Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
04/01/2010 to 06/30/2010
Monongahela 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) :
R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Cheat/Potomac Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Gauley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Greenbrier Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Marlinton/White Sulphur Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Monongahela 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
Deferred Maintenance Reduction: Signs
CE
- Road management  Completed  Actual: 06/12/2009  07/2009 Jacob DAngelo
304-636-1800
jsdangelo@fs.fed.us 
Description: Motorized use signing for travel management, resource protection, and user safety
Location: UNIT - Monongahela National Forest All Units. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Barbour, Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Webster. LEGAL - Barbour, Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, and Webster Counties, WV. Region 9, Monongahela NF, Classified Roads across the Forest.
Forest-Wide Non-Native Invasive Plant Management Project
EA
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)  Completed  Actual: 03/12/2010  04/2010 Kent Karriker
304-636-1800, ext 169
kkarriker@fs.fed.us 
Description: Activities to prevent the spread of NNIS and treat existing infestions include monitoring, applying herbicides, hand-pulling, mowing, grubbing, and biological control
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/environmental/nepa_documents/nepa_index.htm
Location: UNIT - Monongahela National Forest All Units. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Barbour, Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Webster. Across the Monongahela National Forest.
Wildlife Openings
EA

           *NEW LISTING*
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 08/2010 
Expected:05/2011  08/2011 Jay Martin
304-846-2695
jdmartin@fs.fed.us 
Description: This proposal will address maintenance of wildlife openings across the Forest through mowing, prescribed fire, herbicide, and other treatments, and will include long-term strategies for determining, prioritizing, and treating existing and new areas.
Web Link:  http://fs.usda.gov/mnf
Location: UNIT - Monongahela National Forest All Units. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Webster. Openings are scattered across the Forest in Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, and Webster Counties, WV.
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Monongahela National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
South Zone Non-commercial Thinning
CE
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/28/2010 
Expected:04/2011
 
05/2010 Jane Bard
304-846-2695
jbard@fs.fed.us 
Description: Non-commercial tree thinning of 350 acres in scattered young stands of the Monongahela NF South Zone to release mast trees and other desirable species, and to remove damaging vines.
Location: UNIT - Marlinton Ranger District, White Sulphur Ranger District, Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster. LEGAL - Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, and Greenbrier Counties, WV. Region 9, Monongahela NF, Gauley and Marlinton-WSS Ranger Districts, MPs 3.0 and 6.1.
South Zone Tree and Shrub Planting
CE
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/08/2010 
Expected:04/2010
 
05/2010 Jay Martin
304-846-2695
jdmartin@fs.fed.us 
Description: In response to best management practices for the American Woodcock, native trees and shrubs will be planted. The plantings will also provide edge and shrub habitat for a variety of wildlife species including Golden-winged Warblers and snowshoe hare.
Location: UNIT - Marlinton Ranger District, White Sulphur Ranger District, Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster. Scattered locations throughout the Marlinton White Sulphur and Gauley Ranger Districts. MP 3.0 and 6.1.
South Zone Wetland Creation Project
CE
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2010 
Expected:05/2010  06/2010 Jay Martin
304-846-2695
jdmartin@fs.fed.us 
Description: Permanent and ephemeral wetlands would be constructed in wooded and open areas to provide habitat for amphibians, reptiles, aquatic plants, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. The Indiana bat could also benefit.
Location: UNIT - Marlinton Ranger District, White Sulphur Ranger District, Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster. Multiple locations on the Marlinton White Sulphur and Gauley Ranger Districts.
TPL-Cummings and TNC-Thunderstruck Land Acquisitions
CE
- Land acquisition  In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/15/2009 
Expected:04/2010
 
04/2010 Carol Whetsell
304-636-1800, ext. 271
cwhetsell@fs.fed.us 
Description: The TPL-Cummings Tract is covered under a Letter to the File and will likely be acquired in April. The TNC-Thunderstruck Tract acquisition has been delayed because the property needs to be re-appraised.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District, Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas, Randolph. LEGAL - TPL-Cummings is located south and east of Bartow, WV, along St. Rt. 3 on Frank Mountain. TNC-Thunderstruck is located north and east of Harman, WV, just west of Roaring Plains West Wilderness. Region 9, Monongahela National Forest, Greenbrier RD (TPL-Cummings) and Cheat-Potomac RD (TNC-Thunderstruck).
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Monongahela National Forest,   Cheat/Potomac Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Allegheny Wood Products Easement
EIS
- Special use management  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 06/22/2007
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 06/2010 
Expected:06/2010
 
