United States Department of Agriculture Government Camp – Cooper Spur Land Exchange Draft Environmental Impact Statement Forest Service Mt. Hood National Forest Zigzag and Hood River Ranger Districts October 2016 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 Environmental Impact Statement Government Camp – Cooper Spur Land Exchange Draft Environmental Impact Statement Clackamas and Hood River Counties, Oregon Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Lisa Northrop Forest Supervisor 16400 Champion Way Sandy, OR 97055 For Information Contact: Michelle Lombardo Environmental Coordinator 16400 Champion Way Sandy, OR 97055 [email protected]; 503-668-1796 Abstract: The Forest Service is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental effects of exchanging approximately 109 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands on the Zigzag Ranger District within the Mt. Hood National Forest for approximately 769 acres of private lands in Hood River County (Land Exchange), pursuant to congressional direction and subject to several legislative conditions, and consistent with its other legal duties and responsibilities. Among other things, the current legislative conditions prescribe the reservation of a wetland conservation and trail easements on the Federal parcels to be exchanged. The overall purpose of the proposed action is to comply with congressional direction and conditions prescribed in Section 1206(a) and related provisions of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of March 30, 2009 (Act) (123 Stat. 991, P.L. 111-11). The Act also sets forth two related actions that are triggered into effect upon completion of the Land Exchange, namely the creation of a Crystal Springs Watershed Special Resources Management Unit (approximately 2,859 acres) on the non-Federal parcels, as well as existing NFS lands, and a change in designation of approximately 1,709 acres of NFS lands to wilderness, the effects of both of which are encompassed within the scope of this EIS as connected actions. The analysis in the EIS also accounts for potential revisions to the legislative direction applicable to the Land Exchange contained in the proposed Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act (H.R. 3826 and Sec. 10006 of S. 2012), which, as of the date of publication of this document, has not been enacted. As such, there is an underlying need to exchange lands between the Mt. Hood National Forest and Mt. Hood Meadows Oregon, LLC, consistent with specific congressional direction and the agency’s other legal duties and responsibilities, and subject to particular conditions to the implementation and execution of the Land Exchange, whatever their final form may ultimately be. This EIS describes the proposed action, a no-action alternative, and two additional alternatives that were considered but not developed or analyzed in detail. While no significant issues that drive alternatives were identified, the EIS discloses the potential effects of achieving the purpose and need objectives on the following resources or in the following categories of effects: forest- type composition; heritage resources; tribal treaty rights; hydrology; wetlands; water rights; soil Government Camp – Cooper Spur Land Exchange productivity; threatened, endangered, and sensitive (TES) species (aquatics, wildlife, and plants); non-native invasive species; recreation; visuals; facilities; and socio-economics. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at designated time periods and in a way that is useful to the Agency’s preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments need to be provided prior to the close of the comment period and specific written comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider (36 CFR 218.2). The submission of timely and specific comments can affect whether and the extent to which a reviewer is able to participate in subsequent administrative review or judicial review of the proposed action if and when it is adopted. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record and may be released per request made under the Freedom of Information Act. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent administrative or judicial reviews. Send comments electronically to: comments-pacificnorthwest- [email protected] Paper or faxed comments to: Michelle Lombardo Environmental Coordinator 16400 Champion Way Sandy, OR 97055 (Fax: 503-668-1423) Mt Hood National Forest ii Draft Environmental Impact Statement Summary Summary Pursuant to congressional direction and subject to certain legislative conditions, the Mt. Hood National Forest is proceeding to implement, insofar as it is within its control and authority, the conveyance of approximately 1091 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands on the Zigzag Ranger District in exchange for approximately 769 acres of private lands in Hood River County. Among other things, the current legislative conditions attached to the Land Exchange prescribe the reservation of a wetland conservation and trail easements on the Federal parcels to be exchanged. The Act also sets forth two related actions that are triggered into effect upon completion of the Land Exchange, namely the creation of the Crystal Springs Watershed Special Resources Management Unit (approximately 2,859 acres) and a change in designation of approximately 1,709 acres of NFS lands to wilderness, the effects of both of which are encompassed within the scope of this EIS as connected actions. The two NFS parcels to be exchanged are timbered, mostly undeveloped, and are physically separated by 40 acres that are already in private ownership. The NFS parcels are located on the gentle southwest facing slope of Mt. Hood at the north end of the village of Government Camp in Clackamas County. Elevations range from about 3,760 to 4,120 feet. The Federal parcels have been withdrawn from mineral entry through the Bureau of Land Management's segregation process. The non-Federal lands that need to be offered in a formal, legally binding manner under the Act in order for the Forest Service to convey the NFS lands described above include approximately 251 acres located within, and 514 acres located outside, of the current NFS administrative boundary in Hood River County. The non-Federal estate is comprised of three diverse property types situated in the vicinity of the Cooper Spur Ski Area on the northeast flank of Mt. Hood. The three types are: the structures and personal property at the Cooper Ski Area; land and all development at the Cooper Spur Mountain Resort; and mostly vacant forest land. As referenced above, the Forest Service is moving forward with this proposed action to comply with the congressional direction and conditions prescribed in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of March 30, 2009 (123 Stat. 991, P.L. 111-11), as potentially modified by the proposed Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act2. As such, there is an underlying need to exchange lands between the Mt. Hood National Forest and Mt. Hood Meadows Oregon, LLC, consistent with specific congressional direction and the agency’s other legal duties and responsibilities, and subject to particular conditions to the implementation and execution of the Land Exchange, whatever their final form may eventually take. In order to comply with congressional direction, the proposed action also includes a programmatic amendment to the Mt. Hood