Environmental Assessment Allenspark Recreational Shooting Project Environmental United States Department of Agriculture Assessment Forest Service Allenspark Recreational Shooting Project June 2011 Boulder Ranger District, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland Boulder County, Colorado T. 2N, R. 71 W, section 4 For Information Contact: Cat Luna 2140 Yarmouth Ave. Boulder, CO 80301 303-541-2508 Draft Environmental Assessment Allenspark Recreational Shooting Project The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment Allenspark Recreational Shooting Project ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS BACKGROUND The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This Environmental Assessment discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects that would result from the Proposed Action of building a shooting range at the former Allenspark Dumpsite and alternatives to the proposed action as well as the no action alternative. Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 serve as an executive summary. Chapter 1 includes information on the history of the proposed project, the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency’s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. Chapter 2 provides a more detailed description of the agency’s Proposed Action as well as alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. The alternatives were developed based on significant issues raised by the public and other agencies. This discussion also includes possible design criteria. Finally, this section provides a summary table of the environmental effects associated with each alternative and includes a discussion of the no action alternative as well. Chapter 3 contains detailed information of the Affected Environment and environmental effects of implementing the Proposed Action or the alternatives. The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the Environmental Assessment. A list of agencies and persons consulted and contacted is included as well as a glossary for technical terms. Note: Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this Proposed Action and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those who only submit anonymous comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Part 215. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency's decision regarding the request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied; the agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within 15 days. Environmental Assessment Allenspark Recreational Shooting Project Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need for Action 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Background and Need .............................................................................. 2 1.2 Forest Plan Direction ............................................................................................. 2 1.3 Purpose of the Project ........................................................................................... 3 1.4 Decision Framework .............................................................................................. 3 1.5 Public Involvement .................................................................................................. 3 1.6 Key Issues ............................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2 – Alternatives 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Alternatives .............................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Alternative Comparisons ..................................................................................... 13 2.3 Alternatives Dropped from Detailed Study .......................................................... 14 2.4 Environmental Effects Comparisons of Alternatives .......................................... 15 Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Effects 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 18 3.1 Recreation .............................................................................................................. 18 3.2 Hazardous Materials ............................................................................................. 26 3.3 Watershed .............................................................................................................. 29 3.4 Soils and Air .......................................................................................................... 36 3.5 Wildlife, Fish and Plants ....................................................................................... 42 3.6 Heritage .................................................................................................................. 55 Appendices A: Issues from Scoping on the Proposed Action ..................................................... 59 B: Allenspark Dumpsite Potential Concept Plan...................................................... 69 C: Glossary ................................................................................................................ 71 D: References ............................................................................................................. 77 E: Consultation, Coordination, and Interdisciplinary Team .................................... 81 Environmental Assessment Allenspark Recreational Shooting Project List of Tables Table 1: Quick Guide Comparison of Alternatives .................................................. 13 Table 2: Effects Comparisons of Alternatives .......................................................... 15 Table 3: PTES Species and MIS Included in Project Analysis ................................ 44 Table 4: Summary of Determinations/Estimation of Effects ................................... 52 List of Figures Figure 1: Recreation Discussion Map ....................................................................... 19 Figure 2: Watershed Discussion Map ....................................................................... 30 Environmental Assessment Allenspark Recreational Shooting Project CChhaapptteerr 11 –– PPuurrppoossee aanndd NNeeeedd ffoorr AAccttiioonn 1.0 Introduction __________________________________ This Environmental Assessment (EA) describes and discloses the direct, indirect and cumulative environmental effects of the proposed action, the no action alternative, and one other alternative to the proposed action for developing a designated shooting area at the former Allenspark Dumpsite to minimize the risks of bullets leaving Forest land and travelling onto nearby private land. This EA is not a decision. Following the review of public comments on this document, the deciding official (the Boulder District Ranger) will make a decision and it will be described and explained in a Decision Notice along with a summary of the comments received on the EA. Location This project is approximately 135 acres of National Forest system land on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest in Boulder County, Colorado. Project boundaries are broken into two parcels as depicted on the map below. The larger parcel s approximately 98 acres and the smaller parcel is approximately 37 acres. The project area is approximately a quarter mile east of the intersections of State Highway 7 and State Highway 72. The area location is as follows: T. 2N, R. 71 W, section 4. The former Allenspark Dumpsite is located in the North St. Vrain Geographic Area, as described in the 1997 Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan pgs. 97 to 99). 1 Environmental Assessment