08/2010 David Ede
304-636-1800 ext. 233
dede@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to grant Allegheny Wood Products an authorization for access to its isolated parcel of land in Blackwater Canyon.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Tucker. LEGAL - The former WV Central and Pittsburgh railroad grade in Blackwater Canyon, Tucker County, WV. Region 9, Monongahela National Forest, Cheat RD, Management Prescription Areas 6.1 and 4.1.
Blackwater Manor Coal Mine Restoration
CE

           *NEW LISTING*
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management 
Completed  Actual: 02/18/2010  02/2010 Kristine Vollmer
304-478-2000, ext 136
comments-eastern-monongahela-greenbrier@fs.fed.us 
Description: Establish additional native tree species (red spruce) by hand planting in 2 locations on reclaimed strip mine ground.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Tucker. Between Blackwater Falls State Park to the east and the Blackwater Canyons to the east and South.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC Gas Pipeline and Road Right-of-Way
CE
- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 03/30/2010  03/2010 Laura Hise
304-636-1800
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Request for a special use permit to use National Forest System lands for operating and maintaining an existing pipeline and road right-of-way. A permit for these uses was previously authorized to Columbia Natural Resources
Location: UNIT - Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Grant, Pendleton. Fore Knobs, south of Dolly Sods.
Clover Timber Stand Improvement
CE
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 
Completed  Actual: 03/16/2010  04/2010 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-cheat@fs.fed.us 
Description: Hand-thinning of approximately 381 acres of over-stocked stands containing sapling-sized trees that are 15 to 40 years old to enhance diversity of wildlife habitat by managing for a variety of vegetation species, types, and age classes.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Tucker. The stands are northeast of Parsons, West Virginia, in compartments 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, and 29.
Reeds Creek Area Indiana Bat Habitat Improvement
CE

           *NEW LISTING*
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 
In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/18/2010 
Expected:04/2010
 
04/2010 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-potomac@fs.fed.us 
Description: Up to 15 trees per acre would be girdled to reduce canopy closure to amounts suitable for Indiana bat foraging and roosting habitat and to provide snags for roosting on up to 2000 acres.
Location: UNIT - Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pendleton. Between US Highway 220 to the east and North Fork Mountain to the west.
Town of Hendricks Proposed Accessible Ramp
CE

           *NEW LISTING*
- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/12/2010 
Expected:04/2010
 
04/2010 Laura Hise
304-636-1800
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to construct a wooden accessible walkway from the Blackwater Railroad grade to the City of Hendricks building. About 10 ft of the walkway would need to be constructed on Forest System lands.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Tucker. Hendricks, West Virginia.
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Monongahela National Forest,   Gauley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Beech Treatment
EA
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)  Cancelled  N/A  N/A Lewis Blodgett
304-846-2695
lblodgett@fs.fed.us 
Description: Herbicide treatment of beech in 245 acres of regeneration units in Lower Williams Project area. The proposal is to cut sump surface treat beech in sale units where beech concentrations could inhibit desired tree regeneration.
Location: UNIT - Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Webster. Within Webster County, West Virginia, between Williams River Road and Cranberry Road.
Cherry River
EA
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Road management 
Completed  Actual: 07/05/2006  09/2006 Jane Bard
(304) 846-2695
comments-eastern-monongahela-gauley@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to harvest timber, manage wildlife habitat, and construct and reconstruct roads.
Location: UNIT - Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Nicholas. Within the North Fork Cherry River and the Cherry River watersheds.
Horse Ridge Grapevine Treatment
CE
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 05/2010 
Expected:09/2010  10/2010 Lewis Blodgett
304-846-2695
lblodgett@fs.fed.us 
Description: Project consists of grapevine cutting with handtools in units 5 & 13 of the Middle Horse Timber Sale prior to sale harvest. This project would increase safety for timber fellers and reduce potential damage to neigbhoring trees.
Location: UNIT - Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Nicholas. Side of Horse Ridge area above Cherry River, northeast of Fenwick, WV.
Lower Williams Terrestrial Liming Project
EA
- Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology 
In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/06/2007
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/2012 
Expected:06/2010
 
