EA Template ADD PROJECT NAME, FOREST NAME HEREa123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic...Applicable best management practices (BMPs), as displayed in Appendix A , would be

Decision Memo for 2016 Green Fuelwood Areas Project 1

Decision Memo 2016 Green Fuelwood Areas Project

USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region Camino Real Ranger District, Carson National Forest

Rio Arriba and Taos Counties, New Mexico (T. 21 N, R. 11 E, sections 10-15;

T. 22 N, R. 11 E, sections 28, 29, 32 and 33 T. 23N, R. 12E, sections 25 and 36 T. 23 N, R. 13 E, sections 30-32)

Background Many people that live within and near the Camino Real Ranger District rely on fuelwood for cooking and heating. Providing fuelwood cutting areas near communities helps meet this important need.

Trees within the proposed fuelwood cutting areas are either over-crowded, diseased, infested, or lack a desired amount of diversity in terms of tree age and species. Cutting fuelwood and other forest products removes selected individual trees and groups of trees, and creates openings. These openings populate with plants and smaller trees, creating more diversity and greater resilience in these areas. Tree-removal treatments are designed to enhance the growth, quality, vigor, composition, and health of residual trees while meeting the fuelwood needs of local communities.

Three treatment units are included in this project: Amole green fuelwood unit, Ojo Sarco South green fuelwood unit, and Entrañas green fuelwood unit.

Amole green fuelwood area is approximately 307 acres of ponderosa pine, located north and east of Highway 518 between Amole Canyon and Cañon Hondo, approximately 5 miles east of Peñasco, NM within T. 23 N, R. 12E, sections 25 and 36 and T. 23 N, R. 13E, sections 30-32.

The Ojo Sarco South green fuelwood area is approximately 155 acres of ponderosa pine and 262 acres of piñon-juniper, located west of Highway 76 directly south of the community of Ojo Sarco, within T. 22 N, R. 11E, sections 28 and 29 and 32 and 33.

The Entrañas fuelwood area is approximately 381 acres of ponderosa pine, located west of Forest Road 207 between Cañada de Ojo Sarco and Cañada de las Entrañas approximately 3 miles east of the community of El Valle, NM within T. 21N, R. 11E, sections 10-15.

The Amole and Ojo Sarco South green fuelwood units were initially scoped as green fuelwood units, though treatment options may include service contracts or partnership blocks due to access and issues related to administration of the units. Commercial fuelwood may also be a viable option for the Amole green fuelwood unit. All treatment units are located on lands managed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. The maps on pages 8 - 10 display the locations of the 2016 Green Fuelwood Areas Project.

An interdisciplinary analysis of this project was conducted and is documented in a project record. Source documents from the project record are incorporated by reference throughout this decision memo by showing the document number in brackets [PR #] – please refer to Appendix B for the project record.


Project The 2016 Green Fuelwood Areas project would allow valid permit holders to cut and remove fuelwood and other forest products such as vigas from within the designated area. Associated activities would include:

• Clearly marking trees that could be removed. • Improving existing system roads with minor reconstruction and/or maintenance to reduce impacts

to other resources. • Making minor repairs such as reshaping ruts or reseeding disturbed areas after the areas are

closed. • Treating slash (cut branches and tops) to reduce potential fire hazard. Treatments may include

cutting slash into smaller pieces and scattering and/or burning slash in small piles. To keep fuels at a reduced level, prescribed burning may be used on a 2-12 year cycle.

The Forest Service roads identified as open to public motor vehicle use in the Decision Notice for Travel Management on the Camino Real Ranger District [PR #05] would be utilized in the course of project activities (see maps on pages 8-10). Closed routes identified on the maps on pages 11-13 of this document would be opened for project-specific activities, and would be re-closed upon completion of this project. Temporary vehicle access within the fuelwood areas would be designated. No more than 1 mile of low standard road construction would be implemented for each of the proposed fuelwood areas as part of this project. Prescriptions published in the Carson National Forest Plan would be used to determine which trees would be marked for cutting in order to improve overall stand conditions. Applicable best management practices (BMPs), as displayed in Appendix A, would be employed.

Mitigation Measures:

• Sensitive resource areas would be flagged for avoidance.

• No road work or maintenance would be conducted on two-tracks that have not been designated as access and/or removal routes.

• Decommissioned routes would be ripped and seeded following treatment. Barriers should be installed to prevent future use.

• Commercial skid roads within the foreground (up to one-half mile) would be restored to pre-activity conditions following the conclusion of treatment activities.

