Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
10/01/2010 to 12/31/2010
Bighorn 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
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Bighorn National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Bighorn National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Bighorn National Forest,  Medicine Wheel/Paintrock Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Bighorn National Forest,  Powder River Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Bighorn National Forest,  Tongue Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Land Management Planning Rule
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 12/18/2009
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 12/2010  		Expected:11/2011
  		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

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 08/27/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 01/2011  		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.
Back To Top

Bighorn National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Forest-wide Wildland Urban Interface Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project
EA
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Completed  Actual: 07/06/2010  09/2010 Jon Warder
307-674-2631
jwarder@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reduce hazardous fuels on NFS lands surrounding recreation residences, lodges, admin sites and other private structures located on NFS lands.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/bighorn/projects/projectfiles/index.shtml
Location: UNIT - Bighorn National Forest All Units. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Sheridan, Washakie, Big Horn, Johnson. Natl Forest System lands within approximately 1/4 mile of structures.
Livestock Grazing and Vegetation Management on Six Geographic Areas
EIS
 - Grazing management
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Special use management 		 In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/03/2010
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/2010  		Expected:11/2010
  		06/2011 Laurie Walters-Clark
605-797-4435 Ext. 26
lwaltersclark@fs.fed.us 
Description: Analysis to determine reauthorization of domestic livestock grazing on 43 allotments on the Bighorn NF along with conducting fuel management activities within a portion of those allotments.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=28328
Location: UNIT - Bighorn National Forest All Units. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Sheridan, Washakie, Big Horn, Johnson. The Shell Creek, Paintrock Creek, Goose Creek, Little Bighorn River, Piney Creek/Rock Creek, and Tensleep geographic areas as mapped by the 2005 Bighorn NF Revised Land and Resource Management Plan.
Outfitter Guide Prospectus Applications for Special Use Permits
EA
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 08/2010  		Expected:12/2010  06/2011 Cheri Jones
307-674-2652
cajones02@fs.fed.us 
Description: Four applications received as a result of the two Outfitter Guide Prospectuses offered in 2008 and 2009 will have the effects analyzed. Uses are for guided motorized tours on Tongue, Medicine Wheel, Paintrock and Powder River Ranger Districts.
Location: UNIT - Bighorn National Forest All Units. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Sheridan, Washakie, Big Horn, Johnson. LEGAL - Designated roads and trails open to motorized use on the forest. Bear Lodge, The Passage Resort, Ultimate Outdoors and Triple C have proposed to guide ATV, SUV, UTV, Jeep and snowcoach tours on designated roads and trails on the forest. .
Back To Top

Bighorn National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
North end reroute of Forest Trail 360
CE
 - Recreation management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Watershed management 		 Completed  Actual: 08/02/2010  08/2010 Brian Boden
307-684-9872
bboden@fs.fed.us 
Description: Current trail follows a non system route created by full size vehicles. A reroute of about 1/2 mile of the ORV trail to a location on a sustainable grade will continue to provide wheeled motorized access while enhancing resource protection.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=30487
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District, Paintrock Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Big Horn. LEGAL - T50N, R87W, Sec. 15. ORV trail reroute is located at the end of Forest Road 24 just west of the Battle Park Trailhead about 15 miles north of US 16.
Back To Top

Bighorn National Forest,   Medicine Wheel/Paintrock Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Medicine Wheel Paintrock Transitional Priority Outfitting and Guiding Use
EA
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/06/2010  		Expected:06/2010
  		07/2010 Robert Cochran
307-548-5308
rcochran@fs.fed.us 
Description: Analyze converting existing outfitting and guiding transitional priority use days to priority use as directed by revised directives for outfitting and guiding.
Location: UNIT - Medicine Wheel Ranger District, Paintrock Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Big Horn. LEGAL - Northwest College: T53N, R90W, S15; Lost Creek Outfitters: Lion Area 21; C5:T50N, R97W, S5. Northwest College, Powell WY.: Ice climbs in Shell Canyon; Lost Creek Outfitters: Lion Hunt Area 21.
Back To Top

