Environmental Assessment Non Native Invasive Plant Management Chippewa NF Environmental Assessment Non-Native Invasive Plant Management Chippewa National Forest 7/5/2011 10:55 AM Page - 1 - Environmental Assessment Non Native Invasive Plant Management Chippewa NF Contents Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE AND NEED, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, AND ISSUES .. 7 1.1 Document structure ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Table 1.2.1 Maximum herbicide treatment acres by species ............................................................ 8 1.3 Purpose and need ............................................................................................................................ 9 1.3.2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 9 1.3.3 Laws, Regulations and Policies that direct us to manage invasive species ............................. 9 1.3.4 Existing Condition ................................................................................................................. 10 1.3.5 Desired Condition .................................................................................................................. 11 1.3.6 How to meet Purpose and Need............................................................................................. 12 1.3.7 Timing .................................................................................................................................... 13 1.4 Project area ................................................................................................................................... 13 1.5 Proposed Action (Original) ........................................................................................................... 13 1.6 Scoping and public Involvement .................................................................................................. 14 1.7 - Issues .......................................................................................................................................... 15 1.7.1 Key Issues .............................................................................................................................. 15 1.7.2 Non-Key Issues ...................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Development Of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Forest Plan Management Direction And Consistency .................................................................. 17 2.3 Alternatives Analyzed In Detail ................................................................................................... 17 2.3.1 Alternative A - No Action ..................................................................................................... 17 2.3.2 Alternative B – Programmatic Integrated Pest Management ................................................ 17 2.3.3 Alternative C - Programmatic Integrated Pest Management With Only Site Specific Use of Herbicides on Leech Lake Reservation .......................................................................................... 18 2.3.3 Alternative D - No Use of Herbicides. .................................................................................. 18 2.4 Treatment Details .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.1 Programmatic Treatment ....................................................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Treatment Methods ................................................................................................................ 18 Table 2.4.1 – Sequence and priority of treatments by species ........................................................ 23 Table 2.4.2 Herbicide Treatment Summary ................................................................................... 28 Table 2.4.3 -- Proposed Herbicides ................................................................................................ 31 2.4.3 Treatment Strategies .............................................................................................................. 32 7/5/2011 10:55 AM Page - 2 - Environmental Assessment Non Native Invasive Plant Management Chippewa NF 2.5 New Species .................................................................................................................................. 32 2.6 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Study .................................................... 33 2.6.1 - The Original proposed action as Scoped ............................................................................. 33 2.6.2 - Close Selected Roads to Minimize NNIP Spread ............................................................... 33 2.7 Project Design Features and MItigation Measures ....................................................................... 33 2.7.1 Tribal Consultation ................................................................................................................ 33 2.7.2 General ................................................................................................................................... 34 2.7.3 Storage and Disposal ............................................................................................................. 34 2.7.4 Drift Avoidance ..................................................................................................................... 34 2.7.5 Neighbors ............................................................................................................................... 34 2.7.6 Soil and Vegetation ................................................................................................................ 35 2.7.7 Wildlife and Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species ............................................... 35 2.7.8 Water ...................................................................................................................................... 35 2.7.9 Herbicide Transportation and Handling Safety/Spill Prevention and Containment .............. 36 2.8 Comparison of alternatives ........................................................................................................... 37 Table 2.8.1 Comparison of Alternatives ......................................................................................... 37 2.9 Monitoring .................................................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER 3: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ...................................................................... 40 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 40 3.2 Human Health and Safety ............................................................................................................. 40 3.2.1 Issue ....................................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.2 Scope of the Analysis ............................................................................................................ 40 3.2.3 Regulation of Pesticides ........................................................................................................ 40 3.2.4 Extra Steps for Safety ............................................................................................................ 41 3.2.5 Analysis methods ................................................................................................................... 41 3.2.6 Direct and Indirect Effects ..................................................................................................... 42 Table 3.2.1 Scenarios exceeding human toxicity hazard quotients from herbicide applications. .. 44 3.2.7 Comparison of Alternatives ................................................................................................... 45 3.2.8 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................................ 45 3.3 Traditional Practices ..................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.1 Issue ....................................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.2 Scope of the Analysis ............................................................................................................ 46 3.3.3. Management Direction and Forest Plan Consistency ........................................................... 46 3.3.4 Existing Condition ................................................................................................................. 47 7/5/2011 10:55 AM Page - 3 - Environmental Assessment Non Native Invasive Plant Management Chippewa NF 3.3.5 Direct and Indirect Effects ....................................................................................................