Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) 10/01/2016 to 12/31/2016 Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests 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 Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide) Western Area Power - Special use management On Hold N/A N/A David Loomis Administration Right-of-Way 303-275-5008 Maintenance and [email protected] Reauthorization Project Description: Update vegetation management activities along 278 miles of transmission lines located on NFS lands in Colorado, EIS Nebraska, and Utah. These activities are intended to protect the transmission lines by managing for stable, low growth vegetation. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=30630 Location: UNIT - Ashley National Forest All Units, Grand Valley Ranger District, Norwood Ranger District, Yampa Ranger District, Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District, Pine Ridge Ranger District, Sulphur Ranger District, East Zone/Dillon Ranger District, Paonia Ranger District, Boulder Ranger District, West Zone/Sopris Ranger District, Canyon Lakes Ranger District, Salida Ranger District, Gunnison Ranger District, Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado, Nebraska, Utah. COUNTY - Chaffee, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Grand, Gunnison, Jackson, Lake, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montrose, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, Dawes, Daggett, Uintah. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Linear transmission lines located in Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska. R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide) Aspen-Sopris Ranger District - Special use management Completed Actual: 06/13/2016 06/2016 Hillary Santana Five Year Recreation Event 970-945-3202 Special Use Permit Issuance [email protected] CE Description: Issuance of five year recreation event permits to authorize 11 recreation events to operate on the Aspen-Sopris *UPDATED* Ranger District. Events have been authorized in prior years under temporary permits. Events are running, mountain bike, jeep, and ski. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=48649 Location: UNIT - West Zone/Aspen Ranger District, West Zone/Sopris Ranger District, Gunnison Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Gunnison, Pitkin. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Events will occur within the Aspen-Sopris and Gunnison Ranger Districts (see individual event maps). 10/03/2016 12:32 pm MT Page 1 of 22 Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide) Maroon Bells-Snowmass - Special area management Developing Proposal Expected:06/2017 05/2018 Kay Hopkins Wilderness Overnight Visitor Est. Scoping Start 10/2016 970-945-3265 Use Plan [email protected] EA Description: In response to ongoing resource issues and in conformance with the 2002 Forest Plan, the Visitor Use *UPDATED* Management Plan addresses implementation strategies to allocate numbers of overnight groups based on the wilderness areas visitor carrying capacity. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=49388 Location: UNIT - West Zone/Aspen Ranger District, West Zone/Sopris Ranger District, Gunnison Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Gunnison, Pitkin. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado. Tri-State Montrose-Nucla- - Special use management In Progress: Expected:12/2016 03/2017 Liz Mauch Cahone Transmission FEIS NOA in Federal Register 970-242-8211 Improvement Project 09/02/2016 [email protected] EA Description: Tri-State is proposing to upgrade existing Montrose-Nucla-Cahone 115-kV transmission line to 230-kV. The *UPDATED* BLM is the lead agency and the USFS is cooperating agency. http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/district_offices/southwest/ TriState230kVRebuild.htm Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=44376 Location: UNIT - Norwood Ranger District, Ouray Ranger District, Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Dolores, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Existing Tri-State transmission corridor on Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnsion and San Juan National Forests, Southwestern Distrct Bureau of Land Management and private lands. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one R2 - Rocky Mountain Region Forest) Oil and Gas Leasing Revision - Land management planning Cancelled N/A N/A Ryan Taylor EIS - Minerals and Geology 970-527-4131 [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: Revise 1993 Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest Oil and Gas Leasing EIS decision to address changed conditions, revised leasing stipulations, and land availability. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=33481 Location: UNIT - Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest All Units. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. 10/03/2016 12:32 pm MT Page 2 of 22 Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one R2 - Rocky Mountain Region Forest) Qwest Phone Lines - Special use management In Progress: Expected:02/2017 02/2017 Jason Armbruster CE Scoping Start 11/15/2012 970-874-6675 [email protected] *UPDATED* ed.us Description: Consolidate Qwest Permits with other districts on GMUG. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=32095 Location: UNIT - Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest All Units. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, San Miguel. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Grand Mesa NF, Gunnison NF, Uncompaghre NF. Spruce Beetle Epidemic and - Forest products Completed Actual: 07/05/2016 07/2016 Samantha Staley Aspen Decline Management - Vegetation management 970-874-6666 Response (other than forest products) [email protected] EIS - Fuels management .us *UPDATED* Description: 7/5/16 - Final Decision signed. To stay involved and informed of implementation activities, see the SBEADMR IMPLEMENTATION WEBSITE (currently under construction): http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gmug/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fseprd497061 Web Link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gmug/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fseprd497061 Location: UNIT - Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest All Units. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, San Miguel. LEGAL - Not Applicable. A maximum of 120,000 acres of commercial and noncommercial treatments are proposed within defined Priority Treatment Areas(PTAs); PTAs comprise a maximum of 207,600 acres in the Agency Preferred Alt. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Grand Valley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in R2 - Rocky Mountain Region more than one District) 10/03/2016 12:32 pm MT Page 3 of 22 Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Expected Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Implementation Project Contact Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Grand Valley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in R2 - Rocky Mountain Region more than one District) Axia Energy II, LLC, USA #1- - Minerals and Geology On Hold N/A N/A Niccole Mortenson 16SC Well Pad Expansion - Special use management 970-874-6616 EA [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: Expansion of existing USA #1-16SC well pad, drilling two new wells on the well pad, and construction/installation of approximately 1.37 miles of buried natural gas and water lines along the Buzzard Divide Road (NFSR 265). Ownership change 9/2016. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=46118 Location: UNIT - Grand Valley Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mesa. LEGAL - Sections 16-18, T. 9 S., R. 92 W., and Section 12, T. 9 S., R. 93 W., 6th P.M. Sections 16-18, T. 9 S., R. 92 W., and Section 12, T. 9 S., R. 93 W., 6th P.M. Bonham Winter Trailhead - Recreation management Developing Proposal Expected:08/2017 09/2017 Loren Paulson CE - Road management Est. Scoping Start 12/2016 970-242-8211- X4112 [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: Project involves the improvement and/or possible relocation of the Bonham Winter Trailhead to increase parking, improve traffic flow and address safety concerns. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=49067 Location: UNIT - Grand Valley Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Mesa. LEGAL - T.10S., R.94Wl, Section 31. Project is located on the north side of the Grand Mesa National Forest off of the Trickle Park Road, FDR#121, approximately 1/8 mile above (south) of the Forest Boundary. Cold Springs Ranger Station - Facility management In Progress: Expected:12/2016 06/2017 Loren Paulson Improvement Scoping Start 07/31/2016 970-242-8211- X4112 CE [email protected] *UPDATED* Description: Project is to make improvements and repairs on buildings and infrastructure associated with the Cold Springs Ranger Station. Project involves upgrading the water