Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 10/01/2018 to 12/31/2018 Cherokee National Forest This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact. Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Cherokee National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest) R8 - Southern Region Forest Landscape Adaptive - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:04/2020 05/2020 Mark Healey Management Environmental - Vegetation management Scoping Start 09/25/2018 540-885-8028 Assessment (FLAME (other than forest products) Est. Comment Period Public [email protected] Assessment) - Fuels management Notice 10/2019 EA Description: The intent of this project is to produce a landscape scale project that would support the use of mechanical, *UPDATED* herbicide and prescribed fire treatments in appropriate forest communities, across the entire Cherokee National Forest landscape. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53856 Location: UNIT - Cherokee National Forest All Units. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, McMinn, Monroe, Polk, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Cherokee National Forest. Vegetation Management in - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants Completed Actual: 09/05/2018 09/2018 Mary Miller Open Areas - Vegetation management 423-476-9756 EA (other than forest products) [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: manage permanent grassy & herbaceous openings using a combination of treatment methods; openings include permanent openings benefiting wildlife species & utility corridors under special use permit by utility agencies Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45222 Location: UNIT - Cherokee National Forest All Units. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, McMinn, Monroe, Polk, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Cherokee National Forest. Cherokee National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide) R8 - Southern Region North Zone Pond Management - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants Completed Actual: 07/03/2018 08/2018 Marcia Carter Project (423) 638-4109 CE [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: This project focuses on maintaining and improving ponds and waterholes across the North Zone of the Cherokee National Forest on a regular basis. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53796 Location: UNIT - Unaka Ranger District, Watauga Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi. LEGAL - Not Applicable. North Zone Cherokee National Forest. 10/01/2018 07:09 pm MT Page 1 of 9 Cherokee National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Cherokee National Forest Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R8 - Southern Region Compartment 167 Commercial - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:12/2018 03/2019 Janan Hay Thinning - Forest products Scoping Start 08/01/2018 423-253-8405 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* ocoee- [email protected] Description: Commercially thin approximately 69 acres. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54210 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Compartment 167 near Ditney Mountain off NFSR 66. Dinkey - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants In Progress: Expected:02/2019 03/2019 Janan Hay EA - Forest products Comment Period Public Notice Actual: 12/07/2017 423-253-8405 fs-comments- *UPDATED* - Vegetation management 02/17/2016 (other than forest products) southern-cherokee- - Fuels management ocoee- - Road management [email protected] Description: The project is designed to improve or maintain wildlife habitat, species diversity of stands, and forest health through vegetation management and other treatments. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=43080 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. East of Big Frog Wilderness, west of State Highway 68, south of State Highway 64 and north of the Georgia state line. Starr Mountain Outfitter and - Special use management In Progress: Expected:05/2018 06/2018 Terinda Whisenant Guide Scoping Start 04/12/2018 423-338-3300 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* ocoee- [email protected] Description: Ocoee Horseride LLC submitted a proposal to conduct outfitter and guide service on three trails (NFST 104, 105, and 119) in the Starr Mountain Horse Trail System. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53490 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - McMinn, Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Starr Mountain Horse Trail System east of Etowah TN. 10/01/2018 07:09 pm MT Page 2 of 9 Cherokee National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Cherokee National Forest Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R8 - Southern Region TVA Structure 16 - Special use management Completed Actual: 07/25/2018 02/2018 Terinda Whisenant CE 423-338-3300 fs-comments- *UPDATED* southern-cherokee- ocoee- [email protected] Description: TVA proposes to replace existing structure 16 of Apalachia Hydro Plant transmission line with a 10 ft. taller pole in order to raise the conductors further from the ground. An existing access road would be utilized to access the site. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52084 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Off NFSR 23. TVA Structure 3323 - Special use management Completed Actual: 08/09/2018 02/2018 Terinda Whisenant Replacement 423-338-3300 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* ocoee- [email protected] Description: TVA proposes to replace three steel structures in a transmission line. A temporary road is needed to access the utility line ROW and it would be 12 ft. wide by approx. 1,500 ft. long. Trucks & trailers would use the road to transport the materials. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52086 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. South of Hwy 64. VEC Parksville Lake Overhead - Special use management In Progress: Expected:05/2018 06/2018 Terinda Whisenant Line Removal Scoping Start 04/12/2018 423-496-0103 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* ocoee- [email protected] Description: VEC would like to remove 850 ft. of overhead line near the Ocoee Marina. The line would be replaced with 227 ft. of buried cable adjacent to the Marina parking area. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53489 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. At Ocoee Marina on Highway 64. 10/01/2018 07:09 pm MT Page 3 of 9 Cherokee National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Cherokee National Forest Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R8 - Southern Region Volunteer Electric Cooperative - Special use management Completed Actual: 08/09/2018 12/2017 Terinda Whisenant Buried Utility Line 423-338-3300 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* ocoee- [email protected] Description: Remove existing overhead line and install an approximately 340 foot underground utility line in same location. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50920 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Cabin 1 south of Hwy 64. White Fringeless Orchid Habitat - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants Completed Actual: 07/11/2018 07/2018 Janan Hay Improvement 423-253-8405 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* ocoee- [email protected] Description: Open the canopy at one of the two locations of white fringeless orchid on the Forest using chainsaws to directionally fell one to three trees in the immediate vicinity of the site. The felled trees would be left on site. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53687 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Location of T&E plant not to be disclosed. YMCA Camp Ocoee Cabin - Special use management Completed Actual: 08/09/2018 01/2018 Terinda Whisenant (Brown) Removal 423-338-3300 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* ocoee- [email protected] Description: Disassemble and remove Brown cabin from the permit area to a location off National Forest System land. After removal the cabin site would be allowed to revert to a natural condition. Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50921 Location: UNIT - Ocoee - Hiwassee Ranger District. STATE - Tennessee. COUNTY - Polk. LEGAL - Not Applicable. YMCA Camp Ocoee. 10/01/2018 07:09 pm MT Page 4 of 9 Cherokee National Forest Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Cherokee National Forest Tellico Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District) R8 - Southern Region Fort Loudoun Electric - Special use management In Progress: Expected:06/2018 07/2018 Terinda Whisenant Cooperative Line Relocation Scoping Start 05/14/2018 423-338-3300 CE fs-comments- southern-cherokee- *UPDATED* [email protected]