Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
07/01/2011 to 09/30/2011
Nebraska 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
-  Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Nebraska National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Nebraska National Forest,  Bessey Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Nebraska National Forest,  Fall River Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Nebraska National Forest,  Pine Ridge Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, Nebraska National Forest,  Wall 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 09/2011  		Expected:10/2011
  		10/2011 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:
NOI in Federal Register 08/27/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 05/2011  		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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Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide)  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Western Area Power Administration Right-of-Way Maintenance and Reauthorization Project
EIS
 - Special use management  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 04/08/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 03/2011  		Expected:11/2011
  		12/2011 David Loomis
303-275-5008
dloomis@fs.fed.us 
Description: Update vegetation management activities along 278 miles of transmission lines located on NFS lands in Colorado, Nebraska, and Utah. These activities are intended to protect the transmission lines by managing for stable, low growth vegetation.
Location: UNIT - Ashley National Forest All Units, Grand Valley Ranger District, Norwood Ranger District, Yampa Ranger District, Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District, Pine Ridge Ranger District, Sulphur Ranger District, East Zone/Dillon Ranger District, Paonia Ranger District, Boulder Ranger District, West Zone/Sopris Ranger District, Canyon Lakes Ranger District, Salida Ranger District, Gunnison Ranger District, Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado, Nebraska, Utah. COUNTY - Chaffee, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Grand, Gunnison, Jackson, Lake, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montrose, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, Dawes, Daggett, Uintah. Linear transmission lines located in Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska.
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Nebraska 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
Buffalo Gap (West Geographic Area) and Oglala National Grasslands Grazing RAMP
EIS
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 06/11/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 02/2011  		Expected:09/2011
  		05/2012 Robert Novotny
605-745-4107
rnovotny@fs.fed.us 
Description: Analyze the grazing allotments on the Oglala NG and Buffalo Gap NG (West GA) to determine the difference between existing conditions and desired conditions, and make adjustments to implement the new Forest Plan direction.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=5526
Location: UNIT - Pine Ridge Ranger District, Fall River Ranger District. STATE - Nebraska, South Dakota. COUNTY - Dawes, Sioux, Fall River. All allotments on the Oglala National Grassland in Dawes and Sioux Counties, Nebraska and all allotments in the Southwest Geographic Area of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland in Fall River County, SD.
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Nebraska National Forest,   Bessey 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
Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest Range Allotment Management Plan
EIS
 - Grazing management
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 10/17/2008
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 05/2011  		Expected:12/2011
  		07/2012 Timothy Griffin
308-533-2257
tgriffin@fs.fed.us 
Description: Determine the difference between existing and desired conditions on all grazing allotments on the SR McKelvie NF and implement grazing strategies to move toward desired conditions as outlined in the Forest Plan.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=16111
Location: UNIT - Bessey Ranger District. STATE - Nebraska. COUNTY - Cherry. All of the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, approximately 40 miles southwest of Valentine, NE.
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Nebraska National Forest,   Fall 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
SD Army National Guard Training Sites (2010-2015)
EA
 - Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/01/2009
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 02/2010  		Expected:12/2010
  		06/2011 Michael Erk
605-745-4107
merk@fs.fed.us 
Description: Special Use Permit authorizing SD Army National Guard to use Buffalo Gap National Grassland as a training site
Location: UNIT - Fall River Ranger District. STATE - South Dakota. COUNTY - Custer, Pennington. LEGAL - T 2 S, Range 11 E, BHM Section 19; T 3 S, R 12 E, BHM, Sections 8, 17 and 18; T 4 S, R 10 E, Sections 19 and 20. Railroad Buttes and Red Shirt areas.
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Nebraska National Forest,   Pine Ridge 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
Hudson-Meng Water System
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Watershed management
- Facility management 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 11/17/2010  		Expected:06/2011
  		07/2011 Leslie Stewart-Phelps
308-432-0388
lstewartphelps@fs.fed.us 
Description: Drilling of a new replacement well
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=35329
Location: UNIT - Pine Ridge Ranger District. STATE - Nebraska. COUNTY - Sioux. Project is within the Hudson-Meng Special Interest Area, Oglala National Grasslands, Sioux County Nebraska.
