U.S. Sheep Experiment United States Department of Station Grazing and Agriculture Agricultural Research Associated Activities Project Service 2009 Pacific West Area March 2009 Scoping Information The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720- 6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Where is this project in the NEPA process? NEPA is a decision-making process. An acronym for the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, NEPA provides opportunities for interested parties to give their ideas and opinions about federal actions. The following explains the steps of the NEPA process, and where the attached proposal is in that process. ____ Step One - Need for a Project The Agricultural Research Service or some other entity may identify the need for a project. ____ Step Two - Develop Project Proposal The Agricultural Research Service or a project proponent develops a detailed, site-specific proposal. Step Three - Scoping (Public Input) The Agricultural Research Service solicits public input on the site-specific proposal to define the scope of environmental analysis and range of alternatives to be considered. ____ Step Four - Develop Reasonable Range of Alternatives If a proposal fits categorical exclusion: Agricultural Research Service makes and documents decision. If scoping determines need for EA or EIS: Agricultural Research Service develops alternatives. ____ Step Five – Information for Formal Public Comment Period Agricultural Research Service performs analysis of environmental effects, identifies preferred alternative, and may solicit formal public comment. ____ Step Six – Environmental Analysis & Decision Agricultural Research Service finalizes the environmental analysis and makes decision to implement one of the alternatives. ____ Step Eight - Implementation Agricultural Research Service implements the project. ____ Step Nine - Monitor and Evaluate Agricultural Research Service monitors and evaluates project results. i Table of Contents Proposal Summary...................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................................... 1 Agricultural Research Service ................................................................................................ 1 Mission Statement, USSES, Dubois, Idaho............................................................................ 1 Background................................................................................................................................. 2 Phase 1 (Interim USSES Grazing and Associated Activities Project).................................... 2 Phase 2 .................................................................................................................................... 2 Historical Background, USSES, Dubois, Idaho...................................................................... 2 J.R. Simplot Mine History ...................................................................................................... 4 Cooperating Agencies............................................................................................................. 5 Project Location.......................................................................................................................... 6 Current Status.............................................................................................................................. 7 Existing Conditions..................................................................................................................... 8 Proposed Action........................................................................................................................ 13 Operations............................................................................................................................. 13 Sheep Grazing....................................................................................................................... 14 Sheep Transportation by Truck............................................................................................. 16 Sheep Trail and Driveway Use and Maintenance................................................................. 17 Stock Water Operations ........................................................................................................ 19 Camp Tending....................................................................................................................... 20 Maintenance and Repair of Existing Permanent Fence ........................................................ 21 Maintenance and Repair of Existing Roads and Firebreaks ................................................. 22 Prescribed Fire ...................................................................................................................... 23 Integrated Pest Management................................................................................................. 24 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................................. 25 Decisions to Be Made ............................................................................................................... 26 Maps.......................................................................................................................................... 27 List of Tables Table 1. Sheep grazing authorized on National Forest System lands............................................. 5 Table 2. Total acres and percent cover types.................................................................................. 9 Table 3. Prominent wildlife resources and topics pertinent to activities on USSES lands........... 10 Table 4. Summer Range and Meyer’s Creek Allotment stocking summary from 1963 to 1988 . 14 Table 5. Summer Range and Meyer’s Creek Allotment stocking summary 1989 to 2007 .......... 14 Table 6. Forage available and amount used on spring, fall, summer, and winter ranges ............. 15 Table 7. Anticipated USSES grazing schedule for 2008 and 2009 .............................................. 16 Table 8. Camps per grazing area and season used........................................................................ 21 Table 9. Cattle and horse grazing ................................................................................................. 24 List of Figures Figure 1. Vicinity Map................................................................................................................... iv ii List of Maps Map 1. Overview of ARS Properties with allotments .................................................................. 28 Map 2. Overview of ARS Properties with allotments and sheep trails ........................................ 29 Map 3. Headquarters Property pasture fencing............................................................................. 30 Map 4. Henninger Ranch irrigation and fencing .......................................................................... 31 Map 5. Humphrey Ranch irrigation and fencing .......................................................................... 32 Map 6. East Summer Range.......................................................................................................... 33 Map 7. West Summer Range ........................................................................................................ 34 Map 8. West Summer Range fencing ........................................................................................... 35 Map 9. East Summer Range sheep driveways.............................................................................. 36 Map 10. West Summer Range sheep driveways........................................................................... 37 Map 11. Headquarters Property roads and firebreaks................................................................... 38 Map 12. Headquarters Property wildfire history .......................................................................... 39 Map 13. Headquarters Property prescribed fire history................................................................ 40 iii Figure 1. Vicinity Map iv Scoping Information U.S. Sheep Experiment Station Grazing and Associated Activities Project 2009 Proposal Summary It is proposed that the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) continue ongoing sheep grazing and associated activities that have been historically occurring (approximately 90 years) in conjunction with ARS, United States Sheep Experiment Station (USSES) research to develop integrated methods for increasing production