Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2012 to 03/31/2012
Custer National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R1 - Northern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer National Forest,  Ashland Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer National Forest,  Beartooth Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer National Forest,  Sioux Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Gypsy Moth Management in the United States: A Cooperative Approach
EIS
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/19/2008
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 12/2011  		Expected:03/2012
  		01/2013 Noel Schneeberger
610-557-4121
nschneeberger@fs.fed.us 
Description: The USDA Forest Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are analyzing a range of strategies for controlling gypsy moth damage to forests and trees in the United States.
Web Link:  http://www.na.fs.fed.us/wv/eis/
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Nationwide.
Land Management Planning Rule
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 02/25/2011
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/2011  		Expected:12/2011
  		12/2011 Larry Hayden
202-205-1559
lhayden@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Department of Agriculture proposes to promulgate a new planning rule, which will set out the process for development, revision, and amendment of National Forest System land management plans.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Agency-wide Rule.
Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Lands.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 05/13/2011
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/2011  		Expected:12/2011
  		01/2012 Glen Stein
208-869-5405
gstein@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Forest Service will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for the continued nationwide aerial application of fire retardant on National Forest System lands.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/retardant/index.html
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Nationwide.
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R1 - Northern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Stillwater Mining Company's Revised Water Management Plans and Boe Ranch LAD
EIS
 - Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/26/2010
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 03/2012  		Expected:03/2012
  		06/2012 Patrick Pierson
406-657-6205x213
ppierson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Determine bonding and management practices necessary once mine ceases operations. (Was formerly listed as East Boulder Mine Post Closure Water Management Plan and BOE Ranch LAD Alternative). Peter Werner is Gallatin NF contact.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=7466
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District, Big Timber Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass. LEGAL - T5S, R15E, Sec(s) 21, 22. Stillwater Mine, Beartooth RD, Custer NF; and, East Boulder Mine, GNF, Big Timber RD, Gallatin NF.
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Custer National Forest,   Ashland Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Ashland Post Fire Tree Planting
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 02/2012  		Expected:03/2012  05/2012 Dennis Sandbak
406-657-6205 ext,212
dsandbak@fs.fed.us 
Description: Planting of Ponderosa pine seedlings in deforested areas due to wildfire in 2000.
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River, Rosebud. LEGAL - T3S, R47E, Sec(s) 31 & 32; T3S, R46E, Sec(s) 25, 26, 35, & 36; T4S, R47E, sec9s) 10, 11, 15, & 16; T4S, R46E, Sec(s) 11 & 12; T5S, R45E, Sec(s) 18, 19, & 20; T5S, R44E, Sec(s) 13, 14, 23, 24, & 25. Padget Crk, Brian Spring, Brian Crk, Tobin Reservoir, Schoolhouse Draw, North Fork Threemile Crk.
Cow Creek Prescribed Fire Project
CE
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Martin Mitzkus
406-784-2344
mmitzkus@fs.fed.us 
Description: Prescribed burning in 2000 Stag Fire perimeter to reduce heavy dead and down fuel loadings.
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River. LEGAL - T6S, R45E, in portions of Sec(s) 9-17, 20-23, and 27-28; and T6S, R46E, Sec 18-19. Cow Creek drainage.
Cow Creek Rangeland Project
EA
 - Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/21/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 02/2012  		Expected:04/2012
  		05/2012 Megan Dawson
406-784-2344
mbdawson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Conduct environmental analysis of livestock grazing on the 16,189 acres Cow Creek allotment. The District Ranger will decide whether or not to authorize grazing, & if so, the site specific livestock grazing preseciptions to be implemented.
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River, Rosebud. LEGAL - T6S, R45E, various number of sections. Cow Creek Allotment, 20 miles south of Ashland, Montana.
Otter Creek Coal Tract Groundwater Baseline Data Collection & Monitoring Well Installation
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology
- Special use management 		 Completed  Actual: 09/23/2011  10/2011 Patrick Pierson
406-446-2103
ppierson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Environmental analysis of proposed intallation of four batteries of water monitoring wells; 3 - 5 individual wells per well battery. Baseline data would be collected related to groundwater conditions adjacent to shared NFS & OCC tract boundary.