• Visual quality objectives (VQOs) outlined in the Carson National Forest Plan would be incorporated into project activities where applicable.

• Retention of snags and older trees would be prioritized in applicable habitat.

• The retention of coarse woody debris and/or scattered slash for maintenance of soil productivity and stability would be prioritized in applicable forest types.

• Access/removal routes would be reshaped to provide better drainage and rehabbed following project implementation.

• Off-road vehicle use would be confined to periods of dry soil conditions and within units cleared for fuelwood harvesting.

• Permit holders would be instructed not to cut within 100 feet of riparian vegetation.


• Prescribed Fire Burn Plans would guide the management of all prescribed burns conducted as a part of this project.

• Proper signs would be posted at each respective fuelwood area declaring fuelwood sale and area restrictions.

• Protect the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway (State Road 518 and State Road 76) from view shed degradation.

• Northern goshawk surveys will be conducted in the Amole and Entrañas fuelwood units in order to collect current data. If an active nest is found, a post-fledgling family area (PFA) will be established. Any implementation activities within the PFA will follow forest plan direct.

• Protect existing infrastructure including power lines, developed recreation sites, and the Ojo Sarco community water system by using low to moderate intensity prescribed burning techniques and/or other mechanical treatments.

Mitigation Measures Specific to Amole Green Fuelwood area: • Portions of Forest Service Road 703 would need to be graded to remove ruts and repair areas

susceptible to erosion.

• Roads not open in travel management that are being illegally used to access the Amole Canyon area must be restricted prior to project implementation. Locations and routes are identified on the map on page 14 of this document.

• Trail #10F (South Loop Trail) and its drainage structures will have to be reestablished after use by fuelwood cutters.

• Trees and shrubs will left in strategic locations to discourage motorized travel off Forest Service Road 703 into surrounding areas.

• The gate should be repaired so that the protective bell can be used.

• Mark only “cut-trees”, and put the mark on the unseen side of the tree within the immediate foreground.

• Retain vegetation, trees, and shrubs within 25 feet of the trail corridor in strategic locations to act as screening, enhancement and feathering of treatment activities.

• Cut as few of the existing trees with trail diamonds as possible.

• If fuelwood sale is open to partnership block permittee’s, the gate should be double-locked and key provided to operator(s).

• Cleanup understory and slash near the designated trail so that a naturally appearing landscape remains after all management activities are completed.

• Burning should be avoided in the fenced area surrounding the group shelter to maintain the duff and litter that provide campers with a forested experience.

• The use of low intensity prescribed fire is a preferred method of fuels treatment and forest regeneration. Avoid scorching tree canopy. Fire scarring on base of trees is an acceptable outcome.


Public Involvement This proposal was first listed in the quarterly Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA) on April 2016 [PR #17]. A letter describing the proposed action and scoping period was mailed on January 13, 2016 to 54 individuals, organizations, and agencies who had expressed interest in similar past projects or who were otherwise determined to be interested or affected [PR #06]. A notice of scoping email was sent out on January 15, 2016 to an additional 77 individuals and organizations [PR #07].

A letter inviting comment on the proposed action was mailed to 33 Tribal contacts on March 1, 2016 [PR # 12]. The project and a copy of the scoping letter was posted to the forest website on January 15, 2016. Six letters were received in response to these solicitations. [PR #’s 09, 10, 11, 13, 16, and 21]. Four e-mails were returned to sender [PR # 08].

I have considered external comments received during scoping [PR #20] in addition to input from Forest Service resource specialists who analyzed the proposal. No significant issues have been identified that had not been addressed by prior environmental review, and all practical means have been employed to avoid or minimize environmental impacts.

Reasons for Categorically Excluding the Decision Decisions may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment when they are within one of the categories identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 7 CFR part 1b.3 or the proposed action is within a category listed in 36 CFR 220.6 (d) or (e), and there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative environmental effects. This decision is consistent with 36 CFR 220.6(e)(6) “Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities that do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than 1 mile of low standard road construction.”

