Projects are proposed actions that are analyzed through the NEPA process (EIS, EA, or CE) that involves analyzing different alternatives to the proposed action, requires public notice and comment, and results in a NEPA decision (ROD, DN, or DM) which, subject to an administrative appeals process, and is implemented on the ground. The Forest Projects below are projects that we are analyzing or have analyzed under the NEPA process. Projects that are "Developing Proposal" or "Under Analysis" may have an opportunity for public collaboration and input on the proposed actions and the analysis being conducted.
2010 Reissuance of Expired Special Use Permits
CE -- Reissuance of nine special use permits set to expire in 2010. They include four directional signs, four roads, and one communication antenna.
2011 Reissuance of Expired Special Use Permits
CE -- There are 15 special use permits expiring in 2011. The permits are for 3 directional signs, 10 roads, and 1 water storage tank.
Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association County Road KK Powerline Installation
CE -- Installation of 1,980 feet of powerline in the County Road KK road right-of-way. The line would feed power to an Enbridge Energy pipeline emergency shut-off valve.
Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association Pole Replacement
CE -- Replacement of 15 damaged electric poles recently purchased from the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO).
American Transmission Company (ATC) - 6904/6905 Powerline Rebuild
EA -- Rebuild and upgrade the existing powerline from St. Ignace, MI to Rudyard, MI. The upgrade would increase the voltage from a 69 KV to a 138 KV transmission line.
American Transmission Company (ATC) 6952 Maintenance
CE -- ATC is proposing to rebuild powerline 6952 to correct safety issues related to low hanging powerlines. The rebuild would be within the existing corridor to provide reliable and safe service to rural customers.
Beech Bark Disease Project
EA -- Project to treat beech bark disease with uneven-aged management, follow-up canopy gap cleaning or timber stand improvement, additional spot planting of white pine, hemlock, northern red oak or other native tree species, and associated site preparation.
Bishop Road Access
CE -- Construction and reconstruction of two road segments not exceeding a total of 0.7 miles. The road segments are needed to access stands for timber management activities.
Bryan Lomerson
CE -- Issue a special use permit for a wooden boardwalk crossing National Forest System land to access private property.
Carr Creek Spawning Habitat
Replace deteriorating spawning habitat that was installed in Carr Creek over 30 years ago. Includes installing, primarily by hand, washed gravel and cobblestone to provide preferred spawning conditions for native brook trout.
Chatham Telephone Co. Fiber Optic Cable Installation -- Amendment #1
CE -- Amend the Chatham Telephone Co. special use permit for installation of a fiber optic cable crossing National Forest System land. The cable would be buried in a road right-of-way following an existing telephone corridor. No vegetation removal.
Chatham Telephone Company Fiber Optic Cable Installation
CE -- Issue an amendment to the Chatham Telephone Company SUP for installation of a fiber optic cable crossing National Forest land. The cable will be buried in a road ROW following existing telephone corridor. No vegetation will be removed.
Chippewa County Telephone Company - Fiber Optic Cable Installation
CE -- Chippewa County Telephone Company has requested a Fiber Optic SUP for installation of a buried fiber optic cable along the Highway M-28 and Ranger Road right-of-way crossing National Forest System land.
City of Munising Land-for-Timber Exchange
CE -- Acquisition of a tract from the city of Munising using timber fund receipts from the Little Pole Timber Sale in Alger and Delta counties. Project receipts will provide financing for Munising's fire department building project.
Clear Lake Education Center Rehabilitation Project
EA (ARRA) -- Reconstruct trails to all camp facilities for accessibility; reconstruct main entrance and gathering area to control erosion; reconstruct wastewater system and portions of water system; and construct new parking areas.
Cloverland Cooperative Electric Company Powerline Replacement
CE -- Removal of overhead powerline lines and poles and replace with underground line within the existing corridor.
Cloverland Electric M-123 Line Installation
CE -- Install 2,600 feet of buried powerline within the M-123 road right-of-way.
Colwell Lake Campground Beech Salvage
CE -- Harvest dying and diseased beech trees near the Colwell Lake Campground to improve campground safety.
Dutch Mill
EA -- Regeneration treatments in conifers and hardwoods, intermediate treatments in conifers and hardwoods, transportation improvements, and wildlife and fisheries improvements.
