Table of Contents LIST OF ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................................. iv Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Geothermal Leasing Process ............................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Purpose and Need for Action .............................................................................................................. 3 1.5 Decision Framework ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Authorities .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Tribal Consultation and Public Involvement ....................................................................................... 6 1.8 Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.9 Relationship to Forest Plan ................................................................................................................. 6 1.9.1 Land Allocations ........................................................................................................................... 7 1.9.2 Selected Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines ........................................................................... 8 1.10 Other Laws, Direction, and Analyses ............................................................................................ 8 1.11 Project Record ................................................................................................................................... 8 1.12 Maps and Acres Precision ................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2 - Alternatives .............................................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Alternatives Considered .................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.1 Alternative A – No Action (Consent to lease denied) ................................................................ 10 2.1.2 Alternative B – Proposed Action (Consent to lease with stipulations) ...................................... 10 2.2 Best Management Practices and Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 15 2.3 Comparison of Alternatives .............................................................................................................. 16 Chapter 3 - Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................. 22 3.1 Physical and Biological Components ................................................................................................. 22 3.1.1 Fish ............................................................................................................................................. 22 3.1.2 Plants .......................................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.3 Watershed .................................................................................................................................. 33 3.1.4 Soils ............................................................................................................................................ 43 3.1.5 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................... 50 i Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Skykomish Geothermal Project 3.2 Human Components ......................................................................................................................... 70 3.2.1 Heritage .......................................................................................................................................... 70 3.2.2 Minerals & Geology.................................................................................................................... 74 3.2.3 Recreation & Visuals Quality ...................................................................................................... 81 3.3 Other Environmental Components ................................................................................................... 87 3.3.1 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................................ 87 3.3.2 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources ......................................................... 88 3.3.3 Air Quality Effects ...................................................................................................................... 90 3.3.4 Prime Forestland, Prime Farmland, Rangeland, etc. ................................................................. 95 3.3.5 Wetlands .................................................................................................................................... 95 3.3.6 Floodplains ................................................................................................................................. 95 3.3.7 Potential Conflicts with Plans and Policies of Other Jurisdictions ............................................. 95 Chapter 4 - Consultation and Coordination ................................................................................................ 96 4.1 Federal, State, and Local Agencies .................................................................................................... 96 4.2 Tribes ................................................................................................................................................. 96 4.3 Others Involved ................................................................................................................................. 96 Chapter 5 - List of Preparers ....................................................................................................................... 97 Chapter 6 - References Cited ...................................................................................................................... 98 Appendix A: Legal Land Descriptions ........................................................................................................ 102 Appendix B: Cumulative Effects Information ............................................................................................ 104 Appendix C: Climate Change Background ................................................................................................. 109 Appendix D: Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenario ................................................................. 114 List of Figures Figure 1. Project Vicinity Map ...................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2. Land Management Allocations ..................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3. Proposed Action Map .................................................................................................................. 17 Figure 4. Nominated Lands and NWFP Riparian Reserves .......................................................................... 36 Figure 5. Unstable S-8 Soils and Unstable SRI Soils Located in the Nominated Lands .............................. 48 Figure 6. Slope Percentage of Nominated Lands ....................................................................................... 49 Figure 7. Stand Year-of-Origin .................................................................................................................... 52 Figure 8. Lithology of Nominated Lands ..................................................................................................... 76 Figure 9. Recreational Opportunities .......................................................................................................... 83 ii Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Skykomish Geothermal Project List of Tables Table 1. Comparison of Alternatives ............................................................................................................. 1 Table 2. Miles of documented presence by fish species of interest .......................................................... 23 Table 3. Fish species of interest and special designations ......................................................................... 23 Table 4. Acreage of ecozone within the project area ................................................................................ 29 Table 5. Summary of Documented Surveys ................................................................................................ 29 Table 6. Survey & Manage Summary ........................................................................................................