The following resource conditions were considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances related to the decision warranted further analysis and documentation in an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment (36 CFR 220.6(b)(i-vii)):

i. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species

The Endangered Species Act (ESA, 16 U.S.C.§§ 1531 – 1544) requires Federal activities not jeopardize the continued existence of any species federally listed or proposed as threatened or endangered, or result in adverse modification to such species’ designated critical habitat. As required by the ESA, potential effects of this decision on listed species have been analyzed and documented in a biological assessment. There would be “no effect” to any federally listed or proposed species or critical habitats, therefore the project would not result in any cumulative adverse effects. [PR # 19]

The wildlife report prepared for the project evaluated potential effects of this decision on Forest Service Sensitive species. It documented that the proposed action “may effect individuals but is not likely to result in a trend toward listing or a loss of viability” for the Northern goshawk. The remaining Forest Service sensitive species considered were eliminated from detailed analysis because their habitat is not present. [PR #19]

ii. Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds

The project was evaluated for potential effects to floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. Perennial streams are not present within the proposed project areas. The integrity of floodways along ephemeral channels and unchanneled draw bottoms would be protected by implementing Best


Management Practices; effects to drainages would be mitigated. [PR # 22] Wetlands are not present; therefore there is no effect. The Carson Forest Plan, as amended, does not recognize the lands within the project area as a municipal watershed; therefore there is no effect. [PR #02]

iii. Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas

The Pecos Wilderness is more than 4.5 miles from each the fuelwood units. This project is not within congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. Those areas will not be adversely affected by this decision.

iv. Inventoried roadless area or potential wilderness area

There are no inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas within the project area. The Pecos Addition Inventoried Roadless Area is located more than 4 miles from each of the fuelwood units. This decision will not affect future management decisions on roadless areas or potential wilderness designation.

v. Research natural areas

There are no research natural areas in or near the project area; therefore, this decision will not affect research natural areas. The Arellano Canyon Proposed Research Natural Area is more than 10 miles from each of the fuelwood units.

vi. American Indians and Alaska Native religious, or cultural sites and archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (U.S.C. 470 et seq.) requires Federal agencies take into account the effects of a project on historic properties, which are defined as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object that is included on or eligible for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act also requires Federal agencies to afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and Tribal entities a reasonable opportunity to comment.

The proposed project was reviewed for effects to cultural resources. Initiation of any phase of the project that has not been subject to cultural resources inventory will be contingent upon the identification and protection of cultural resources in these areas in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Consultation with the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding cultural resources has been completed and the proposed project has been determined to have “no adverse effect” to historic properties. [PR #14]

In addition, the USFS has a trust relationship and government-to-government consultation responsibilities with federally recognized Tribes and Pueblos, as they are considered sovereign entities. Consultation with these groups is completed to help insure that these trust responsibilities are met, as well as to identify any cultural resources or sacred sites of concern. A letter inviting comment on the proposed action was mailed to all 16 Tribes and Pueblos that consult with the Carson National Forest on February 23, 2016. [PR #12]. Taos Pueblo and the Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma responded that they had no concerns about the proposed project. No additional comments from Tribes or Pueblos were received in response. The quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions, in which the project has been listed since April 2016, has been mailed to all Tribal contacts for the Carson National Forest. No additional responses have been received.


The mere presence of one or more of the above listed resource conditions does not preclude the use of a categorical exclusion. It is the existence of a cause-effect relationship between a proposed action and the potential effect on these resource conditions, and if such a relationship exists, the degree of the potential effect of a proposed action on these resource conditions that determines whether extraordinary circumstances exist. I find no extraordinary circumstances related to this decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative environmental effect.

Findings Required by Other Laws The project is in conformance with the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Carson National Forest [PR #02] as required by the National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 1600-1614). Specifically, the Carson National Forest Plan outlines goals and objectives that will be met by this project:

Timber: Provide green and dead firewood and other forest products on a sustained yield basis… Protect the forest resources from destructive insects and diseases using integrated pest management (Timber - 1)

Also in accordance with the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Carson National Forest [PR #02], as required by the National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 1600-1614), an assessment has been compiled of general habitat requirements for eleven wildlife species identified as Management Indicator Species (MIS) [PR #19]. It was determined that project activities would not affect forest-wide habitat or population trends of any of the identified MIS.

The activities associated with the 2016 Green Fuelwood Areas project will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations including, but not limited to: the Migratory Birds Treaty Act of 1918, the Clean Water Act of 1948, the Clean Air Act of 1955, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Native American Grave and Repatriation Act of 1990, Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice), and Executive Order 13186 (Migratory Birds).

Decision It is my decision to approve the activities associated with the 2016 Green Fuelwood Areas project as described above. This decision is not subject to appeal.

The decision-making process for this project is documented in a project file and maintained on the Camino Real Ranger District.

Implementation Date Administrative activities in support of thinning and fuelwood harvesting may begin immediately following publication of this decision memo. Harvesting by valid permit holders may begin following preparation and marking of treatment units.

Prescribed burning activities associated with this project may begin following initial treatment activities and the production of a Prescribed Fire Burn Plan and following applicable permitting processes with other local, state, and national agencies.