Sand Creek Land Exchange
EA
 - Land ownership management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Leslie Stewart-Phelps
308-432-0300
lstewartphelps@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Forest Service proposes a land exchange of approximately 760 acres of national grassland located in Sioux County for 800 acres of land in Sioux and Dawes County owned by Walter Whitcher of Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=32574
Location: UNIT - Pine Ridge Ranger District. STATE - Nebraska. COUNTY - Dawes, Sioux. LEGAL - NonFed -T33N, R52W, Sec 33,;T33N, R53W,Secs 21,22,27,28. Fed land T32N, R53W, Sec 2,11,14 and T33N, R52W, Sec 31. Ogalal National Grassland - Sioux and Dawes County.
Strong Canyon Restoration Project
CE
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/09/2010  		Expected:02/2011
  		07/2011 Diana McGinn
308-432-0385
dmcginn@fs.fed.us 
Description: Cut and remove or pile a portion of fire-killed trees to reduce long-term fuel buildup and prepare area for followup tree planting. Cut dead hazard trees that are expected to fall on trails, fences, and roads.
Location: UNIT - Pine Ridge Ranger District. STATE - Nebraska. COUNTY - Dawes. LEGAL - T 32 N, R 48 W, Sec. 30 and 31, 6th P.M. Strong Canyon area on the Pine Ridge Ranger District.
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Nebraska National Forest,   Wall 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
Crooked Creek Prescribed Burn
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/15/2010  		Expected:07/2011
  		09/2011 Randall Griebel
605-279-2125 ext. 217
rgriebel@fs.fed.us 
Description: Conduct prescribed burn in wildlife exclosure for habitat enhancement.
Location: UNIT - Wall Ranger District. STATE - South Dakota. COUNTY - Pennington. LEGAL - T1S, R16E, Sec 15, East Half. 3.5 miles SE of Wall, SD.
East 83 Prescribed Burn
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 02/2011  		Expected:04/2011  05/2011 Ruben Leal
605-224-5517
rleal@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project proposes burning approximately 25,000 acres of the Fort Pierre National Grassland over the next 10 years with the goal of improving wildlife habitat.
Location: UNIT - Wall Ranger District. STATE - South Dakota. COUNTY - Jones, Lyman, Stanley. Located east of Hwy 83.
Richland Dam Repair
CE
 - Watershed management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 12/2010  		Expected:02/2011  03/2011 Robert Hodorff
605-224-5517
rhodorff@fs.fed.us 
Description: The purpose of this project is to repair years worth of erosion damage done to the grade and spillway which currently is jeopardizing the dam's stability.
Location: UNIT - Wall Ranger District. STATE - South Dakota. COUNTY - Jones. LEGAL - The project is located in Township 2 N Range 31 E in the east half of Section 8 of Jones County. Richland Dam is located on the western edge of the Fort Pierre National Grassland off county road 286th Ave.
Southwest Fence Relocation and Waterline Project
EA
 - Grazing management  In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 03/15/2009  		Expected:04/2011
  		05/2011 Ruben Leal
605-224-5517
rleal@fs.fed.us 
Description: Install 3.6 miles of water pipeline with 5 stock tanks, move one existing fence from Lower Booth Dam north of FSR 227 and convert an electric fence to barbwire in the Camp Flat Allotmen all in the southwest corner of the Fort Piere National Grassland
Location: UNIT - Wall Ranger District. STATE - South Dakota. COUNTY - Jones, Lyman. LEGAL - T106N R79W Sections 6,7,8; T107N R79W Sections 28,31, 33; T1N R31E Sections 22, 27, 34. Southwest corner of the Fort Pierre National Grassland, approximately eight miles northwest of Vivian, SD and 24 miles south of Fort Pierre, SD. Located on FS Road 227.
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This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.