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River. LEGAL - T3S, R46E, Sec. 31 and T4S, R46E, Sec. 31, PM and 6th Principal Meridians. Ashland Ranger District.
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Custer National Forest,   Beartooth Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Allocation of Acquired Lands to Forest Plan Management Areas
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Land management planning  Completed  Actual: 10/17/2011  11/2011 Mark Slacks
406-657-6205 ext. 240
mslacks@fs.fed.us 
Description: Allocate lands acquired in a 2005 purchase to Forest Plan management area direction.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. Pryor Mountain division of the Beartooth Ranger District; lands in the north part of the land unit.
Burnt Fork, Hogan Crk On/Off, Rock Crk, Sage Crk and Proposed Red Butte Allotments Rangeland Project
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/22/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 05/2012  		Expected:06/2012
  		09/2012 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Comprehensive range planning (1995 Recissions Act) and analysis to determine the effects of livestock grazing.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - various. Beartooth face and Pryor Mountains.
Initial Creek ROW and Trail Construction
CE
 - Recreation management
- Land acquisition 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Allie Wood
406-446-2103
awood01@fs.fed.us 
Description: Secure legal ROW and construct trail acros one mile of patented mineral land and construct a bridge to provide trail access from Initial Crk campground to the WF Stillwater River.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Sweet Grass. LEGAL - T5S, R14E, Sec. 14. Initial Creek Trail, West Fork Stillwater River.
Main Fork Rock Creek Road Maintenance and Watershed Improvement Project
CE
 - Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/31/2011  		Expected:03/2012
  		05/2012 Amy Waring
(406) 683-3948
amywaring@fs.fed.us 
Description: Conduct road mtc, reconstruction, & minor alignment adjustments along the length of the road (approx. 10.7 mi). Activities include gravel re-surfacing, ditch maintenance, replace & add culverts, replace Hellroaring bridge & vegetation clearing.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - T9S, R19E, Sec(s) 7, 8, 18, & 19; T9S, R18E, Sec(s) 24, 25, 26, & 33-35. Main Fork Rock Creek Road.
Stillwater Mining Company Benbow Baseline Data Collection Plan of Operations
CE
 - Minerals and Geology  Completed  Actual: 09/15/2011  10/2012 Patrick Pierson
406-446-2103
ppierson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Collect data needed to characterize the 1 ac. site related to future possible exploration actions w/in Benbow area. Data proposed for collection includes geo-tech. conditions, ground & surface water quality/quantity, cultural, wildlife, & fisheries.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. LEGAL - T5S, R16E, Sec(s) 20, 21, 28, &29. Benbow area, near the Benbow Chrome Mill site.
Stillwater Mining Company Blitz Project Surface Exploration Drilling Plan Of Operations For Mineral
CE
 - Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/20/2011  		Expected:05/2012
  		07/2012 Dan Seifert
406-446-4520
dseifert@fs.fed.us 
Description: Exploratory core drilling proposed and reclamation at 2 drill sites accessed via helicopter. Two holes would be drilled at each site. Total proposed ground disturbance is approximately 0.04 acres.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. LEGAL - T. 5S, R. 16E, Sections 19 & 29. Benbow area – Little Rocky Creek and Prairie Creek.
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Custer National Forest,   Sioux Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Grand Electric Coop. Inc. Amendment
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2012  		Expected:02/2012  03/2012 Tawni Cordell
605-797-4432
tdcordell@fs.fed.us 
Description: Environmental review of electrical line improvements to handle increased electrical needs associated w/ the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline. This would entail rebuilding 1.5 miles of line through their existing corridor in Reva Gap area along Hwy 20.
Location: UNIT - Sioux Ranger District. STATE - South Dakota. COUNTY - Harding. LEGAL - Sec(s) 17 and 18, T19N, R7E. Near Reva Gap Campground, south of HWY 20.
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This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.