Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
04/01/2012 to 06/30/2012
Malheur 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
-  R6 - Pacific Northwest Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)
-  R6 - Pacific Northwest Region, Malheur National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R6 - Pacific Northwest Region, Malheur National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R6 - Pacific Northwest Region, Malheur National Forest,  Blue Mountain Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R6 - Pacific Northwest Region, Malheur National Forest,  Emigrant Creek Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R6 - Pacific Northwest Region, Malheur National Forest,  Prairie City 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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R6 - Pacific Northwest Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision
EIS
 - Land management planning  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 03/29/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 05/2012  		Expected:10/2013
  		11/2013 Harold Dyer
541-523-1264
hdyer@fs.fed.us 
Description: Revision of Land Management Plans (Forest Plans) for the Malheur, Umatilla, & Wallowa-Whitman Forests. Forest Plans provide stategic, program-level guidance for future management of forests and their natural resources for the next 10-15 years.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman/
Location: UNIT - Malheur National Forest All Units, Wallowa Valley Ranger District, Eagle Cap Ranger District, La Grande Ranger District, Umatilla National Forest All Units, Whitman Ranger District. STATE - Oregon, Washington. COUNTY - Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla, Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wheeler. Forest-wide for Malheur, Umatilla, & Wallowa-Whitman (except for the HCNRA).
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Malheur National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R6 - Pacific Northwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Malheur NF Travel Management
EA
 - Recreation management
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/26/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 06/2012  		Expected:08/2012
  		01/2013 Richard Vetter
541-573-4369
rvetter@fs.fed.us 
Description: Implement the Travel Management Rule (prohibiting motorized travel off of existing designated routes where it is not currently prohibited) and continue to provide motorized access for dispersed camping.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=33448
Location: UNIT - Malheur National Forest All Units. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Baker, Crook, Grant, Harney. Malheur National Forest and that portion of the Ochoco National Forest that is administered by the Malheur NF.
Malheur National Forest Site-Specific Invasive Plants Treatment
EIS
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 04/05/2011
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 10/2012  		Expected:03/2013
  		07/2013 Carole Holly
541-575-3026
cholly@fs.fed.us 
Description: (Corrected) Treatment of known and newly discovered invasive plants using herbicide, manual, mechanical, biological and/or cultural treatments. Includes 1 non-significant forest plan amendment to allow use of aminopyralid (Milestone TM).
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35614
Location: UNIT - Malheur National Forest All Units. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Baker, Crook, Grant, Harney, Malheur. LEGAL - Forest-wide. Malheur National Forest.
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Malheur National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R6 - Pacific Northwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Cole Outfitter Guide Special Use Permit
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Shannon Winegar
541-820-3863
swinegar@fs.fed.us 
Description: Issuance of a special use permit to authorize outfitter guiding and camps for big game hunting of big horn sheep, muzzleloading, and rifle elk.
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District, Prairie City Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - Base camps would be located at T15S R28E section 3, T16S R331/2 E section 3, and T14S R27E section 11. Murders Creek Hunt Unit, West Murders Creek Hunt Unit, East Grant Hunt Unit, Beulah Hunt Unit.
SodaBear Project
EA
 - Fuels management  Completed  Actual: 01/06/2012  01/2012 Daniel Hubbard
541-820-3842
dhubbard02@fs.fed.us 
Description: Approximately 20,000 acres of thinning in timber stands to reduce fire hazard, insect and disease risk, improve old growth, identify / plan biomass stands, restore riparian aspen, restore mountain mahogany, and maintain wildlife habitat.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=28992
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District, Emigrant Creek Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant, Harney. Lower Bear, Middle Bear, and Soda Valley Subwatersheds near Seneca, Oregon.
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Malheur National Forest,   Blue Mountain Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R6 - Pacific Northwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Camp Creek LWD Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2012  		Expected:06/2012  08/2012 Allen Taylor
541-575-3394
allentaylor@fs.fed.us 
Description: Placement of LWD to meet Forest/PACFISH Standards for mixed conifer, create channel complexity, increase pool frequency, protect & establish riparian hardwoods, stream channel narrowing, floodplain connectivity.
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. Lower Camp Creek, Middle Camp Creek, and Lick Creek Sub-watersheds.
Camp Creek Road Decommission Project
EA
 - Road management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2012  		Expected:09/2012  05/2013 Robert Robertson
541-575-3061
rrobertson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Decommission 83 miles of road in the Camp Creek Watershed.
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. Camp Creek Watershed.
Crawford Aspen
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2012  		Expected:05/2012  06/2012 Lori Stokes
541-575-3331
lstokes@fs.fed.us 
Description: Cutting of conifers that are overtopping and shading out aspen, treating the created slash, and fencing the aspen stands.