East AOP Project
CE -- Replace 18 existing culverts with pre-cast box, concrete span, or metal culverts. Approaches to the culverts may be paved to further reduce sedimentation.
East Unit Spawning Habitat
CE -- Increase natural reporduction of brook trout by installing spawning habitat in Bear Creek, Biscuit Creek, and Creek Number Nine.
Eastside Permanent Opening Project
Maintain existing permanent wildlife openings and fuel breaks on the Eastside of the Hiawatha National Forest.
Eastside Timber Stand Improvement
CE -- Pre-commercial thinning on approximately 1,348 acres and pruning on about 3,474 acres.
Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership, Pipeline O & M Plan
CE --Develop an operation and maintenance (O & M) plan for the Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership ROW.
Enbridge Valve Installation
CE -- Install an emergency flow restriction device to allow fast remote shut-off of the pipeline in case of emergency.
Forest Glen General Store
CE -- Issue a special use permit to authorize the placement of two directional signs on National Forest System land.
Gary Bengston Road Special Use Permit
CE -- Issue a road special use permit to access private property.
Grand Island Accessibility
CE -- Replace the existing steps into the passenger ferry at Grand Island Landing and at Williams Landing on the Grand Island National Recreation Area with a route that meets current accessibility standards.
Grand Island NRA Burn Project
CE -- Prescribed burning of a portion of an historic farm field on the Grand Island National Recreation Area.
Grand Island Primitive Cabins
EA -- Construct two primitive cabins to be available for rental on the southern part of the Grand Island National Recreation Area.
Grand Island Road Special Use Permit
CE -- Issue a road special use permit to allow Grand Island residents motorized travel on roads closed to the general public.
Grand Island Tour Vehicle Garage and Storage Building Project
EA -- Construction of a bus garage and maintenance facility to facilitate administration of the Grand Island National Recreation Area, as well as the construction of two small parking areas for islanders.
Great Lakes Gas Pipeline Permit Reissuance
CE -- Renewal of Special Use Permit for an existing gas pipeline corridor crossing National Forest System Land
Great Lakes Gas Transmission O&M Plan
CE -- Create a new operation and maintenance plan as called for in Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership's special use permit.
Hiawatha Invasive Plant Control Project
EA -- Treatment and control of non-native invasive plant species on high and medium priority sites across the Forest.
Hiawatha Telephone Company Road SUP
CE -- Issuance of a raod special use permit.
Hiawatha Telephone Fiber Optic Cable
CE -- Install approximately 2,357 feet of fiber optic cable within the Highway M-28 right-of-way.
Hulbert Lake Club
CE -- Issue a 2-year road special use permit to access private property.
Keith Mulder and Don Ferrell Special Use Permit
CE -- Issue a private road special use permit to two landowners crossing National Forest System land to access private property.
Kirtland Warbler Opening Project
CE -- Create/enhance small openings in eight densely-stocked jack pine stands to improve Kirkland warbler habitat, a federally-endangered species. When possible, existing openings or gaps would be widened or extended.
Merit Network Fiber Optic Cable
EA -- Installation of a buried and overhead fiber optic cable along the existing road right-of-ways for approximately 24 miles.
Michael DeVore Road Special Use Permit
CE -- Issue a road special use permit to access private property.
Munising Lands Road Permit
CE -- Issue a road special use permit to access private property
Munising RD Stand Improvement Project
CE -- Timber stand and wildlife habitat improvement in 10 stands. Treatment would be completed using the personal use firewood program.
Munising RD Stand Improvement Project 2011
CE -- Perform stand improvement projects throughout the district via the personal use firewood program, including some stands that are not currently within the emerald ash borer quarantine area.
Newkirk Private Road Special Use Permit
CE -- Issue a private road special use permit to access private property.
Niagara
EIS -- Vegetation management (timber harvest, tree regeneration, and habitat improvement) and transportation management ( road construction, reconstruction, closure, and decommission).
Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery Construction Enhancements
EA -- USFWS is proposing to update their facilities at Pendills Creek NFH. Some of these upgrades would occur on Forest Service system land
Peninsula Fiber Network - Fiber Optic Cable Installation
CE -- Installation of a fiber optic cable parallel to the Mackinac Trail from St. Ignace to the Chippewa County line.
