Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
10/01/2012 to 12/31/2012
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 09/2012  		Expected:10/2012
  		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.
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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  Completed  Actual: 07/31/2012  10/2012 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://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/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
 - Recreation management
- Heritage resource management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A 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.
Cow Creek Rangeland Project
EA
 - Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/21/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 03/2013  		Expected:05/2013
  		06/2013 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.
Whitetail Cabin and Holiday Campground Hazard Tree Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management
- Facility management 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 09/13/2012  		Expected:10/2012
  		11/2012 Wayland Duerschmidt
406-784-2335 x 112
wduerschmidt@fs.fed.us 
Description: At Holiday Campground and Whitetail Rental Cabin, there is an immediate & long-term need to address safety concerns posed to the public from trees directly/indirectly killed &/or made unstable from Ash Creek Fire.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=40394
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River. LEGAL - T2S, R47E, Sec. 19. Whitetail Cabin Administrative Stie and Holiday Campground Developed Recreation Site.
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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
Beartooth Mountain Christian Ranch FLPMA Road Use, Special Use Permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize continued use of a 0.5 mile long by 33 ft. wide right-of-way necessary for the operation and maintenance of National Forest System Road (NFSR) 24147 to access private property owned by the Beartooth Mountain Christian Ranch.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. NFSR 24147 is located in Section 15, T5S, R16E, PMM in Stillwater County, MT.
Black Wolf Moto Tours Recreation Event
CE
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 Completed  Actual: 04/25/2012  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 05/2013  		Expected:06/2013
  		09/2013 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.
Dorothy Hancock Hull FLPMA Road Use, Special Use Permit Issuance
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize the continued use of a 0.10 mile long by 33 ft. wide right-of-way necessary for the operation and maintenance of NFSR 24761 to access private property owned by Dorothy Hancock Hull.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. The road is located in Section 11, T8S, R19E, PMM in Carbon County MT.
East Rosebud Lake Association Water Transmission ROW, Special Use Permit Issuance
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize the continued use of a 1.3 mile long by 10 ft. right-of-way necessary to maintain four pipelines and intake devices for transmission of water across Forest Service land to residences of the East Rosebud Lake Association.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. The existing pipelines are located in Section 21, T7S, R17E, PMM in Carbon County MT.
Fred Inabit Interpretive Panel
CE
 - Heritage resource management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 10/2012  		Expected:01/2013  08/2013 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
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/09/2012  06/2012 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.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38900
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.
Horseman Flats Fuel Reduction Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 12/2012  		Expected:04/2013  06/2013 Jeffrey Stockwell
406-446-2103
jstockwell@fs.fed.us 
Description: Treat hazardous fuels for defensible space, suppression options & in/egress for SMC, Cathedral Mtn. subdivision, Horseman Flats, Road 2848 to Initial Crk trlhead. Use heavy machinery & hand work to achieve stem spacing & reduce crown fire impacts.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - Sec. 8-9,16 T5S R15E. Stillwater Mine, Cathedral Mtn. Subdivision area including Horseman Flats and along FS Road 2848 to Initial Creek Trailhead.
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.
Key O, Inc. Water Transmission ROW, Special Use Permit Issuance
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize the continued use of 2.75 miles of 10 ft. right-of-way necessary for operation and maintenance of three spring head-works and 1.5-inch waterline to transmit water across National Forest System lands to Key O, Inc. adjacent private property.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. The existing pipeline is located in Sections 7, 8, 9, T5S, R15E, PMM in Stillwater County MT.
Main Fork Rock Creek Road Maintenance and Watershed Improvement Project
CE
 - Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/31/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 11/2012  		Expected:03/2013
  		06/2013 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.
Mary L. Ringer FLPMA Road Use, Special Use Permit Issuance
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize the continued use of a 0.07 mile long by 33 ft. wide right-of-way necessary for the operation and maintenance of NFSR 24762 to access private property owned by Mary L. Ringer.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. The NFSR 24762 is located in Section 11, T8S, R19E, PMM in Carbon County MT.
NorthWestern Corporation FLPMA Gas Pipeline Permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize the continued use of a 0.132 miles of 10 ft. right-of-way necessary to maintain a 2 inch gas main and 0.75 inch gas service line across NFS lands.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. The existing gas pipeline is located in Section 33, T7S, R20E, PMM in Carbon County MT.
Patrick & Jean Rollwitz Water transmission ROW, Special Use Permit Issuance
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorizes the continued use of a 250 ft. by 10 ft. right-of-way necessary for operation and maintenance of a spring box and pipeline to supply water to their private residence.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. The existing right-of-way is located in NE, SE, Section 16, T5S, R15E, PMM in Stillwater County, MT.
Pryor Mountain Road Access Project
EA
 - Road management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/29/2012
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 05/2013  		Expected:06/2013
  		07/2013 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://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/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 Proj Surface & Mineral Exploration PlnOfOps 13.0, 14.2, 18.2, & 25.0 Drill Sites
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/09/2012  		Expected:02/2013
  		07/2013 Dan Seifert
406-446-4520
dseifert@fs.fed.us 
Description: Exploratory core drilling proposed & reclamation at 4 drill sites accessed by helicopter. Up to five holes would be drilled at each site. Total proposed ground disturbance is approx. 0.16 acres.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. LEGAL - T5S, R16E, Sec. 24; T5S, R15E, Sec(s) 19 & 20. Benbow area - Little Rocky, Burnt Creek, and Prairie Creek.
SMC Blitz Ridge Proj. Surface&Mineral Exploration Drilling Pln Of Ops., Portal & 23.0 drill sites
CE
 - Minerals and Geology  Completed  Actual: 06/15/2012  09/2012 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.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37258
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. LEGAL - T. 5S, R. 16E, Sections 20 & 30. Benbow area – Little Rocky Creek and Prairie Creek.
Stillwater Mining Company FLPMA Road Use, Special Use Permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/25/2012  01/2013 Terrill Jones
406-446-2103
tcjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize the continued use of a 0.6 mile long by 33 ft. wide right-of-way necessary for the operation and maintenance of NFSR 24142 to access private property owned by the Stillwater Mining Company.
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. NFSR 24142 is located in Section 16, T5S, R16E, PMM in Stillwater County, MT.
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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
 - Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 10/2012  		Expected:01/2013  05/2013 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.
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This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.