Bighorn National Forest,   Powder River Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Hazelton Peak Mine
CE
 - Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 06/14/2010  		Expected:07/2010
  		07/2010 Richard Hall
307-684-4634
rlhall@fs.fed.us 
Description: Received a Plan of Operations for conducting Mining activities for two mining claims on the Powder River Ranger District. Limited activities consisting of hand held means of exploration.
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Johnson. LEGAL - T47N R85W Sec 15. Hazelton Peak area just north of Dullknife Reservoir.
Outfitter Guide Prospectus Applications for Special Use Permits - Nonmotorized
CE
 - Special use management  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 05/17/2010  		Expected:07/2010
  		08/2010 Richard Hall
307-684-9865
rlhall@fs.fed.us 
Description: Two applications received as a result of the Outfitter Guide Prospectus offered in 2009 will have the effects analyzed. Uses are for Packing, Fishing, Game Retrieval and Bear hunting on the Powder River Ranger District.
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Washakie, Big Horn, Johnson. Wes Smiley Packing Services and Game Retrieval, The Ranch at Ucross have proposed to Provide Packing Services, Game Retrieval, Bear Hunting, Fishing Trips on the Powder River Ranger District.
Poison Creek and Caribou Mesa Timber Sale
EA
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 11/2010  		Expected:04/2011  06/2013 Curtis Rasmuson
307-684-4644
crasmuson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Timber harvest project on approximately 2,000 acres w/in approximate 10,000 acre project area. Harvest methods are mix of small clearcuts (<5 acres), thinning and overstory removal. Aspen and fuels treatments also included.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=19001
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Johnson. LEGAL - T48N R84W, Sections 6-8, 17-20, 30; T48N R85W, Sections 1-2, 11-14, 23-26; T49N R83W Sections 17-20, 29-31; T49N R84W Sections 23-26. The southeast corner of the Forest. The Caribou Mesa portion is east of US Hwy 16 in the area of East Long Park Spring No 2. The Poison portion is south of US Hwy 16 and is split by Dry Poison Creek.
Special Use Pasture Permit Powder River Ranger District
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Richard Hall
307-684-4634
rlhall@fs.fed.us 
Description: Analyze continuing use on Special Use Pasture. Gary Rice Special Use Pasture. Pasture use and payment of permit done in lieu of building fence between private land and FS land.
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Washakie. LEGAL - SEC 34 & 35 T. 48 N R. 86 W. Southwest corner of forest near Canyon Creek and forest boundary.
West Tensleep Corridor Master Recreation Plan
EA
 - Recreation management
- Special area management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Watershed management
- Facility management
- Road management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Craig Cope
307-684-7806
cccope@fs.fed.us 
Description: Analyze relocating developed camping facilities away from lakes and riparian areas, management of dispersed recreation opportunities and human waste management for the entire West Tensleep drainage north of the junction of FSR 24 and FSR 27.
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Big Horn. LEGAL - T 49 and 50N, R 87. West Tensleep is 1/2 way between Worland and Buffalo,near Meadowlark Lake and Deer Haven Resort. A Forest Service road goes north from US 16 to a dead end at the trailhead and campground on the shores.
Back To Top

Bighorn National Forest,   Tongue Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Decommissioning of East Fork Picnicground and Coffeen Park Campground
EA
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 03/01/2010  		Expected:07/2010
  		08/2010 Cheri Jones
307-674-2652
cajones02@fs.fed.us 
Description: Closing and removal of facilities of the East Fork Picnicground and removal of all facilities except outhouse in the Coffeen Park Campground.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=31717
Location: UNIT - Tongue Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Johnson. LEGAL - East Fork PG: Section 3,T53N, R86W; Coffeen Park CG: Section 32, T53N, R86W. E Fork PG is on Red Grade Road, near Big Goose Ranger Station. Coffen Park CG is at end of FDR 293.
Johnson Creek Vegetation Management Project
EA
 - Recreation management
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/30/2009
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 07/2010  		Expected:09/2010
  		10/2013 Ruth Beckwith
307-674-2639
rbeckwith@fs.fed.us 
Description: 800 acres of vegetation management to enhance forest health and recreation opportunity near US 14, between Black Mntn Road #16 and Burgess Visitor Center. It includes commercial harvest,fuel reduction,clearing ski trails and planting in campgrounds.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=30700
Location: UNIT - Tongue Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Big Horn. LEGAL - T 55 N, R 88 W, & T 56 N, R 88 W, 6th PM. The proposed project is in the Bighorn National Forest west of Dayton, Wyoming It is on either side of US14 between Black Mountain Road (FSR 16) and Burgess Junction Visitor Center.
Tongue District Guided Moose Hunts Outfitter Guide Permit Proposal
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 06/30/2010  06/2010 Cheri Jones
307-674-2652
cajones02@fs.fed.us 
Description: Colby Gines, Wilderness Adventures, applied for a permit re-issuance on a terminated permit for guiding moose hunts in Moose Hunt Area 1 (entire Tongue District).
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=32638
Location: UNIT - Tongue Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Sheridan, Johnson. Entire Tongue District, excluding viewsheds along US Highways 14 and 14A and Big Goose Road FDR 26.
University of Texas El Paso Deep Structural Seismic Research Project
CE
 - Research  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 05/2010  		Expected:06/2010  06/2010 Travis Fack
307-674-2683
tfack@fs.fed.us 
Description: University of Texas El Paso wishes to conduct seismic imaging of the Bighorn Mountain Range to understand how the Mountain Range was formed and subsequently understand the mechanism of the formation of the Rocky Mountains.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=32637
Location: UNIT - Tongue Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Sheridan. LEGAL - Section 3, T.53N, R.89W; Section 24, T. 54N, R.88W; Section 5, T.53N, R.86W; Section 25, T. 54N, R. 86W. portion of Bighorn NF in Sheridan County.
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 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 for 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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.