Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
04/01/2012 to 06/30/2012
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  Completed  Actual: 03/23/2012  12/2011 Brenda Halter-Glenn
202-260-9400
bhalterglenn@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  Completed  Actual: 12/13/2011  01/2012 Glen Stein
801-200-2703
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 05/2012  		Expected:06/2012
  		08/2012 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
15 Mile and Elk Creek Landscape Restoration Project (15 Elk)
EIS

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management
- Heritage resource management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. NOI in Federal Register 03/2012  		Expected:03/2013  09/2013 Amy Waring
(406) 683-3948
amywaring@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposes vegetation treatment & road mngt.activities on approx.14,194 ac. in 15 Mile and Elk Crk. watersheds.Manage forest vegetation to restore & improve resilency of fire adapted ecosystems, improve diversity in hardwood draws, & decommission roads
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River. 15 Mile and Elk Creek watersheds.
Ashland Post Fire Tree Planting
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management 		 Completed  Actual: 02/24/2012  05/2012 Dennis Sandbak
406-255-1450
dsandbak@fs.fed.us 
Description: Planting of Ponderosa pine seedlings in deforested areas due to wildfire in 2000.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37991
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 		 Cancelled  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 06/2012  		Expected:09/2012
  		05/2013 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.
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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
Black Wolf Moto Tours Recreation Event
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management
- Special use management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/27/2012  		Expected:04/2012
  		07/2012 Jeff Gildehaus
406-446-4584
jgildehaus@fs.fed.us 
Description: Dual sport motorcycle recreaion event.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - Various sections in T7S, R26E Sec(s) & T7S, R27E; Various sections in T8S, R26E, & T8S, R27E, & T8S, R28E, PMM. Pryor Mountains, Crooked Creek Rd., Sage Creek Rd., Big Ice Cave Rd., Burnt Timber Ridge Rd.
Burnt Fork, Hogan Crk On/Off, Rock Crk, Sage Crk and Proposed Red Butte Allotments Rangeland Project
EA
 - Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/21/2011
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.
Fred Inabit Interpretive Panel
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Heritage resource management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2012  		Expected:05/2012  08/2012 Jeff Gildehaus
406-446-4584
jgildehaus@fs.fed.us 
Description: Install Fred Inabit Interpretive Panel on Phantom Creek Trail.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - T7N, R17E, Sec. 21. Phantom Creek Trail.
Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming Timber Crest Girl Scout Organization Camp Permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/13/2012
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/2012  		Expected:05/2012
  		05/2012 Jeff Gildehaus
406-446-4584
jgildehaus@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to issue a new 20 year term permit to Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming for Timbercrest Girl Scout Organization Camp. Permit had been previously issued continuously to the Girl Scouts since 1967.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - Sec(s) 2 and 3, T8S, R19E, PM and 6th PM. West Fork Rock Creek.
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:06/2012
  		06/2012 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.
Pryor Mountain Road Access Project
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Road management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/29/2012
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 10/2012  		Expected:12/2012
  		04/2012 Amy Waring
(406) 683-3948
amywaring@fs.fed.us 
Description: Pursue the Powerline Road as legal permanent access into the northern portion of the Pryor Mountain land unit of the Beartooth Ranger District.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38899
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. Pryor Mountains land unit, southwester corner of the Crow Indian Reservation.
SMC Blitz Ridge Proj. 2012 Surface Exploration Drilling Plan Of Ops. for Mineral Exploration
CE
 - Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/01/2012
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/2012  		Expected:06/2012
  		07/2012 Dan Seifert
406-446-4520
dseifert@fs.fed.us 
Description: Exploratory core drilling proposed and reclamation at 6 drill sites accessed via helicopter & existing roads. Up to 2 drill rigs operating at same time. Up to 5 holes/site. Total proposed ground disturbance is approximately 0.37 acres.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. LEGAL - T. 5S, R. 16E, Sections 19, 20, 29, 30; T5S, R15E, Sec. 24. 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
2012 South Cave Hills AML Safety Closure Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2012  		Expected:05/2012  08/2012 Tawni Cordell
605-797-4432
tdcordell@fs.fed.us 
Description: Continue to rehabilitate additional 15 abandoned mine pits by pushing in the puts with clean/existing soil and re-seeding with certified weed-free native seed mix.
Location: UNIT - Sioux Ranger District. STATE - South Dakota. COUNTY - Harding. South Cave Hills land unit.
Grand Electric Coop. Inc. Amendment
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 01/12/2012  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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37990
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.