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - T 10S R 35E, T 10S R 351/2E, T10S R36E, T 11S, R35E, T11S, R351/2E, T11S, R36E. Aspen stands are within the Mill Creek subwatershed Blue Mtn Ranger District.
Galena
EIS
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 03/25/2011
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 08/2012  		Expected:08/2012
  		05/2013 Robert Robertson
541-575-3061
rrobertson@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reducing fire hazard and improving forest health at the landscape level.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=25337
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - T10S, R34-35E; T11S, R34-35E; and T12S, R34-35E. Located in the Little Boulder/Deerhorn and Vinegar subwatersheds.
Keeney Meadows Aspen Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 Cancelled  N/A  N/A Nick Stiner
541-575-3496
nstiner@fs.fed.us 
Description: Cutting of conifers that are overtopping and shading out aspen, treating the created slash, and fencing the aspen stands
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - T10 S, R32E, Sec 36; T11S, R31E, Sec 1,12,15,20,21; T12N, R32E, Sec 4. Project locations are in the Keeney Meadows Cnty Rd. 18 area.
Murderer's Creek Juniper Management
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/21/2011  		Expected:09/2012
  		05/2013 Robbie Piehl
541-575-3393
robbiepiehl@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reduce post-settlement juniper trees in big game winter range, increase late season stream flow, and increase forage availability for wild horses, cattle, and wildlife.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=34426
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. Located in the Bark Cabin and Lower Deer Creek subwatersheds.
North Finger Grazing Authorization Project
EIS
 - Grazing management  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 12/14/2011
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 06/2012  		Expected:09/2012
  		05/2013 Kelly Ware
541-575-3432
kware@fs.fed.us 
Description: Analyzes cattle grazing authorizations on six existing allotments for Donaldson, Deer, Hamilton, King, Indian Ridge, Highway allotments
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=34460
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. Upper Deer Creek, Lower Fox Creek, Lower Basin Creek, Middle Fox Creek, Belshaw Creek, and North Face Creek subwatersheds.
Plantation Maintenance, Fox
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 05/2012  		Expected:07/2012  08/2012 Amanda Lindsay
541-575-3333
alindsay@fs.fed.us 
Description: Pre-commercial thinning and hand piling of previously harvested plantations on approximately 4,000 acres.
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - The legal location for this project area includes T10S, R28E; T11S, R28E, R29E, R30E, R31E, and R32E; T12S, R28E, R29E, R30E and R31E. The project area is located approximately 8 miles northwest of John Day and within the multimple subwatersheds south of Fox Valley.
Starr HFRA Project
EA
 - Forest products
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/15/2011
Est. Objection Period Legal Notice 04/2012  		Expected:06/2012
  		08/2012 Lori Stokes
541-575-3331
lstokes@fs.fed.us 
Description: The project area will be treated to reduce fuel loading and improve forest health. This project area is within the Grant County Community Fire Protection Plan.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=25335
Location: UNIT - Blue Mountain Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - T15S, R29-31E, and T16S, R29-30E. Located on the north and west side of Bear Valley in the Starr Creek subwatershed.
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Malheur National Forest,   Emigrant Creek Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R6 - Pacific Northwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
2012 Season of Burn Research Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Research and Development  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/11/2012  		Expected:06/2012
  		10/2012 Lori Bailey
541-573-4300
labailey@fs.fed.us 
Description: Continuation of prescribe burn research project started in 1997 in selected Micro, Trout and Driveway units. The research is being conducted on 12 units for a total of 622 acres.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38456
Location: UNIT - Emigrant Creek Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Harney. LEGAL - T20S., R31E., section 36; T20S., R32E., section 30 and T19S., R33E., sections 28 and 33. Selected Micro, Trout and Driveway units.
Dairy EA
EA
 - Forest products
- Road management 		 Completed  Actual: 01/23/2012  03/2012 Lori Bailey
541-573-4300
labailey@fs.fed.us 
Description: Timber harvest and road closures
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=8187
Location: UNIT - Emigrant Creek Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Crook, Harney. LEGAL - T10-22S R24-25E. Nicoll/ Dairy Creeks.
Key-Izee Fence Realignment Project
CE
 - Grazing management  Cancelled  N/A  N/A Cedric Selby
541-573-4314
cmselby@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reconstruct up to 1.25 miles of 4-stand barbed wire fence with T-posts and wood stays to realign an existing Forest Boundary fence and bring it back on line with the surveyed boundary.
Location: UNIT - Emigrant Creek Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Harney. LEGAL - T18S, R27E, section 18. Key-Izee Area.