08/2010 Stephanie Connolly
304-636-1800
sconnolly@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Gauley Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) is proposing to apply lime to up to 2,400 terrestrial acres in the Lower Williams EIS project area.
Location: UNIT - Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Webster. The Lower Williams River Soil Liming Project Area consists of 14,397 acres within the Webster County between the mouth of the Williams River and the Three Forks of Williams watershed.
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Monongahela National Forest,   Greenbrier Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Barton Knob Radio Repeater
EA
- Facility management
- Road management 
In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/25/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/2010 
Expected:07/2010
 
08/2010 David Ede
304-636-1800 ext. 233
dede@fs.fed.us 
Description: Install new radio repeater site, including construct building and antenna on existing fire tower site, install security fence to prevent vandalism and trespass, and construct 0.6 mile of road to provide for access, work, and maintenance.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. LEGAL - North 38o 37’ 01”, and West 79o 55’ 48”. Region 9, Monongahela NF, Greenbrier RD, Cheat Mountain, off FR 227, 1 mile south of Highway 250/92.
Cheat Mountain Spruce Habitat Enhancement
CE
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 
Completed  Actual: 02/04/2010  02/2010 Shane Jones
304-456-3335, 114
scjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: Non-commercially thin 87 acres in 5 stands harvested 20-25 years ago to achieve a mixed spruce-hardwood overstory with at least 30% red spruce overstory in the future.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. Cheat Mountain, near Hutton Knob, Barton Knob, Mill Creek, Snyder Knob quadrangles. 3 stands in Stonecoal watershed; 2 stands in Lambert watershed.
Poca Run Aquatic Passage Restoration
CE
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Road management 
Completed  Actual: 02/05/2010  06/2010 Michael Owen
304-636-1800
mdowen@fs.fed.us 
Description: The proposed project is to remove dual culverts associated with former Forest Road 52, stabilize the immediate stream gradient with in-stream control structures, and reclaim the former small parking area adjacent to the Poca Run stream crossing.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. LEGAL - Pocahontas County, WV, adjacent to State Highway 28, 1 mile east of Island Campground. Region 9, Monongahela NF, Greenbrier RD, along State Highway 28.
Upper Greenbrier North
EA
- Recreation management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management
- Road management 
In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/04/2009
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 06/2010 
Expected:09/2010
 
11/2010 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-greenbrier@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project proposal includes: commercial timber harvest; timber stand improvement; spruce restoration; road decommissioning, riparian improvement, trail relocation, culvert replacement, and dispersed recreation site management.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. Upper Greenbrier Watershed. Durbin, Frank, + Bartow are at south end ; Shavers Mt is west, and WV/VA state line is east.
Upper Shavers Fork Aquatic and Riparian Habitat Improvement
EA
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 
In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/26/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 04/2010 
Expected:07/2010
 
09/2010 Michael Owen
304-636-1800
mdowen@fs.fed.us 
Description: Project will enhance brook trout habitat in Upper Shavers Fork by constructing natural channel design structures, placing woody debris, planting trees in riparian areas, and correcting artificial fish passage barriers.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. LEGAL - Upper Shavers Fork River in Randolph County, WV. Region 9, Monongahela NF, Greenbrier Ranger District, MPs 4.1 and 6.1.
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Monongahela National Forest,   Marlinton/White Sulphur Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Marlinton Range Allotments
EA
- Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/11/2010
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 05/2010 
Expected:09/2010
 
11/2010 Sarah Hankens
304-799-4334
shankens@fs.fed.us 
Description: Environmental analysis of maintenance and improvements to eight range grazing allotments on the Marlinton - White Sulphur Ranger District.
Location: UNIT - Marlinton Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. All eight allotments proposed for NEPA analysis are located in Pocahontas County, north of Marlinton, WV.
Two-Mile Road Closure
CE
- Road management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/10/2010 
Expected:05/2010
 
09/2010 Sarah Hankens
304-799-4334
shankens@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposed closure of Two-Mile Road due to considerable erosion and natural resource damage. One-Mile Road will be opened during the same time period.
Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier. This project is located directly northwest of the community of Neola, WV.
Upper Meadow Prescribed Burn
CE

           *NEW LISTING*
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 05/2010 
Expected:09/2010  09/2012 Kevin Taylor
304-456-3335
kltaylor@fs.fed.us 
Description: Prescribed fire is proposed for multiple areas, approximately 3600 acres. This will be a landscape scale ecosystem restoration effort in WV and VA, in conjunction with the Fire Learning Network.
Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier. This project is located along the WV-VA border, an estimated 13 miles southeast of Marlinton WV and directly north of Lake Sherwood.
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This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.