Permanent Opening Project
CE -- Maintain existing permanent wildlife openings and fuel breaks on the Westside of the Hiawatha National Forest.
Plantation Road Reconstruction and Relocation Project EA
EA -- Relocate approximately 2,400 feet of roadway and reconstruct approximately 5,175 feet of existing gravel road on FR 3153.
Raco Construction
EA -- Sell the district office in Sault Ste. Marie, close the Moran Work Center, remove the current office building and four outbuildings from the Raco Work Center, and construct a new office building, heavy equipment maintenance building, and fire cache at the Raco Work Center.
Radio Repeater Tower Construction
CE -- Construct two 80-100 foot steel towers to improve radio communication, as well as construction of a small concrete building at the base of each tower.
Realignment of Black Point Road
CE -- Issuance of a special use road easement to the Mackinac County Road Commission to realign 780 feet of Black Point Road, which crosses National Forest System Land on the St. Ignace Ranger District.
Recreation Residence Special Use Permits
CE -- Reissuance of recreation residence special use permits.
Recreation Residence Special Use Permits - Eastside
CE -- Reissuance of recreation residence special use permits.
Recreation Residence Special Use Permits - Munising District
CE -- Reissuance of recreation residence special use permits located throughout the Munising Ranger District.
Riparian and Peck & Rye Area Planting
CE -- Hand plant approx.100,000 long-lived conifer species on 400 acres in riparians areas within 500 feet of the Brevort River and the North Pine River. Also, hand plant approx. 8,500 red oak in canopy gaps on 175 acres in the Peck and Rye area.
Saint Ignace Ranger District Interpretive Trail
CE -- Construction of a multi-purpose, non-motorized, community-based trail network on the 80-acre National Forest parcel adjacent to the St. Ignace Ranger District office.
Sand Dunes Ski Trail BBD Salvage Timber Harvest
CE -- Implement a salvage timber harvest to remove hazardous trees along the Sand Dunes Ski Trail infested with beech bark disease.
Sand-Clay Project
EA -- Vegetation management (timber harvest, tree regeneration, and habitat improvement) and transportation management ( road construction, reconstruction, closure, and decommission).
Sandtown Historical Interpretation Project
CE -- Construct a 2-3 car parking area and wayside with 3-4 interpretive signs commemorating the history, culture, and contributions of the former Anishinabe logging and lumbering community.
Sault Ste. Marie Conveyance
CE -- Proposal to sell the Sault Ste. Marie District Office.
Snowmobile Trail Relocation and Wetland Restoration Project
CE -- Relocate wetland segments of snowmobile trails to higher, drier ground to prevent wetland damage resulting from illegal ORV use on the snowmobile trail during the snow-free season. Old wetland segments would be closed and rehabilitated.
Strongs Grade Culvert Removals
CE -- Improve aquatic organism passage in tributaries to the East Branch Tahquamenon River by removing culverts on the Strongs Grade that are no longer needed and often plugged by beaver.
UPPCO Powerline
CE -- Change overhead powerlines to underground powerlines within the US 2 right-of-way.
Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) Re-issued Special Use Permit for Powerline Corridor
CE -- Renew special use permit for an existing powerline corridor crossing National Forest System land.
Wedens Bay Illegal OHV Trail and Winter Roads Obliteration
CE -- Obliterate approximately 16.3 miles of illegal ORV trails and open approximately 2 miles of maintenance level 1 roads to motorized vehicle use.
West AOP Project
CE -- Replace 18 existing culverts with pre-cast box, concrete span, or metal culverts. Approaches to the culverts may be paved to further reduce sedimentation.
West Unit Gravel Pit Project
EA -- Open four new common variety mineral sites and expand one existing pit on the Westside of the Forest.
West Unit Sediment Trap Maintenance
CE -- Maintain productivity of existing brook trout and steelhead spawning habitat by removing sand and organic material from 17 existing sediment basins.
West Unit Spawning Habitat Maintenance
CE -- Maintenance on spawning habitat installed in four streams 14-26 years ago. Replace rock that has washed away or settled into underlying sand and restore the channel morphology favorable for brook trout and steelhead spawning.