Marshall/Devine Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project
EA
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/31/2011
Est. Objection Period Legal Notice 04/2012  		Expected:05/2012
  		07/2012 Lori Bailey
541-573-4300
labailey@fs.fed.us 
Description: Remove hazardous fuels from the Marshall/Devine project area.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=36477
Location: UNIT - Emigrant Creek Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Harney. LEGAL - T19 R31, sec 23, 26, 27, 34, 35; T19 R32, sec 23-26, 35; T20 R30, sec 13-15, 24; T20 R31, 1, 2, 7, 10-15, 17-36; T20 R32, sec 2, 11-15, 19, 22-24, 27-34; T21 R31, 1-4, 9-12; T21 R32, 3-10. Upper and Lower Poison Creek and Trout Creek subwatersheds.
Pine Creek Allotment Boundary Fence Realignment and Drift Fence Construction Project
CE
 - Grazing management  Cancelled  N/A  N/A Cedric Selby
541-573-4314
cmselby@fs.fed.us 
Description: Realignment of a portion of the southern allotment boundary fence to bring on line with forest boundary. Construct a 4-wire barbed fence segments to control livestock entering the lower pine creek canyon.
Location: UNIT - Emigrant Creek Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Harney. LEGAL - T20S, R33E. sections 25, 36; and T21S, R33E, sections 5, 6, and 8. Pine Creek Allotment.
Yellowjacket Juniper Project
CE
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Lori Bailey
541-573-4300
labailey@fs.fed.us 
Description: Juniper management. Juniper cutting, juniper slash removal through firewood cutting and/or piling and burning, and underburning.
Location: UNIT - Emigrant Creek Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Harney. LEGAL - T.19S. R.28 E. Sections 24, 26, 26, 35, 36, T. 19 S. R. 29 E. Sections 4-10, 16-20, 30, 31, T. 20 S. R. 28 E. Sections 1, 12. The area bounded by Forest Roads 3750 to the north, 3740 & 3745 to the east and 4700 to the west.
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Malheur National Forest,   Prairie City Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R6 - Pacific Northwest Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Elk 16
EA
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:04/2013  06/2013 Ryan Falk
541-820-3890
rfalk@fs.fed.us 
Description: Application of thinning, slash treatments, and prescribed fire to reduce insect outbreak and fire hazard.
Location: UNIT - Prairie City Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - T16S R34E, T16S R35E, T17S R34E, T17S 35E. Elk Creek and Crane Creek subwatersheds.
Malheur River Range Aquatics Projects
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/22/2011  		Expected:06/2012
  		07/2012 Shannon Britt
(541) 820-3865
sbritt@fs.fed.us 
Description: Extention of the Cross Springs water source overflow to a trough in the South Star Glade unit of the Glade Allotment. Develop water source at Big Bin Spring and Dollar Basin Spring.
Location: UNIT - Prairie City Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. T. 17S. R.33.5 E. Section 2, 3, 13, 23, 24 & T.17S, R.34E. Section 18.
North Fork Malheur River Range Aquatics Projects
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/22/2011  		Expected:06/2012
  		07/2012 Shannon Britt
(541) 820-3865
sbritt@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project proposed three improvement project within the Ott, Spring Creek and Flag Prairie Allotments. Improvements includes a spring source development and fence construction.
Location: UNIT - Prairie City Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. T. 17S R. 35E Sections13,15,17, 18, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29.
OWRD Strawberry Creek Gauging Station SUP Renewal
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 03/2012  		Expected:06/2012  07/2012 Stacia Kimbell
541-575-3349
skimbell@fs.fed.us 
Description: Renewal of Special Use Permit for the Oregon Water Resources Department Strawberry Creek Gauging Station. The gauging station has collected critical baseline stream data since 1925, and is one of the State's priority stations to maintain.
Location: UNIT - Prairie City Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - SE1/4NW1/4 sec. 20, T. 14 S., R. 34 E., WM, Grant County, Oregon. Strawberry Creek Watershed.
Plantation Thinning with Biomass Removal
CE
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A William Brendecke
541-820-3840
wbrendecke@fs.fed.us 
Description: Precommercial thinning plantations to improve tree growth and vigor. Fuel treatments are proposed to reduce fire hazard, including use of equipment to remove biomass material.
Location: UNIT - Prairie City Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - Multiple sections in T12S R34E, T12S R35E, and T13S R35E. Upper Middle Fork John Day River and Upper John Day River watersheds.
Summit / Logan Valley Grazing Authorization Project
EIS
 - Grazing management  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 02/08/2012
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 06/2012  		Expected:09/2012
  		10/2012 Ryan Falk
541-820-3890
rfalk@fs.fed.us 
Description: Analyzes of cattle grazing authorizations on four existing allotments.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=24301
Location: UNIT - Prairie City Ranger District. STATE - Oregon. COUNTY - Grant. LEGAL - T16 and 17S, R33 1/2 and 34E, Summit Prairie and Logan Valley Areas. This project analizes the following four grazing allotments: Logan Valley, McCoy, Summit Prairie, and Lake 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.