental Assessment
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United States Department of Agriculture USGS Glacier Peak Seismic Monitoring Draft Environmental Assessment Forest Service Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest July 2018 For More Information Contact: Todd Griffin, Forest Geologist Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest 2930 Wetmore Ave., Suite 3A (425) 783-6033 Responsible Official: Jamie Kingsbury Forest Supervisor 2930 Wetmore Ave., Suite 3A Everett, WA 98201 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 Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Document Structure............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Purpose and Need for Action ................................................................................................ 5 1.5 Decision Framework ............................................................................................................. 7 1.6 Tribal Consultation and Public Involvement ........................................................................ 8 1.7 Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Relationship to Forest Plan ................................................................................................... 8 1.8.1 Land Allocations............................................................................................................. 9 1.9 Other Laws, Direction, and Analyses .................................................................................. 10 1.10 Project Record ................................................................................................................... 10 1.11 Maps and Acres Precision ................................................................................................. 12 Chapter 2 - Alternatives ................................................................................................................ 13 2.1 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action ........................................................................................ 13 2.2.1 Project Sites .................................................................................................................. 14 2.3 Project Design Criteria ........................................................................................................ 20 2.4 Wilderness Act Consistency ................................................................................................ 22 2.5 Alternative Considered, but Eliminated from Detailed Study ............................................ 25 Chapter 3 - Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 28 3.1 Hydrology, Soils, and Fisheries .......................................................................................... 28 3.1.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 28 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................................... 30 3.2 Heritage ............................................................................................................................... 33 3.2.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 33 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................................... 35 3.3 Plants ................................................................................................................................... 36 3.3.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 36 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................................... 38 i Table of Contents Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF 3.4 Recreation and Wilderness .................................................................................................. 41 3.4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 41 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................................... 42 3.5 Visual Quality ..................................................................................................................... 45 3.5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 45 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................................... 46 3.6 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................ 47 3.6.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 47 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences....................................................................................... 48 3.7 Other Environmental Components ...................................................................................... 67 3.7.1 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................... 67 3.7.2 Prime Forestland, Prime Farmland, Rangeland, etc. .................................................... 67 3.7.3 Floodplains and Wetlands ............................................................................................ 68 3.7.4 Potential Conflicts with Plans and Policies of Other Jurisdictions .............................. 68 3.7.5 Wild and Scenic Rivers ................................................................................................ 68 Chapter 4 - Consultation and Coordination .................................................................................. 69 4.1 Federal, State, and Local Agencies ..................................................................................... 69 4.2 Tribes ................................................................................................................................... 69 Chapter 5 - List of Preparers ......................................................................................................... 70 Chapter 6 - References Cited ........................................................................................................ 71 Appendix A: Cumulative Effects Information .............................................................................. 76 List of Figures Figure 1 - Vicinity Map .................................................................................................................. 3 Figure 2 - Proposed Action Map ..................................................................................................... 4 Figure 3 - Land Allocation Map ................................................................................................... 11 Figure 4 - Example of co-located seismic and GPS units ............................................................. 14 Figure 5 - Proposed