Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
10/01/2012 to 12/31/2012
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, 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)

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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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
WYDOT Salt/Sand Storage Buildings
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 07/26/2012  09/2012 Travis Fack
307-674-2683
tfack@fs.fed.us 
Description: WYDOT has applied to construct two 100 ft x 40 ft salt/sand storage buildings. Storage buildings will be located at Burgess Junction and Pole Creek Maintenance Camps.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39549
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District, Tongue Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Sheridan, Johnson. LEGAL - T49N R84W Section 14 and T54N R85W Section 29. Burgess Junction and Pole Creek Maintenance Camps.
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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
Cabin Creek Campground, Cabin Creek Meadows Campground, and Granite Creek Picnic Area Management
EA
 - Recreation management
- Watershed management 		 Completed  Actual: 08/06/2012  09/2012 Robert Cochran
307-548-5308
rcochran@fs.fed.us 
Description: Cabin Creek Meadows Campground and Granite Creek Picnic area would be closed per the Recreation Facility Analysis. All structures would be removed and sites rehabbed. Cabin Creek Campground would be converted to a Picnic Area.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35592
Location: UNIT - Medicine Wheel Ranger District, Paintrock Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Big Horn. LEGAL - T53N, 89W, Sections 14 & 15. All three sites are located just off Hwy 14 approximately 14 miles east of Shell Wyoming.
Escapee #1 Revised Operations Mining Project
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 07/10/2012  		Expected:10/2012
  		10/2012 Robert Cochran
307-548-5308
rcochran@fs.fed.us 
Description: Charlotte and Lawrence Dean have submitted a revised plan of operations for the Escapee Mine #1 placer mine to include utilization of a towable ride-on trencher/backhoe with a 1.24 cubic foot bucket. The mine has been permitted since 1997.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39904
Location: UNIT - Medicine Wheel Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Big Horn. LEGAL - T 56N R 91W sec. 21. Approx. 1 mile north of Hwy 14A near the junction of FSR 13 and FSR 14.
Medicine Wheel/Paintrock Ranger District Outfitter and Guide Permit Reissuance
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 08/13/2012  07/2012 Robert Cochran
307-548-5308
rcochran@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reissuance of 3 Term Priority Special Use permits for Outfitter and Guiding that expire on 12/31/2011. This decision will comply with direction to offer 30-day notice-and-comment and appeal opportunities, as appropriate.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37714
Location: UNIT - Medicine Wheel Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Sheridan, Big Horn. LEGAL - Outfitter assigned camps: Bear Creek T55N R91W Sec. 12 and Whaley Creek T55N, R91W Sec. 17; Sheep Mtn. T58N R91W Sec. 32; and Arden Lake T53N R87W Sec. 32 SE 1/4 SE 1/4. Bighorn National Forest.
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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
Elk Reservoir Company Easement Application
CE
 - Special use management  Cancelled  N/A  N/A Gayle Laurent
307-674-2656
glaurent@fs.fed.us 
Description: Elk Reservoir Company has applied for road access to private land across Forest Service land on FSR 368. This decision falls in the 31 categories which do not require a legal notice of decision based on the CE category.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37430
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Johnson. LEGAL - Sec. 12, T50N, R84W, 6th PM. Twelve miles west of Buffalo, WY on Hwy 16 to FSR 368.
Harness Road Easment Application
CE
 - Special use management  Cancelled  N/A  N/A Gayle Laurent
307-674-2656
glaurent@fs.fed.us 
Description: Harness has applied for road access to private land across Forest Service lands. This decision falls in the 31 categories which do not require a legal notice of decision based on the CE category.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37429
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Johnson. LEGAL - Sec. 10, T47N, R85W, 6th PM. Access on existing road (1.5 miles) within Hazelton Peak quadrangle from end of FSR 506 to private land.
Meadowlark Lake Day Use Trail
EA
 - Recreation management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Brian Boden
307-684-4633
bboden@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Bighorn National Forest Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan of January 1998 identified a need for a day use trail along the Cloud Peak Byway, US 16 West of Buffalo, WY. This is the project to realize that identified need.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=34432
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Washakie, Big Horn. LEGAL - T 49 N, R 86 W, Section 33, 6thPM. Trail location is adjacent to Meadowlark Lake starting and ending at the North Cove Boat ramp and will eventually go completely around the lake.
Poison Creek and Caribou Mesa Timber Sale
EA
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 07/22/2011  		Expected:11/2012
  		08/2013 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://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.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.
Tri-County Telephone Association Wireless tower at Meadowlark Mountain Communication Site
CE
 - Special use management  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/20/2012  		Expected:10/2012
  		12/2014 Gayle Laurent
307-674-2656
glaurent@fs.fed.us 
Description: Application from TCT to replace a 50 foot tower at Meadowlark Mt. com. site to a 75 foot monopole tower, to accommodate cellular use. This decision will comply with direction to offer 30-day notice-and-comment and appeal opportunities, as appropriate
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35598
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Washakie. LEGAL - Sec. 5, 48N. R. 86W. 6th p.m. Meadowlark Mountain Communication Site.
Wyoming DOT application for temporary construction -Caribou Slide Section - US Highway 16
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 08/16/2012  09/2012 Gayle Laurent
307-674-2656
glaurent@fs.fed.us 
Description: Approx. 5 acre, temporary construction area to install approx. 40 horizontal drains to prevent further damage to the road. This decision will comply with direction to offer 30-day notice-and-comment and appeal opportunities, as appropriate.
Web Link:  http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39324
Location: UNIT - Powder River Ranger District. STATE - Wyoming. COUNTY - Johnson. LEGAL - NW 1/4 Sec. 36, T. 49N R. 84W, 6th P.M. US Highway 16, near milepost 65.5 in Johnson County, Wyoming between Crazy Woman Creek and Caribou Creek.
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This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.