Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
07/01/2012 to 09/30/2012
Shawnee 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
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Shawnee National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Shawnee National Forest,  Hidden Springs Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Shawnee National Forest,  Mississippi Bluffs 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 10/2012  		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.
Land Management Planning Rule
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  Completed  Actual: 03/23/2012  08/2012 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.
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Shawnee National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
American Land Holdings of Illinois, LLC Land Exchange Proposal
EA
 - Land ownership management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Ron Scott
618-253-1038
comments-eastern-shawnee@fs.fed.us 
Description: We propose to exchange 384 acres of National Forest System land in Gallatin County for three non-Federal land tracts. These tracts are located in Pope and Jackson Counties, and total 831 acres.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37754
Location: UNIT - Shawnee National Forest All Units. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Gallatin, Jackson, Pope. National Forest System land in Gallatin County for non-Federal lands located in Pope County and Jackson County.
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Shawnee National Forest,   Hidden Springs Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
David Williams Road Use Permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012  08/2012 Ron Scott
618-253-1038
ronscott@fs.fed.us 
Description: David Williams is being reissued a permit to use.15 miles of Forest Road #1749D for ingress and egress to his property.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39706
Location: UNIT - Hidden Springs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Hardin. LEGAL - S1/2SESE Sec. 21 T11S R9E of the 3rd PM. Forest road # 1749D located in S1/2SESE Sec. 21 T11S R9E of the 3rd PM, Saline Mines Quad.
Ellis Cave Bat Gate Construction and Installation
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/05/2012
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012
  		09/2012 Rod McClanahan
618-658-2111
rmcclanahan@fs.fed.us 
Description: Installation of a steel cupola bat gate across the opening to Ellis Cave for the protection of federally listed bat species.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38883
Location: UNIT - Hidden Springs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Pope. Pope County, Illinois.
F.R.#402/Ozark Road Improvement Project
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Road management  Completed  Actual: 06/25/2012  07/2012 Cindy Morris
618-253-7114 x229
cmorris02@fs.fed.us 
Description: The purpose of this project is to execute a maintenance agreement with Pope County in order to allow improvement and maintenance of the FR402 section of Ozark Road. The road will be upgraded to an oil and chip surface.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39318
Location: UNIT - Hidden Springs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Pope. Ozark Road between Appel Road and the Burden Falls Road.
Fort Massac Water District
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012  08/2012 Ron Scott
618-253-1038
ronscott@fs.fed.us 
Description: Fort Massac Water District is being reissued a permit to operate and maintain an underground water transmission pipeline.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39695
Location: UNIT - Hidden Springs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Massac, Pope. LEGAL - Part of NESWNW and SESENW Sec. 17 T15S, R6E of the 3rd PM, Massac County, Illinois; and part of NWSE Sec. 31 and NENENE Sec. 19, 14S, 6E of the 3rd PM, Pope County, Illinois. A buried pipeline right-of-way north of Mallard Creek and south of Lewis Corner.
John Parkinson Road Use Permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012  08/2012 Ron Scott
618-253-1038
ronscott@fs.fed.us 
Description: John Parkinson is being reissued a permit to use.2 miles of Forest Road #1641 for ingress and egress to his property.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39705
Location: UNIT - Hidden Springs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Pope. LEGAL - E1/2SE Sec. 32, T11S, R7E, of the 3rd PM. Forest road #1641 located in the E1/2SE Sec. 32, T11S, R7E, of the 3rd PM, Pope County, Illinois.
Openlands Prescribed Burn Expansion Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/06/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 08/2012  		Expected:09/2012
  		10/2012 Rod McClanahan
618-658-2111
rmcclanahan@fs.fed.us 
Description: To expand the area surrounding and/or adjacent to existing openland areas so as to take advantage of existing natural or man-made fire control lines, and to expand the restorative benefits of dormant season burning to adjacent woodlands.
Location: UNIT - Hidden Springs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Hardin, Johnson, Pope. Openland Tracts in Pope, Johnson and Hardin Counties -.
Williams Hill Communication Site
CE
 - Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/06/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 08/2012  		Expected:09/2012
  		10/2012 Ron Scott
618-253-1038
ronscott@fs.fed.us 
Description: Renew leases for existing communications facilities and update/revise the existing Communications Site Plan.
Location: UNIT - Hidden Springs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Pope. Williams Hill near Herod, IL.
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Shawnee National Forest,   Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
City of Jonesboro Sewer Line
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012  08/2012 Ron Scott
618-253-1038
ronscott@fs.fed.us 
Description: The City of Jonesboro is being reissued a permit to operate and maintain an underground sewer line.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39703
Location: UNIT - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Union. LEGAL - Part of NWSW and SWNW of Sec. 19, T12S, R1W of the 3rd PM, Union County, Illinois. An area on the northeast corner of the Forest Service property upon which the Mississippi Bluffs District office building is situated.
Heine drainage ditch special use permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012  08/2012 Ron Scott
618-253-1038
ronscott@fs.fed.us 
Description: Kelley Heine is being reissued a permit to for use of a drainage ditch 15 feet wide and 62.5 feet long, with periodic maintenance of the right-of-way area allowed when specifically requested.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39701
Location: UNIT - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Jackson. LEGAL - SWNW Sec. 27 T9S R3W of the 3rd PM. A drainage ditch 15 feet wide by 62.5 feet long located in Jackson County, Illinois.
Phragmites Eradication
EIS
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)  Developing Proposal
Est. NOI in Federal Register 07/2012  		Expected:01/2013  04/2013 John DePuy
618-658-2111
jdepuy@fs.fed.us 
Description: Site-specific management of Phragmites australis - in seven areas within the Mississippi River Floodplain ranging from 0 .1 to 0.5 acre in size, totaling less than five acres. Management would include a Glyphosate (aquatic)-based herbicide treatment
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37233
Location: UNIT - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Jackson, Union. Mississippi River floodplain in Jackson and Union Counties.
Prescribed Fire for Improvement of Wildlife Habitat and Urban Interface
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management 		 Cancelled  N/A  N/A Scott Crist
618-687-1731
scrist@fs.fed.us 
Description: Five separate prescribed burning projects, totaling about 23,400 acres (about 4,800 acres each). The projects are spread across the District.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=6197
Location: UNIT - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Jackson, Johnson, Pulaski, Union, Williamson. Lands administered by the ranger district.
Richs Cave Gating Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/06/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012
  		12/2012 Rod McClanahan
618-658-2111
rmcclanahan@fs.fed.us 
Description: We proposes to construct a high security-type fence around a large sinkhole that also encompasses the back entrance to Richs Cave.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35731
Location: UNIT - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Union. Rich’s Cave is located in Union County, IL, north of Anna, Illinois.
Village of Gorham
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:08/2012  08/2012 Ron Scott
618-253-1038
ronscott@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Village of Gorham is being reissued a permit to operate and maintain an underground water transmission line.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39697
Location: UNIT - Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District. STATE - Illinois. COUNTY - Jackson. LEGAL - Part of NESW; NWSW; SENW; SWNW; SWNE; NWSE; SENE; NESE Sec, 20 T9S, R3W of the 3rd PM, Jackson County, Illinois. A right-of-way for underground pipes that runs parallel to Forest road # 782, then turns south to old railroad grade and continues along old railroad grade.
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This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.