Contact Person For additional information concerning this decision, contact Gabriel M. Romero, East Zone Silviculturist, at P.O. Box 68, Peñasco, NM 87553 or by calling 575-587-2255.

_______________ TAMARA S. MALONE Date

Camino Real District Ranger

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because of all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 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 to USDA, Director of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.









APPENDIX A – BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND MITIGATION MEASURES Application of best management practices for the conservation of soil and water resources are required to carry out one of the Clean Water Act (CWA) purposes to maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters. The CWA does not regulate nonpoint source pollution. Sections 208 and 319 require States to develop a process to identify, if appropriate, agricultural, silvicultural, and other categories of nonpoint sources of pollution and to set forth procedures and methods to control to the extent practicable such sources. The Forest Service policy for control of nonpoint sources of pollution is to use BMPs, monitor the implementation and effectiveness of those BMPs, and adjust management practices using monitoring results (USDA Forest Service 2012).

Forest Service Manual 2532 describes the policy to promote and apply approved best management practices (BMPs) to all management activities as the method for control of non-point sources of water pollution, and for compliance with established state or national water quality goals. The Forest Service National Core Best Management Practices Technical Guide (USDA 2012) was designed as a handbook to implement and compliment FSM 2532 Water Quality Management and the National Best Management Practices Program. This manual describes the objectives, explains why BMPs are needed for a given activity and lists individual practices applicable to that activity. All management activities of other resources are to be designed to minimize short-term impacts on the soil and water resources and to maintain or enhance long-term productivity, water quantity and water quality (FSM 2503). The BMPs described below are exerpt from or in addition to those listed in the BMP Technical Guide and Forest Service Handbooks.

Activity Category Design Feature or Management Practice

Aquatic Management Zones (AMZs)

AMZs include perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams/draw bottoms

Existing Roads - Open to Motorized Vehicle Use (as shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map, USDA Forest Service 2012a)

Ensure the road surface drainage system can intercept, collect and remove water from the road surface and surrounding slopes in a manner that reduces concentrated flow in ditches, culverts and over fill slopes and road surfaces

Ensure road surface treatment will support wheel loads, stabilize the roadbed, reduce dust and control erosion consistent with anticipated traffic and use

Maintain all roads with proper road maintenance practices during and after treatment activities


Existing Roads - Maintenance Level 1 (placed in storage between intermittent uses)

On Level 1 roads, motor vehicular traffic is prohibited, including administrative motor vehicle traffic

Level 1 roads may be managed at any other maintenance level during the time they are open for traffic

Routes listed in Tables x, x, x would be temporarily opened to allow vehicle access

Schedule activities to avoid direct soil and water disturbance during periods of the year when heavy precipitation and runoff are likely to occur

Incorporate Clean Water Act (CWA) 401, 402, 404 permit requirements and other Federal, State, and local permits or requirements into the project design and plan

Rehabilitate as described below

Existing Routes - Undetermined (UD) status

Undetermined routes have not been assessed to determine if they should be added to the NFS roads database. These routes may have been developed for old timber sales, rangeland management, historic travel ways, or other uses or may have been created other other forest users

Under the Travel Management Decision, these routes are open to Carson National Forest Administrative use only

Routes listed in Tables x, x, x would be temporarily opened to the public for vehicle access

Same BMPs/mitigations as Level 1 roads

Roads - Rehabilitation of Roads Temporarily Opened

Decommission/obliterate temporary roads by one or more of the following, as needed to provide ground cover and minimize soil erosion: re-contouring slopes; subsoiling/scarification of compacted soils to a depth of 16” (unless prevented by bedrock or soil rock content soil); pulling berm; pulling slash (where available); placement of slash; waterbars; rolling dips; planting or seeding disturbed areas to achieve a minimum of 50% ground cover; mulching; restoring natural drainage patterns


Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Travel

OHV use would occur when the ground is dry, frozen to a depth of 2”, or snow covered to a depth of 6”, to minimize soil disturbance

Work will occur only when the soil moisture is such that the soil surface is stable and not susceptible to damage.

Avoid ground equipment operations on wet soils and on slopes > 40%

Mechanized equipment (including OHVs) would not operate in AMZs, including ephemeral and intermittent stream channels, except at designated crossings

Existing roads/skid trails/dozer lines will be used where possible

Monitor OHV use to identify areas contributing or likely to contribute to soil degradation and take corrective to redistribute use, placing restrictions on areas, rotation of use on areas, closure to vehicles that are causing problems or total closure.

