APPENDIX F.11 Forest Service Draft Record of Decision Jordan Cove Natural Gas Liquefaction and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project Final EIS Appendix F.11 U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Draft Record of Decision Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Umpqua, Rogue River, and Winema National Forests Douglas, Jackson, and Klamath Counties, Oregon Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Prepared for: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Prepared by: USDA Forest Service November 2019 United States Department of Agriculture Draft Record of Decision Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Umpqua, Rogue River, and Winema National Forests Douglas, Jackson, and Klamath Counties, Oregon Forest Service Umpqua National Forest November 2019 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. Draft Record of Decision for the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Umpqua, Rogue River, and Winema National Forests Douglas, Jackson, and Klamath Counties, Oregon Lead Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Cooperating Agency: U.S. Forest Service Responsible Official: Alice B. Carlton, Forest Supervisor Umpqua National Forest 2900 NW Stewart Parkway Roseburg, OR 97471 For Information Contact: David Krantz, Project Manager Umpqua National Forest 3040 Biddle Road Medford, OR 97504 Telephone Number: 541-618-2082 Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Umpqua, Rogue River, and Winema National Forests, Draft Record of Decision Table of Contents List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................... iii Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Background................................................................................................................................... 4 Purpose and Need and Proposed Action ....................................................................................... 4 Federal Agency Jurisdiction and Other Related Decisions .......................................................... 5 The Nature of This Decision ........................................................................................................ 6 Changes from DEIS (Proposed Amendments) to FEIS (Final Amendments) .............................. 6 Decision and Rationale for the Decision ................................................................................................ 8 Decision ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Terms and Conditions ................................................................................................................. 12 Decision Rationale ...................................................................................................................... 13 Rationale by Topic Area ................................................................................................... 13 Purpose of the Amendments ................................................................................................................. 16 Compliance with the Rule’s Procedural Provisions ............................................................................. 16 Using the best available scientific information to inform the planning process (§ 219.3) ......... 17 Rare Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant and Animal Communities ......................................... 17 Soil, Water, and Riparian Areas ....................................................................................... 17 Visual Resources ............................................................................................................... 18 Providing opportunities for public participation (§ 219.4) and providing public notice (§ 219.16): .................................................................................................................................. 19 Applying the planning rule’s format requirements for plan components (§ 219.13 (b)(4)): ...... 21 The plan amendment process (§ 219.13): ................................................................................... 21 Compliance with the Rule’s Applicable Substantive Provisions ......................................................... 21 Scope and scale of the amendments ........................................................................................... 21 Description of the Plan Amendments and the Planning Rule requirements associated with the amendments .......................................................................................................................... 22 Rare Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant and Animal Communities ......................................... 22 Soil, Water, and Riparian Areas ....................................................................................... 26 Visual Resources ............................................................................................................... 29 Environmental Inspection and Compliance Monitoring ................................................... 31 Project Activities Consistency With LRMPs ............................................................................. 32 Project-Specific Plan Amendment Alternatives Considered in Detail ................................................. 32 Environmentally Preferable Alternative ............................................................................................... 33 Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations ............................................................................. 34 National Forest Management Act ............................................................................................... 34 Northwest Forest Plan ................................................................................................................ 34 Northwest Forest Plan - Aquatic Conservation Strategy .................................................. 36 Northwest Forest Plan – Late Successional Reserves ....................................................... 36 Consistency Determination with Northwest Forest Plan Objectives and Relevant NFP Standards and Guidelines .................................................................................................. 37 Northwest Forest Plan Standard C-17 Public Benefit ....................................................... 39 Northwest Forest Plan – Survey and Manage Species ...................................................... 39 National Environmental Policy Act ............................................................................................ 40 Endangered Species Act (ESA) .................................................................................................. 40 Mammals .......................................................................................................................... 40 Birds .................................................................................................................................. 40 Fish ................................................................................................................................... 41 Amphibians and Reptiles .................................................................................................. 41 i Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Project Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Umpqua, Rogue River, and Winema National Forests, Draft Record of Decision Invertebrates .....................................................................................................................