User created routes would be inspected for rutting, bare ground and other damage and would be rehabilitated by leveling ruts, installing water bars, scarifying and/or seeding with native grasses/forbs to re-establish ground cover and minimize erosion and soil loss

Lop and Scatter Mechanized thinning equipment would operate under conditions described for tractor skidding, to minimize soil compaction and displacement

Equipment would operate on slash, to minimize compaction

Where mastication or other mechanical slash disposal treatment occurs, limit the accumulation of chunked, chipped or shredded wood to an average maximum of 4 inches deep or less to allow for vegetative re-growth

Maintain an adequate amount of Coarse Woody Material (CWM). CWM consists of downed woody material greater than 3 inches in diameter. Region 3 soil quality standards recommend 5 to 10 tons/acre of CWM in ponderosa pine forests

Pile Burning Piles would be smaller than 15 feet in diameter and contain predominantly small woody material (< 3” diameter)

Piles would be burned when soil moisture is high to prevent deep soil heating and long-term damage to soil function

Piles to be burned are expected to consist of less than 5% of the surface area per acre treated

Prescribed fire would not occur within AMZs (draw bottoms)

Broadcast Burning Units would be burned when soil moisture is high to prevent deep soil heating and long-term damage to soil function

Burn prescriptions would be designed to maintain the amounts of coarse woody material needed for nutrient cycling


Timing of Activities Close and hydrologically stabilize temporarily opened roads and routes created by wood cutters immediately following the cessation of activity, to minimize erosion from road surfaces

Weeds Seed, straw, and other materials used for road decommissioning and erosion control will be certified to be free of noxious weeds

Native plant materials are to be used for revegetation unless accepted extenuating circumstances are identified


APPENDIX B – Project Record DOCUMENT

NUMBER DATE DOCUMENT AUTHOR

01 1966 U.S.C. Title 54, National Historic Preservation Act, as amended

02 09/1986 Carson National Forest Plan, as amended

USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region

03 08/1987 Terrestrial Ecosystems Survey of the Carson National Forest

USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region

04 09/2013

Environmental Assessment for Travel Management on the Camino Real Ranger District of the Carson National Forest Carson National Forest

05 09/27/2013

Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for Travel Management on the Camino Real Ranger District of the Carson National Forest Carson National Forest

06 01/13/2016 Scoping letter with mailing list

Tamara S. Malone, District Ranger, Camino Real Ranger District

07 01/15/2016 Email notification of scoping with mailing list

Kathryn Furr, Environmental Coordinator, Carson National Forest

08 01/17/2016 Undeliverable emails

09 01/19/2016 Comment letter Joanie Berde, Carson Forest Watch

10 01/23/2016 Comment letter Alex Lopez, President, Las Trampas Land Grant

11 02/02/2016 Comment letter

Theodore Villicana, Resource Technician, Comanche Nation Historic Preservation Office

12 03/01/2019 Letters to Tribal contacts for the Carson National Forest



Robert Espinosa, Director Division of Natural Resources, Taos Pueblo


14 03/06/2016 Inventory Standards and Accounting (IS&A) Report

Liz Lane, Archaeologist, Carson National Forest

15 03/07/2016 Fire and Fuels Report (folder) with references

Ray Corral, Fire Management Officer, Camino Real Ranger District


Leigh Kuwanwisiwma, Hopi Cultural Preservation Department, Hopi Tribe

17 04/01/2016 Schedule of Proposed Actions, Carson National Forest Carson National Forest

18 04/19/2016 Vegetation Reports (folder) with references

Gabriel M. Romero, East Zone Silviculturist, Camino Real Ranger District

19 04/20/2016 Wildlife Report (folder) with references

Jennifer L. Gatlin, Wildlife Biologist, Camino Real Ranger District

20 05/03/2016 Consideration of public comments received during the scoping period


21 05/05/2016 Consultation letter, Carson National Forest’s Schedule of Proposed Actiona

Theodore Villicana, Resource Technician, Comanche Nation Historic Preservation Office

22 05/09/2016 Watershed Reports (folder) with references

Melvin Herrera, Rangeland Management Specialist, Camino Real Ranger District

23 06/10/2016 Recreation, Lands, and Visual Quality Report (folder) with references

Paul Schilke, Recreation Specialist, Camino Real Ranger District

24 06/29/2016 Decision Memo 2016 Green Fuelwood Areas Project


25 06/29/2016 Notification of Decision with mailing list


Documents

EA Template ADD PROJECT NAME, FOREST NAME HEREa123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic...Applicable best management practices (BMPs), as displayed in Appendix A , would be